The Catherine DeCaterina School of Theatre Arts creates experiences through learning where artists of all ages discover empathy, connection, and enrichment.
Build theatre skills through classes and workshops with educators from around the Tri-Cities region. Learn theatre basics, acting, design, dance, and more!
Workshops
The Catherina DeCaterina School of Theatre Arts offers regular workshops. Watch our calendar for upcoming workshops.
UP NEXT:
Sewing Basics Workshop
Saturday, May 9, 2:30-4:30 PM
512 State Street, Bristol, TN
Tuition: $15
Sewing Basics for Theatre will teach the need-to-know hand-sewing skills to adjust and adapt costumes for the stage. Attendees will learn basic hand stitches, how to sew buttons and snaps, how to make a hemline disappear, and may even spend some time with a sewing machine! Students will also learn about frequently used tools and general costuming tips and tricks.
This workshop isn’t just for theatre people – all the sewing skills taught can be used at home! Camille Gray teaches the workshop.
This workshop is open to ages 9 and up. Workshops are held at 512 State Street, Bristol, TN. Registration closes 1 hour before the workshop begins.
Freytag, RAS, Beats & More: Script Study for Actors, Directors & Designers Workshop
Saturday, May 23, 2:30-4:30 PM
512 State Street, Bristol, TN
Tuition: $15
Freytag, RAS, Beats & More: Script Study for Actors, Directors & Designers Workshop will introduce the principles of how to properly study a script. Attendees will learn how to read, break down, and analyze scripts to more effectively develop characters, design, and direct shows.
This workshop is valuable for anyone who wants to be a part of theatre in any role – understanding the text is the first part of creating amazing theatre! Camille Gray teaches the workshop.
This workshop is open to ages 12 and up. Workshops are held at 512 State Street, Bristol, TN. Registration closes 1 hour before the workshop begins.
A Parent’s Guide to Theatre: Community Theatre to Career Workshop
Saturday, May 23, 2:30-4:30 PM
512 State Street, Bristol, TN
Tuition: $15
A Parent’s Guide to Theatre: Community Theatre to Career Workshop will help parents navigate the world of being a stage parent. Theatre can be foreign and unfamiliar to families stepping into this world for the first time, and we want to help make your transition more comfortable. Expectations, terminology, culture, and much more will be covered.
This workshop is great for first-time theatre parents, as well as parents who have been around for a few shows and want to help their children potentially pursue theatre as a career. Samantha Gray, parent of theatre children for 23 years (with all three currently working in the industry), teaches the workshop.
This workshop is open to ages 18 and up. Workshops are held at 512 State Street, Bristol, TN. Registration closes 1 hour before the workshop begins.
FREE Audition Workshop
!!! Free Workshop !!!
Audition workshops are a great way to help new and veteran actors prepare for upcoming auditions. Learn about the step-by-step process, etiquette, tricks to improve your audition, and more!
This workshop is open to ages 9 and up.
Audition workshops are not a substitute for show auditions and have no impact on casting for any performance.
Workshops are held at 512 State Street, Bristol, TN.
Registration closes 1 hour before the workshop begins.
2026 Audition Workshops
- Saturday, August 15, 2:30-5:30 PM
The StART of Adventure Summer Camp
Registration now open for summer camp!
Theatre Bristol proudly announces its 2026 children’s summer camp The StART of Adventure, running July 6-10, 2026 at 506 State Street, Bristol, Tennessee. Theatre Bristol is pleased to continue this popular camp for seven to twelve-year-olds, and one half-day camp for five and six-year-olds.
Campers will explore theatre and acting skills from talented and highly respected teachers and theatre veterans in the area. Guided by the Theatre Bristol Youth Service Board, campers spend the week learning acting skills, creative movement, music, costuming, makeup design, set design, props, and more. At the close of the week, campers perform a demonstration at the Cameo Theatre for family and friends. The 2026 theme is AMERICA! with songs, dances, and plays for the final demonstration that represent and celebrate our 250th anniversary.
“Many of us got our start in theatre at camp,” said Camp Coordinator, Zaiah Gray. “We have all had wonderful opportunities on and off stage, and I look forward to seeing how these next generations become involved. I know our founder, Cathy DeCaterina would be proud.”
If you have a thirteen-year-old or older who loves camp and theatre, please reach out to Camille@TheatreBristol.org to learn more about other ways to get involved.
Camp runs Monday to Friday July 6-10, from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Registration is available online. The cost per camper is $175. Half day camp is $30 per camper. Financial assistance applications are also available. Space is limited. Registration closes June 30 or when full. For complete information about camp and registration, please visit http://www.TheatreBristol.org. For families, we offer a BOGO with the second camper rate reduced to $150 (use code SIBLING in the checkout).
Due to high demand, refunds are only available through June 30.
Theatre Bristol’s summer camp is a part of Theatre Bristol’s 2026 Season of comedies, dramas, and musicals, including American Tall Tales with River’s Way, Charlotte’s Web, Grease, Red, White and Tuna, The Mockingbird Sings, Deathtrap, It’s A Wonderful Life, and the Cathy DeCaterina School of Theatre Arts classes, The Spongebob Musical: Youth Edition by Theatre Bristol Youth Academy (TBYA), PLAYtime in the ARTspace, and workshops. Theatre Bristol is a 61-year-old nonprofit community theatre in downtown Bristol.
Theatre Bristol Youth Academy
Registration now open for fall classes!
“I’m Ready, I’m Ready, I’m Ready!” Through nautical nonsense, students gain confidence and theatre skills in the Theatre Bristol Youth Academy’s next workshop-based production, “The Spongebob Musical: Youth Edition.” Registration is now open for this fall afterschool program!
Plunge into this stunning all-singing, all-dancing, dynamic stage show! When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world. With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up. The power of optimism really can save the world!
The Theatre Bristol Youth Academy is a semester-long course with a focus on practical application of theatre technique in a fun and educational environment, culminating in well-prepared actors performing in school and public shows. Students ages 9-18, regardless of theatre experience, are encouraged to register. Rehearsals take place at Theatre Bristol at 512 State Street, Bristol, Tennessee, and performances will be held at Cameo Theatre at 703 State Street, Bristol, Virginia.
Two Academy series options are being offered this fall. Students may sign up for a single session or both sessions and turn the class into a daily weekday afterschool program that runs August 3 through October 4. Squid cast rehearses Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Crab cast rehearses Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Squid and Crab cast performances on October 3 and 4. An early daily drop-off option is also available and includes additional stagecraft skill development.
Tuition is $320 plus $11.70 of fees. Financial assistance applications are available. Registration closes July 19 or when full, and space is limited.
Teaching and directing the fun throwback is Theatre Bristol veteran director, Camille Gray, with assistance from veteran director Peggy Russell and Theatre Bristol staff, volunteers, and board members.
“The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition” performances will take the Cameo Theatre stage October 3 and 4, 2026. Tickets for performances will be on sale at www.TheatreBristol.org/tickets.
Weekly Classes
Acting A
Scenes
$85
Adults & Teens 14+
4 weekly classes
No classes currently
Please audition for Charlotte’s Web or Grease!
PLAYtime in the ARTspace
PLAYtime in the ARTspace runs weekly on Saturdays 10:00-10:30 AM. Meet other parents/caregivers while your children enjoy live performances of songs, skits, rhymes, puppet shows, and more! We are thrilled to partner with Bristol Bagel & Bakery to make your Saturday mornings entertaining and delicious! Admission at the door.
Creative Dramatics
5-7 year olds can spark a love for being onstage in Creative Dramatics. Topics include theatre games, improv, practicing being something you’re not, audition practice, and more.
Acting 1
Ages 8-13 will start to learn terminology, theatrical movement, characterization, basic acting techniques, memorization techniques, and lay a foundation for scene work. This is an excellent course for students interested in starting to understand the acting craft. The class will help develop confidence, knowledge, discipline, and imagination! While students will work hard, they will also spend lots of time playing theatre games and having fun with peers.
This course is a prerequisite for Acting 2.
Acting 2
Ages 8-13 will continue to learn terminology, theatrical movement, characterization, more advanced acting techniques, and start to learn how to work with monologues. This course is for students interested in advancing their understanding of the acting craft. The class will help develop confidence, knowledge, discipline, and imagination! While students will work hard, they will also spend lots of time playing theatre games and having fun with peers.
Completion of Acting 1 and instructor approval is required for this course.
Acting A (Scenes)
Adults and teens 14+ will learn acting techniques, theatrical movement, script understanding, characterization and development, terminology, memorization techniques, and spend time on scene work.
A basic knowledge of theatre is needed to participate in Acting A. Prerequisites for this course include being in a previous show, attending an intro to theatre workshop (please see website for dates offered), or completion of Acting 1 or Dramatics 1 or 2. If you choose participated in a previous show, please list the show title under “Other” in the registration form.
This course can count as a prerequisite for Acting B (Monologues).
Acting B (Monologues)
Adults and teens 14+ will learn acting techniques, theatrical movement, script understanding, characterization and development, terminology, memorization techniques, and spend time learning how to find and prepare monologues, as well as receive monologue coaching.
A basic knowledge of theatre is needed to participate in Acting B. Prerequisites for this course include being in a previous show, or completion of Acting A. If you choose participated in a previous show, please list the show title under “Other” in the registration form.
