Girlstories Leadership Theatre

Girlstories Leadership Theatre is a year-long creative leadership program for middle school girls (6th-8th grade) living in Hillsborough County that empowers participants to tell their own true stories through original theatre.
Through monthly workshops, girls build practical theatre skills while developing confidence, communication, collaboration, and creative leadership. Participants explore every aspect of the theatrical process including acting, playwriting, directing, stage management, costume and prop design, and rehearsal techniques–all within a safe, brave, youth-voice centered environment.
Unlike traditional theatre programs that focus on performing scripts written by others, Girlstories invites participants to create work inspired by their own true stories. In this way, girls learn how to express themselves authentically, listen deeply to others, navigate collaboration (and conflict, as it arises), and contribute to a creative community where every voice matters.
The program culminates in a public performance written, directed, designed, and performed by the girls themselves.
Why Girlstories?
Girls today are navigating enormous social pressures while often receiving fewer opportunities to practice authentic self-expression, creative leadership, and face-to-face collaboration.
Girlstories Leadership Theatre addresses this need by creating a youth-centered creative environment where participants build confidence, communication skills, emotional intelligence, and leadership capacity through the collaborative process of creating theatre.
Rather than asking young people to fit themselves into existing narratives, Girlstories empowers participants to share their own true stories. Additionally, participants are encouraged to take creative risks, share their ideas, support one another, and explore storytelling as a tool for connection and self-expression.
At Girlstories, the goal is not perfection.
The goal is confidence, courage, creativity, and community.
What Caregivers Can Expect
Girlstories Leadership Theatre helps girls develop:
confidence in speaking and self-expression
collaboration and teamwork skills
creative problem-solving abilities
leadership and communication skills
empathy and listening skills
resilience through the creative process
practical theatrical knowledge and performance experience
Our program is designed to create a supportive, welcoming environment where participants are encouraged to take creative risks, share ideas, and grow both artistically and personally.
Program Structure
2026-2027 Workshop Series
Girlstories Leadership Theatre meets one Saturday each month from June 2026 through May 2027.
Each three-hour workshop builds toward an original production in Spring 2027 while also functioning as a welcoming standalone experience for new participants exploring the program.
Participants will explore:
Collaboration and communication
Creative problem-solving
Acting and ensemble-building
Playwriting and storytelling
Directing and leadership
Stage management and production design
Rehearsal process and performance
Workshop Details
One Saturday per month (10am-1pm) with extra rehearsal sessions in May 2027
$30 per session; $345 for the entire workshop series if paid in full prior to June 15th.
Scholarships and partial scholarships available
Open to girls who will be in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in Fall 2026 (maximum cohort size of 20)
Final public performance in May 2027