Community Engagement
The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts is a center where all can relish the performing arts.
The theatre is enhancing the city of Worcester by providing a world-class facility for local, national and international performing artists.
In addition, The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory provides opportunities for community and educational enrichment through a variety of community engagement programs.
Please consider making a donation to our Access to the Arts Fund, which makes the following programs possible.
Accessible Performances
The Hanover Theatre is pleased to offer ASL interpretation at a select number of performances. A limited number of audio described performances are also offered. In addition, The Hanover Theatre hosts a relaxed performance of A Christmas Carol every other year.
Adopt-A-School Program
We partner with the Worcester Public Schools to collaborate with school administrators and teachers on a curriculum-based arts program. Over a period of three months, students from two high schools participate in lessons within every subject that incorporate a Broadway musical’s themes, historical and sociological elements, artistic aspects and musical score. The entire school body attends the show together for free and interacts with the cast in a multitude of ways before, during and after the production. This program is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, The McDonough Foundation, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Lamoureux Pagano Associates and The 200 Foundation.
Community Fundraising Assistance
The Hanover Theatre is proud to provide opportunities for community and educational enrichment through our Community Fundraising Assistance Program, which supports the efforts of non profit organizations by donating a limited number of tickets to performances at our theatre. Requests that meet our guidelines and are granted will receive two tickets to a performance based on availability.
If you would like your organization to be considered for a ticket donation, please complete this form . No phone calls, please.
Conservatory Scholarships
The Hanover Theatre Conservatory awards over $50,000 in scholarships each year for conservatory classes and youth summer programs. Scholarship awards are application-based and determined by financial need.
Creative Movement for Adults with Disabilities
An exciting new project launched in 2019 is a dance collaboration with the Seven Hills Foundation Aspire Program in Worcester. The Aspire program was developed to better support individuals with disabilities and other significant life challenges. Our Creative Movement class provides three groups with weekly one-hour classes that are fun and interactive, introduce dance movements and rhythm to increase physical awareness and activity and enhance a supportive environment that increases self-esteem. This program is funded in part by the Greater Worcester Community Foundation.
Goddard Scholars Program
The Goddard Scholars Academy is an academically accelerated magnet school for highly motivated and high-achieving students at Sullivan Middle School. Each year, we provide a lecture, workshop and/or performance for each 6th, 7th and 8th grade group.
LEAP
We partner with Worcester Public Schools and the Worcester Education Development Foundation to bring two entire grades (12th and 8th) to the theatre for performances. Both events are tied directly to core curriculum and in-school workshops are offered by our own conservatory teaching artists in order to prepare students for the experience. This program is funded in part by the Worcester Education Development Foundation, Worcester Public Schools, Worcester Cultural Coalition, George I. Alden Trust and The Stoddard Charitable Trust.
Motivational Speakers Program
This annual event with Worcester Technical High School allows the entire school population to attend an engaging motivational speaker presentation intended to motivate and focus students during their spring standardized testing season. This program is funded in part by The Hermann Foundation.
The Pappas Foundation Student Matinee Series
Annually, over 15,000 students experience live theatre through subsidized tickets at our student matiness. In 2018-2019, our first official student matinee series was created with six shows, providing programming for grades K-12. In addition, in 2019, 2020 and 2021, every student in the Auburn Public Schools (approximately 2,300 students) will be able to attend a student matinee at the theatre through the support of The Pappas Foundation.
Partners in Education Program
In 2017, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. selected The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory to participate in the prestigious Partners in Education Program alongside Worcester Public Schools. In 2019, under the Kennedy Center’s guidance, the theatre started facilitating professional development workshops for Worcester Public Schools teachers, providing hands-on training for arts-integrated learning. The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory is the only organization in Massachusetts chosen to participate in this program.
WYSH
The Worcester Youth Speak Honestly (WYSH) Project is now in its 4th year at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory. The group will meet for over the course of 13 weeks (April – July) to create, rehearse and perform an original work of theatre based on their life experiences. There is no cost to participants and free food will be provided at each meeting. The program is facilitated by Master Teaching Artists but is a collaborative experience that culminates in 3 public performances at the BrickBox Theater in July.
Eligibility: 14 – 19 years old (freshman in high school through 1 year post high school). Must live in Worcester and be a Worcester public school student. Must be willing to share your story and be a member of an ensemble.
If you have any questions, contact Sharon Hart. She can be reached at [email protected] or 508.471.1792.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Worcester Arts Council, a local agency, and the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. As well as the Greater Worcester Community Foundation.
Experience the Magic
Support The Hanover Theatre and experience its beauty, history and elegance for yourself!