About Suitcase Stage
Suitcase Stage is Vermont Stage's newest education program, bringing the joy of live theatre directly to Vermont elementary students. Our traveling productions set up quickly in a cafetorium, library, gym, or theater and are designed to engage K–5 learners wherever they are.
Each performance ends with a fun meet-and-greet with the actors, giving students a chance to connect with the artists up close. We prioritize schools facing transportation barriers and rural communities with limited access to arts programs. By coming to your school rather than asking you to come to us, we make great theatre accessible to every child.
We serve schools in Chittenden County and regularly travel to rural communities in Addison, Franklin, Washington, and Rutland Counties, the Northeast Kingdom, and the Upper Valley, with occasional runs as far south as Brattleboro and north to Coventry.
Details
Designed for elementary students ages 5 to 11
Running time 45mins, plus optional 15-minute actor meet-and-greet
We travel to schools across Vermont, including rural and Title I schools
We serve 2,500 students annually across our education programs
Bring Us To Your School
We travel to you. Our production sets up quickly in your cafetorium, gym, library, or theater with minimal disruption to your school day. Ideal for full-school assemblies or grade-level performances.
To book or learn more, contact our Education Director: shoshannah@vermontstage.org
Bring Your School To Us
Bring your students to us for a performance at our theatre at Main Street Landing in Burlington. A great option for schools that want to pair the show with a field trip experience in downtown Burlington.
To book or learn more, contact our Education Director: shoshannah@vermontstage.org
This Year’s Production
The Imaginators
by Dwayne Hartford
When siblings Anne and Tim move to a new town, Anne wants nothing to do with her little brother. Then the next-door neighbor appears: the fabulous Nina Frances Elizabeth Vanderhelden, master of make-believe. With moving boxes and odds-and-ends from the garage, Nina launches the trio into an epic adventure where they outwit the child-eating Mooklecratz, discover hidden bravery, and learn how much stronger they are together. Imagination isn't just play. It's a powerful tool for facing fears, making friends, and seeing ourselves anew.
Themes of friendship, courage, cooperation, and creativity. Touring through December 2026.
See It In Action
Cast
Brayden Crickenberger as Tim
Catherine Grace as Nina
Safiya Jamali as Anne
Ian Walls as William
Production
Assistant Stage Manager: Brayden Crickenberger
Stage Manager / Lighting Designer: Jamien Forrest
Props Master: Lesley Graham
Costume Designer: Julia Guy
Sound Designer: Sadie Kraus
Bringing Us to Your School
Fees range from $1,000 to $1,400 based on your school's distance from Burlington, and everything is included.
We come to you, set up in your gym, cafetorium, or library, and handle all logistics from start to finish. No buses, no field trip planning, no additional costs. The show runs 45 minutes and is designed for a full school assembly, making it one of the most efficient ways to bring professional theatre to every student in your building at once. After the performance, the cast stays for a meet and greet, giving your students a rare chance to connect with professional actors up close. We also provide supplemental education materials to extend the experience back in the classroom.
Scholarships Available
Education Equity Fund
For schools that need support, our Education Equity Fund provides partial scholarships for Title I schools. Pending availability of funds.
Support This Program
Make A gift
Donate to Arts Education
A gift to our Arts Education programs underwrites actor fees, travel expenses, and school scholarships, enabling Suitcase Stage to reach more Vermont students and create a forum for civic conversation in schools across the state.
Education Equity Fund
Sponsor a School
Vermont Stage's Education Equity Fund provides scholarships to Title I and rural under-resourced schools that want to participate but can't afford to without extra help. Your gift lets us say yes to more schools.
Our three education programs cost approximately $100,000 annually to produce. School fees cover about half of that. The rest comes from donations and grants. If you'd like to help us reach more Vermont students, we'd be grateful for your support.
Our Education Programs Sponsors
The Flat Rock Fund
George W. Mergens Foundation
Goode Family Foundation
