The Cappies: Students sharing insights on theatrical productions

As an organization committed to the future of the American theater, Arena Stage is thrilled to welcome students who participate in the Cappies – a critics and awards program for high school students across the country – to our theaters to review our mainstage productions. Through the Cappies, high school theater and journalism students are trained as theater critics. They attend shows at each others’ schools, after which they write reviews of those shows under the guidance of teacher-mentors. The mentors select the top reviews for publication in local media. At the end of the school year, in each program, critics serve as judges for “Cappie” nominations and awards that are presented in a Cappies Gala. During the summer, top Cappie winners from throughout the U.S. and Canada form the company of Cappies International Theater in Washington, D.C., where they present original plays and, this year, a new student-written musical.

Several student critics attended our production of Awake and Sing!, and we are proud to submit some of their reviews for your consideration. Watch this space for some of their insightful perspectives on this classic American drama, and (we are hopeful) future productions as well!