This summer marked a first for the WYO Performing Arts and Education Center, and that’s saying something considering the theater’s long, storied history.
This summer, WYO PLAY — an education initiative of the WYO Theater aimed at engaging all age groups in creative, collaborative, and playful artmaking— hosted its first weeklong summer camp programs.
Hosting camps over the summer has been a whisper of an idea dating back to the early dreams of WYO PLAY, so seeing the effort come to life was a true testament to how much WYO PLAY has grown in the last several years.
From the throes of the pandemic to now, WYO PLAY has truly engaged individuals of nearly every generation. From the inaugural WYO PLAY program of the Middle School Drama Club, the initiative has grown to include a wide range of programs such as:
Acting Out!
A partnership with Sheridan County School District 2 elementary schools that helps students build their theater literacy.
Ye Olde Bronc Players
A partnership with SCSD2 that enables Sheridan Junior High School students to take Shakespeare from the page to the stage.
Middle School Drama Club
A partnership with Sheridan County School District 1, this six-week program brings Big Horn and Tongue River schools together for a performance.
Future Filmmakers
College and high school students receive instruction and hands-on experience in filmmaking, guided by professionals.
Youth Musicals
Sheridan area youth participate in rehearsals and performances in partnership with Tandem Productions.
Young Theatre Makers Ensemble
Sheridan area high school and middle school theater artists participate in spring workshops and summer productions.
Sheridan County Youth Choir
Vocal program for youth in fourth through eighth grades across Sheridan County.
Creative Aging
Following the Lifetime Arts Model, Creative Aging classes offer adults 60 and older the opportunity to build skills in the performing arts.
And now, we can add summer camps to our list of offerings. This year, area youth participated in Stagecraft Camp and Put on a Play Camp — both of which taught skills that will be useful beyond the stage. The Sheridan County Cadets drumline also stayed active throughout the summer, performing in the Sheridan WYO Rodeo parade, at Third Thursday and other fun events. Kids learned, rehearsed, worked together and then had the opportunity to perform what they had created. Watching kids gain confidence over the course of just a few days is one of the best parts of programs like these.
WYO PLAY has grown in exciting ways in a short timeframe. There are opportunities to act, create, build, play music, learn technical skills and simply find a place where a young (or older) person feels comfortable trying something new.
The program’s success is truly a testament to the families and individuals who continue to show up. They sign their kids up for the classes, volunteer to help backstage, step up to teach and sit in the audience to celebrate all of the work that goes into artmaking.
All of this success has allowed the WYO PLAY team to keep asking: What else could we do?
With the new school year getting underway this week, the WYO PLAY team is already looking ahead to another busy season. There is plenty of room for us to continue to grow, and that may be the most exciting part of the program.
This summer included several firsts, and we hope there are many more to come. Check out the upcoming 2026-2027 season of the WYO Performing Arts and Education Center to stay up to date on all happenings at the WYO.
Erin Butler is the executive director of the WYO Performing Arts and Education Center.
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