Marcia Gardner

WETA Hometown Hero September 2008. As the education director of Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, Marcia Gardner develops education programs that encourage underserved students to expand their imaginations and think innovatively about the world.

Watch online »

Marcia Gardner, education director of Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, is the September 2008 WETA Hometown Hero. WETA selected Gardner for her development of education programs that encourage underserved students in Arlington, Virginia, to expand their imaginations in order to think innovatively about the world around them.

Gardner directs the theater’s community outreach and education programs which cater to underserved middle and high school students in Arlington County. Through the mechanics of theater, Gardner illustrates to students, many who have no previous theatrical training, that fundamentals of drama can be applied to expand other parts of life too. Gardner mentors students, urging them to broaden their experiences through work in two programs: Signature in the Schools and The Apprentice at Signature.

Through both programs, Gardner provides students skills that will help them grow and become lifelong learners. Gardner has designed the courses to persuade teens to pursue roles that boost self-confidence by encouraging them to think about their environments in fresh ways. The curriculums encourage students to step out of their comfort zones to seek new perspectives on classroom topics. “I feel strongly that combining history and theater gives us all a chance to look at the world in a new way and become more responsible citizens,” explains Gardner.

Signature in the Schools partners with Arlington County Public High Schools in low-income neighborhoods. Gardner attempts to increase teens’ interest in theater and education by connecting plays to subjects students study in the classroom and topics covered on the Virginia Standards of Learning (S.O.L.) exams. Participating students receive study guides and attend workshops to understand the multiple theatrical elements in the plays, written specifically for the course. To conclude the program, Signature Theatre buses in peers to support the program participants who produce and star in a theatrical performance.

The Apprentice at Signature program offers high school theater arts students experience in a professional performing arts environment. To prepare students for a career in the arts, Gardner offers audition workshops to help pupils polish their audition skills. Students also work with professional actors who provide constructive advice. Each year, Signature Theatre awards one student a $3,000 scholarship to study performing arts in college.

Go to website »