ASAP Drama inspires young people to celebrate their powers of expression and imagination.
With 27 clubs serving nearly 1,000 youth, ASAP Drama gives schools and community sites resources and support to build literacy-rich environments that encourage creativity and promote empathy.
ASAP Drama provides curriculum, training, professional teaching artists, and culminating events to help sites build strong drama programs. In addition, through partnerships with local theatres and local artists, ASAP Drama provides a variety of enriching and interactive experiences to nurture students’ confidence and ability to express themselves.
If you are a youth or a parent/guardian of a student in Philadelphia who is interested in participating in drama after school or in the summer, contact drama@phillyasap.org or call 215.607.2069.
If you want to start an ASAP Drama club at your school or site, click here to learn more.
ASAP provides its club leaders with curriculum, training, equipment, and resources to run high-quality drama clubs.
If you are a teacher, school administrator, site staff, parent or student looking to start an ASAP Drama club at your location, click here.
If you are interested in volunteering to support an ASAP Drama club, click here.
Artist-led Curriculum: Each year ASAP partners with a select group of sites to place a professional teaching artist for a year-long residency. These sites follow an ASAP Drama original curriculum with structured lesson plans to help students explore the essential messages of different texts related to the year’s chosen theme. Artist-led drama clubs come together each spring for a citywide showcase to perform original devised pieces inspired by the curriculum. Past curricula include Building Character: Finding the Superhero in You and Building Community: Creating a World of Wonder.
Bilingual Multi-School Musical: Since 2015, ASAP Drama and ASPIRA of PA, Inc. have collaborated on an annual bilingual multi-school musical theatre production to inspire the city’s emerging LatinX population to celebrate their heritage and discover their unique voices. Each production engages dozens of students from ASPIRA’s five schools in all aspects of the production, including acting, stage management, and sound and lighting.
Student Masterclass: ASAP Drama organizes an annual Student Masterclass that engages more than 100 youth in interactive workshops led by local artists. Past workshops have included Acting on Camera, Poetry on Stage, Dance & Movement, and Puppetry.
ASAP Drama Festival: ASAP organizes a year-end festival for drama clubs across the city that features workshops, individual and group performance competitions, and a professional performance.
Our Players in Action
Through year-round programming, ASAP Drama nurtures young people’s powers of expression and fosters a sense of community among youth from across the city
Want to discover more about ASAP’s programs? Click here to learn about ASAP Chess, ASAP Debate, and ASAP Scrabble.
Your Contribution Makes a Difference
Provides students with Septa passes for afterschool drama performances across Philadelphia
Supports 1 ASAP Drama student during the school year
Provides professional development training for afterschool club leader in drama and classroom management
Supplies 1 ASAP Drama club with a professional teach artist
