Dragons, fairies and a play in a day: What kids learn at Philly’s Arden Theatre

💌 Love Philly? So do we. Let’s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today. A first-, third- and sixth-grader enter a building at 9 a.m. At the end of the day, a dragon, a fairy and a vampire emerge. A monster-maker or costume shop? No. Just a K-6 program at Arden Theatre Company in Old City. On Election Day, students at the Arden Theatre Company’s Hamilton Family Arts Center had eight hours to create an original play, complete with characters, dialogue and a storyline, before performing it for their parents. The program, called Play-in-a-Day, gives children a day of theater activities while schools are closed. Students develop their own productions with guidance from teaching artists while practicing collaboration, communication and creative problem-solving. The Arden hosts roughly 10 to 15 sessions annually, and sessions generally cost $90, though prices can vary during certain school breaks. Each session has a different theme chosen by teachers to mat