Theater - Brooks School: Coeducational Private School in North Andover, MA

All the world is a stage, and studying theater is the key to better understanding that world stage.

By exploring a character, we learn about our own character. When asked to literally walk in another’s footsteps, you learn empathy and what it is like to stand in someone else’s shoes. Theater and dance teach us about ourselves, while at the same time revealing the world around us.

At Brooks, this journey is highlighted by close work with the arts faculty in our Firetrail Theatre program, which provides the novice and experienced stage performer with opportunities to study the art of the theater.

See photos from 2025-2026 shows

three productions a year

Many Ways to Shine

In a Play

Formal coursework and independent studies in acting and directing are available to all students. Recent plays the school staged include "Into the Woods" and "The Play That Goes Wrong."

In the foreground, two young men carry a third on a stretcher, while a painted bulldog in a fireplace and a snowy backdrop fill the background.

In a Musical

Dhruva Tailam ’27 sang on stage for the first time at Brooks. “It was definitely nerve-wracking,” he said. “But it … showed me what I’m capable of when I push past my fears.”

A male singer in a red suit stands center stage on a circular platform, while a cast of performers in dark clothing are arranged on tiered platforms in the background.

Special Project

Students may take on the role of playwright, director or designer, or we may choose to do a selection of works that highlight specific talents which would otherwise go unnoticed.

Five women in fantasy costumes stand on a multi-level stage with a blue, starry background.

Students can work on three main theater productions each year: a play, a musical and a nontraditional project, designed to give students opportunities they would not find in the standard season or at other institutions. They may take on the role of playwright, director or designer, for example.

In addition to the main season, several smaller showcases are produced throughout the year.

Many Styles to Explore

At Brooks, students examine a variety of styles, periods and cultural traditions, enabling them to gain experience in all aspects: acting, directing, playwriting and technical theater design.

They develop and perform dramatic pieces based on original material and develop critical and analytical skills through script study and performance observations.

It’s nice to get compliments … after the shows but there is no better feeling than successfully pulling off an amazing show with the people you started it with. [I grew] to love everyone who was a part of the Hadestown process, from the people like me getting all the praise on stage, to the unsung heroes backstage. I'm proud to say that I’m now part of a family that I didn't know I wanted, but needed. … This community was truly wonderful.”tristan yepdo'26

A group of young people in colorful outfits pose for a selfie on a stage decorated with %22SPRING FLING%22 banners and balloons.

Behind-the-Scenes

Through the technical theater afternoon activity option and related classes in the arts department, students bring productions to life behind the scenes.

Brooks offers a stagecraft carpentry class, in which students learn safe operation of hand and power tools as they build sets, rigging and flying scenic pieces. In the Theater Design and Production Lab, students get similarly hands-on, exploring aspects of technical design, including costume, sound and lighting.

If students discover a passion for technical theater, they can even continue learning with an independent study course in Student Direction and Design.

Many Styles to Explore

Behind-the-Scenes

From improv and stand-up to class-scene presentations and cabarets, Brooks theater provides an opportunity for every student at every level.