PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS

WELCOME EDUCATORS!

Uptown Theater for Creative Arts (UTCA) is proud to offer BOCES-aidable arts programs for K–12 schools throughout the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison region.


Our workshops, assemblies, field trips, and residencies use improvisation, storytelling, performance, and creative play to build communication, confidence, collaboration, and literacy skills.

All student programs are aid-eligible through OHM BOCES Arts-in-Education (AIE) and Exploratory Enrichment.
Teacher professional development is available year-round.

Programs are offered September–June and can be delivered in your school or at the historic Uptown Theatre.

Arts-in-Education & Exploratory Enrichment Programs

  • ASSEMBLIES

    High-energy, interactive experiences for large groups

  • FIELD TRIPS

    Immersive arts experiences at our historic community venue

  • IN-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS

    Hands-on sessions for individual classes or grade-level rotations

  • MULTI-DAY RESIDENCIES

    Sustained learning experiences with optional performance outcomes

Improv Stories Live!

Category: Art • English
A fast-paced, laugh-filled interactive show where students help create characters, worlds, and stories in real time. This assembly builds creativity, listening, and collaboration while reinforcing narrative structure and literacy concepts.

Grades: K–12
Capacity: Full auditorium
Format: 40–55 minutes
BOCES-Eligible: Yes – AIE & Exploratory

ASSEMBLIES

Yes, And! The Creative Confidence Assembly

Category: Art • English • SEL
A motivational theatre experience blending improv, storytelling, and SEL. Students see how imagination, teamwork, and resilience fuel creativity — and they participate onstage in safe, structured ways.

Grades: 3–12
Capacity: Full auditorium
Format: 45–60 minutes
BOCES-Eligible: Yes – AIE & Exploratory

The Improvised Story Show

Category: English • Storytelling • Theater
A literacy-focused live performance that demonstrates beginnings, middles, endings, conflict, character, and theme — all through improvised scenes inspired by student ideas.

Grades: 2–8
Capacity: Full auditorium
BOCES-Eligible: Yes – AIE (English/Literacy)

FIELD TRIPS

Uptown Theatre Creative Field Trip Experience

Category: Art • English • Field Trip
Bring your students to the historic Uptown Theatre for a full arts immersion day.

Includes:

  • Guided theatre tour (history, backstage, and tech)

  • Hands-on creative workshop (storytelling, improv, or character creation)

  • Live improv performance

  • Optional student showcase

This trip blends performing arts, literacy, collaboration, and creative exploration.

Grades: 3–12
Capacity: 35–180
BOCES-Eligible: Yes – Field Trip / AIE
Availability: September–June

Improv & Film Experience (Starting 2026)

Category: Theater • Media Arts
A blended field trip featuring improvised storytelling and film/media content in our newly renovated auditorium, plus a talkback on creativity, filmmaking, and story development.

Grades: 4–12
BOCES-Eligible: Yes – Visual Arts / Media Arts

IN-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS

Improv for Everyone: Creativity & Collaboration Workshop

Category: Art • English • SEL
Students learn to think on their feet, support classmates, and build scenes together using core improv techniques. Builds communication, confidence, and teamwork while reinforcing literacy and speaking skills.

Grades: 3–12
Capacity: 30 students
Format: 40–90 minutes
BOCES-Eligible: Yes

Storytelling on Your Feet

Category: English • Storytelling
A literacy-centered workshop exploring narrative structure through improvisation. Students collaboratively build characters, craft worlds, and create stories — reinforcing ELA skills through play.

Grades: 2–8
Capacity: 30
Format: 40–60 minutes
BOCES-Eligible: Yes

Whole-Body Listening & Communication

Category: Art • SEL • English
Through movement-based improv exercises, students strengthen focus, empathy, active listening, and communication — all while having fun. Ideal for groups working on social-emotional growth.

Grades: K–8
Capacity: 25–30
BOCES-Eligible: Yes

Creative Characters & World-Building Workshop

Category: English • Art • Theater
Students design original characters, imagine new worlds, and act them out through improv. Reinforces voice, perspective, and creative writing fundamentals.

Grades: 3–12
Capacity: 30
BOCES-Eligible: Yes

MULTI-DAY RESIDENCIES

Story-to-Stage Residency

Category: English • Theater
Students develop original stories and bring them to life through improvisation and performance. Culminates in a showcase. Perfect for ELA narrative units.

Grades: 3–12
Structure: 2–5 days
BOCES-Eligible: Yes

Improv & SEL Residency: Building Confident Communicators

Category: SEL • Art • English
A multi-day experience using improv to strengthen listening, teamwork, empathy, confidence, and self-expression. Concludes with a mini-performance or classroom sharing.

Grades: 4–12
Structure: 2–5 days
BOCES-Eligible: Yes

NEW: Improv-Story Lab — From Idea to Stage

Category: English • Theater • SEL
A multi-session residency blending improv, literacy, and SEL. Students develop characters, build stories, rehearse scenes, and present a culminating performance.

Sessions Include:

  • Yes & Listening + Trust

  • Character & Relationship

  • Point of View & Choice

  • Story Arc & Scene Structure

  • Scene Development & Rehearsal

  • Tech / Stage Skills

  • Final Performance

  • Optional Reflection Session

Grades: 4–12
Structure: 6–8 sessions + showcase
Capacity: Up to 30
Location: In-school or at UTCA
BOCES-Eligible: Yes – AIE / English / Theater / SEL

TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

(YEAR-ROUND)

Creative Classroom Tools: Improv for Educators

Learn practical improv-based strategies that boost engagement, communication, collaboration, and classroom community. Teachers leave with activities they can use immediately.

BOCES-Eligible: Yes – Teacher PD
Available: Year-round

SEL Through Improv: Strategies for Classrooms

A hands-on workshop offering teachers improv tools to support safe risk-taking, teamwork, empathy, and whole-body listening.

BOCES-Eligible: Yes – Teacher PD
Available: Year-round

Looking for UTCA’s full range of community programs?
Explore our Community Impact offerings →

ALL PROGRAMS

Booking & Contact

Schools in the OHM BOCES region may book directly with UTCA.

Request a Quote or Schedule a Program:

devin@utcany.org pr fill out the form:

BOCES ELIGIBILITY NOTES

All UTCA student programs are eligible for Arts-in-Education (AIE) or Exploratory Enrichment aid.

  1. Student programs run September–June; educator PD is available year-round.

  2. Districts must submit requests to BOCES at least 30 days before the event.

  3. Final request deadline for the 2025–26 school year: May 22, 2026.

  4. UTCA meets all CoSer eligibility requirements and serves multiple districts.

  5. All pricing is provided as aid-eligible flat fees (no travel or meals included).