ARTS AT THE CAPITOL THEATER
ACT provides a supportive and welcoming environment where students from diverse backgrounds can express themselves through art. The school's philosophy, "Respect Yourself, Respect the Work, and Respect the Community," fosters a sense of belonging in a small, tightly knit community that helps students thrive. Beyond performances, students engage in clubs, volunteer activities, advisory groups, and school-wide events like field trips and dances, promoting meaningful connections with their peers.
WELCOME TO ACT
Don’t just raise the curtain – raise your expectations.
Arts at the Capitol Theater (ACT) is a full-day high school program designed for students who want to learn through the performing arts. ACT students have a full load of courses in the performing arts and academic areas. All courses are designed to help students make cross-curricular connections between content areas.
LEARN NEW SKILLS
We create Renaissance people for the 21st century. (No time machine required.)
The ACT curriculum prepares students for success by teaching critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, flexibility, and adaptability. ACT students, teachers, parents, and community members work together to promote an education in arts and academics that inspires intellectual exploration, creative expression, and personal motivation.
DO WHAT YOU LOVE
‘Following your passion’ isn’t just advice – it’s our curriculum.
ACT is a place where students can shine. ACT students are free to create, perform and reach their true potential as students and artists. Our community allows students to express themselves freely and to meet and befriend others from all different backgrounds. Above all, ACT students are welcoming, committed and dedicated to ACT’s core values: Respect Yourself, Respect the Work, Respect the Community.
CHOOSE YOUR PATHWAY
All the world’s a stage – even if you prefer to write the script or design the set.
ACT offers 7 pathways to choose from: Acting, Creative Writing, Dance, Integrated Arts & Management, Media Arts, Music, and Technical Theater. These pathways give students a chance to focus on an area of interest with purpose and intent. Each pathway has its own required program courses in addition to the required academic courses for graduation. Come create with us!
STUDY WITH THE PROS
ACT teachers aren't just familiar with the spotlight – they've probably rewired it a few times.
Whether you're looking to take your first bow or aiming for your name in lights, ACT offers the chance to learn from teachers who've already made their mark in the arts world. Our instructors don’t just teach from textbooks – they share real-world experiences gained from years in the spotlight and behind the scenes, from stages and studios to concert halls and movie sets. ACT faculty members have been there, done that, and want to show you how to get there yourself.
CHOOSE YOUR PATHWAY
Music
Dance
Creative Writing
Media Arts
Integrated Arts
Acting
Technical Theater
Music Pathway
We’ll take you from “do-re-mi” to “do-re-masterpiece.”
The aim of the music pathway is to educate students in the intricacies, techniques and art of music. Students will gain and polish their abilities in music reading, sight reading, music theory, analysis, and counterpoint. Additionally, a large portion of the students’ time and energy will be spent on learning techniques and performing skills alongside critical listening and critiquing skills, through weekly studio classes. Students will also gain an extensive knowledge and understanding of musical genres, composers, history, and forms while being exposed to the vast repertoire of Western Music History.
Dance Pathway
Because life is better when you dance through it.
Students study multiple styles of dance including: Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Tap, Latin and Contemporary. Emphasis is placed on choreographic principles throughout several classes that allow students to create and perform their own choreography. Dance students work collaboratively with other departments to become aware of how lighting, sets, and costumes enhance dance. Multiple performance opportunities are available, including community functions like Third Thursday, Student Dance Company Showcase, and DanceFest.
Creative Writing Pathway
Warning: May cause sudden outbursts of poetry and spontaneous novella writing.
Students practice writing across a wide range of literary genres including poetry, fiction, drama, creative nonfiction, and SLAM. Students develop the critical skills to analyze and evaluate literature as writers. Students participate in the writing process to develop skills in giving and receiving feedback through workshops. Writers have multiple opportunities to collaborate with other ACT majors throughout the year. Students present their work through Coffeehouse performances, poetry readings, writing contests, and publications.
Media Arts Pathway
Lights, camera, action... and about a thousand other buttons we'll teach you to master.
Students utilize state of the art cameras and editing software to produce, film, and edit their own videos. Media Arts students have the opportunity to create commercials, PSAs and documentaries for local businesses and community members and present all of their hard work at least twice a year during VideoFest (open to the public). In addition, Media Arts students study audio production, Photoshop, animation, video game design, and music editing/creation through GarageBand.
Google Tag
Integrated Arts & Management Pathway
Wear multiple hats – and learn how to budget for them.
Students create and explore art that exists outside of a single genre and learn how to integrate creativity with real world management skills. In this track students explore the creative process in general, engage in critical analysis, work with a cross-cultural lens, and collaborate on community projects. Integrated Arts and Management helps students develop skills in generative follow through, creative problem solving, critical thinking, global understanding, and inter and intrapersonal communication. These skills can be applied to future careers such as Art Direction, Production Management, and Curation, along with careers in Community Organizing, Outreach Programs, and Small Business/Non-Profit Management.
Technical Theater Pathway
Pull the strings from behind the curtain. (Puppet masters welcome.)
Students study the ‘behind-the-scenes’ work necessary for safe and effective performing arts production, including scenic, lighting, costume and prop design and construction. Classwork is fundamentally hands-on, using tools and equipment in ACT’s scene shop, costume shop and theater. Technical Theater students are directly involved with every production at ACT, in collaboration with other pathways.
Acting Pathway
Drama encouraged – both on and off stage.
Students explore the art of acting in a series of technique courses progressing from beginning to advanced. Actors train their bodies, voices and imaginations so that they may learn to create unique characterizations for the great plays of the theater. Acting techniques grounded in the work of the great 20th century acting masters are studied, grown and honed throughout the pathway as students apply themselves to comic and dramatic scene and monologue preparation. Performance opportunities include comic and dramatic contemporary and classic plays, musicals, improvisation and student devised works. History of Theater, Improvisation, A Capella, Latin Dance, Modern and Jazz Dance, and Technical theater are elective areas for students to explore along the path. The focus of the pathway is to grow young actors into confident, imaginative, compassionate artists who feel at home on any stage.
2025-2026 PERFORMANCES
September 18 2025
October 23 2025
November 19 2025
December 12 & 13 2025
December 17 2025
January 22 2026
March 5 2026
April 1 2026
May 21 2026
April 30, May 1 & 2 2026
March 28 2026
June 5 & 6 2026
What are students and parents saying about ACT?
Message from ACT Principal Sarah Mallory
Welcome back, ACT family!
As we raise the curtain on another year at Arts at the Capitol Theater, we're excited to see how you'll grow as artists and individuals. Our unique blend of rigorous academics and immersive performing arts education continues to shape responsible, accountable, and committed young adults ready for any stage life offers.
Remember our core value of RESPECT: Respect Yourself, Respect the Work, Respect the Community. It's this foundation that makes ACT a place where creativity flourishes and diverse talents shine.
Whether you're a returning student or joining us for the first time, know that you're part of a special community where you're free to express, create, and reach your true potential.
Let's make this our most inspiring year yet!
Rent Our Theater
EASTCONN Arts at the Capitol Theater (ACT) historic building houses a well-equipped 176-seat apron stage theater, and various support spaces for rental. If your organization is interested in renting spaces in the Capitol Theater, please contact Colin McNamee, Capitol Theater Technical Director, for an initial meeting, tour and rental estimate: 860-456-5636 x1003, or cmcnamee@eastconn.org.
Location
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- 896 Main St, Willimantic CT, 06226
- Phone: (860) 465-5636
- Fax: (860) 465-8115
- smallory@eastconn.org
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EASTCONN is a public, non-profit, Regional Educational Service Center, which has been serving the education needs of northeastern Connecticut schools and communities since 1980.
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