Creative Drama | Handbook

Classes are held at ImaginOn, 300 E 7th St. Charlotte, NC 28202 | MAP

Education Team

EG Engle, Director of Education
Mary Katherine Smith, Camps & Community Programs Manager
Morgan Southard, Education Program Manager
Cat Koski, Education Operations & Administrative Manager
Karen Steele, Resident Teaching Artist
Breana Venablé, Resident Teaching Artist
Meet our Teaching Artists

Program Overview

Students explore their imaginations, build confidence, and develop important social skills through games, crafts, and songs. There are separate Fall and Winter sessions. While the structure of our classes stays the same, we introduce new materials and books to explore each session. NOTE: Students must be the eligible age as of the first day of class.

  Sneak-A-Peek & Final Sharing

  • With the exception of Side-By-Side classes, each session is an independent experience for students to learn and explore. But there are opportunities for families to observe class, and you will receive an email from your Teaching Artist about both of them.
  • We provide a mid-session Sneak-a-Peek for families to observe the class as a “fly-on-the-wall.” Video and photography are discouraged at this time. Please wait until the final Sharing.
  • Every session ends with a final Sharing for families and friends. At the Sharing, students demonstrate activities and skills learned throughout the session. Students will also share an adaptation of one of the stories explored during the session.

  Communication With Families

We are committed to providing you with all the information needed to be prepared and have a wonderful class experience.
  • One month prior to the start of class you will receive a reminder email with brief information about your class and a reminder about our cancellation policy. This reminder is sent to the email address you used at registration.
  • One week prior to the start of class you will receive an email with important information about class. If you do not receive this email, please contact us at education@ctcharlotte.org.
  • Following each weekly class, you will receive an email from your Teaching Artist about class content and activities. Feel free to ask any questions in that reply.

  Policies and Other Information

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Inclusive Classrooms
All classes at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte are inclusive. Open communication with families helps us create a successful environment for every student. The Education Staff will note any allergies, chronic illness or medical conditions that were listed on your registration form. This information is only shared with Education Staff as necessary.
Contact the Education Department if you want to discuss your student’s needs further or have any tips or strategies to help them be successful.
Absence Policy
Theatre is a team sport, so we encourage the whole team to be present and ready to work for every class! If your student will be absent for any reason, notify your Teaching Artist as well as education@ctcharlotte.org in advance. If it is a last-minute emergency or occurs during class time, call the Class Assistant at 704-236-6638 as soon as you are able.
Because each class builds on activities from earlier classes, absences may affect a student’s participation in the program. There are no refunds or make-up sessions for missed classes.
Discipline Policy
Our goal is that every student will have a wonderful experience in class, and we encourage positive reinforcement and conflict management and resolution. In the case that we encounter behavior that negatively impacts the class environment, the following incremental course of action will be taken:
  1. Teaching Artist will talk with the student individually.
  2. Student is asked to step away from the activitivy until the Teaching Artist invites the student to return.
  3. Teaching Artist will speak with the parent/guardian after class and/or send an email.
  4. If the behavior continues, Education Administration contacts the parent/guardian and further action is determined. Grounds for immediate suspension or removal include but are not limited to causing physical harm, putting him/herself or others in danger, and harmful behaviors towards staff.
Inclement Weather & Building Closings
If the ImaginOn building is closed due to severe weather or some other emergency, Children’s Theatre will not hold classes. We will send out a text alert through EZ Text. Please make sure your account has your current cell number listed as the preferred number. Text alerts will be sent to the preferred number. You may also check the ctcharlotte.org homepage for updated information.
Illness & Personal Emergencies
Please do not bring students to class if they are showing any of the symptoms listed below. Symptoms include:
  • Fever - Defined as having a temperature of 100.5°F or higher.
  • Vomiting - Please do not bring your student to class if they have vomited within the previous 12 hours.
  • Rash or Spots - Defined as frequent scratching of the body or scalp, lice, rash, or any other spots that resemble childhood diseases, including ringworm.
If a child becomes ill during class, the parent/guardian will be contacted to pick up them up. If they cannot be reached, the staff will call the emergency contact listed on the registration form. In the event of a serious emergency, 911 will be called first.
Video & Photography
Both are allowed for the final Sharing. Recordings are for at home, personal use only. Please don’t post these on social media. We ask you to avoid flash photography of any kind. Children’s Theatre of Charlotte does not produce or sell media/recordings. Photographs of students taken in class by Education Staff may be used in promotional materials.
Refund & Transfer Policy
Refunds: A full refund for Creative Drama classes may be requested prior to these deadlines:
  • 1 month before the first day of class = 100% refund
  • 2 weeks before the first day of class = 50% refund
  • 1 week before the first day of class = 25% refund
  • No refunds from the day programming begins.
Transfers: Registration can be transferred to another session in the same program as the original registration, subject to availability.

Refund / Transfer Request

  Creative Drama Important 2023-24 Dates

Classes take place as scheduled on holidays and Charlotte-Mecklenburg School workdays unless noted. Classes meet once a week for ten weeks, except for Side-By-Side classes which meet for five weeks.
Sep 19 at 7 PM Virtual Orientation for Fall Session
Sept 26 - 30 First day of classes for Fall Session
Oct 24 - 28 Sneak-a-Peek for Fall Session (week 5)
Oct 28 Last day of class Side-by-Side Fall Session 1
Oct 31 Halloween, Tuesday | no Creative Drama classes
Nov 4 First day of class Side-by-Side Fall Session 2
Nov 21 - 25 Thanksgiving week | no Creative Drama classes
Dec 5 - 9 Sharing week for Fall Session
Dec 12 Make-up day for Halloween, Tuesday
Jan 9 - 13 First day of classes for Winter Session
Feb 6 - 10 Sneak-a-Peek for Winter Session (week 5)
Feb 10 Last day of class Side-by-Side Winter Session 1
Feb 17 First day of class Side-by-Side Winter Session 2
March 12 -16 Sharing week for Winter Session

Have Any Questions?

Box Office
Email | 704-973-2828 (noon-5 PM, M-F)
Education Operations & Administrative Manager
Cat Koski | 704-973-2837
Class Assistant
Email | 704-973-2812
ImaginOn | 704-416-4600
Library branch hours may differ from education class hours. Please click here for more information.
Tax Information
Our Tax ID number is 56-1028031.
Thank you for participating in the education programs at Children's Theatre of Charlotte!