SPRING 2025
Brookline Troupe (Ages 8-12)
Fridays 3:30-5:45 pm, starting February 7, 2025
Rehearsals & Performances @ Driscoll School, Brookline
Production Week: Sat, May 3, 2025, 9am-12pm, May 5, 2025 – May 9, 2025, 3:30-5:45pm
Performances Dates: May 9, 2025 @ 6pm, May 10, 2025 @ 2pm
Spring Show: Mystery at the Museo Segretto (Written by Walker Anderson, Mike Healey, Cooper Evello)
Director – Alissa Darsa
Choreographer – Taylor Paine
Music Director – Ian lao
REGISTER FOR BROOKLINE HERE
JP Troupe (Ages 8-12)
Tuesdays 4:30-6:45pm, starting February 4, 2025
Rehearsals @ Hope Central Church, JP
Performances @ Eliot Hall, JP
Production Week: May 27-May 30, 4:30-6:45
Performance Dates: May 30 at 6:30pm & May 31 @ 2pm & 7pm
Spring Show: Follow Your Hooves (Written by Walker Anderson, Josh Keehn, Cooper Evello)
Director – Mike Casey
Choreographer – Taylor Paine
Music Director – Cooper Evello
REGISTER FOR JP TROUPE HERE
Needham Troupe (Ages 8-12)
Fridays 3:30-5:45pm, starting February 7
Rehearsals & Performances @ Congregational Church of Needham, Needham
Weekend Rehearsal: May 10, 1-5pm
Production Week: May 27-30 3:30-5:45
Performance Dates: May 30, 6pm & May 31, 2pm & 6pm
Spring Show: Birds III (written by Sally Campbell and Mike Healey)
Director – Mike Healey
Choreographer – Camille Cappello
Music Director – Kelvyn Konig
REGISTER FOR NEEDHAM TROUPE HERE
Players Troupe (Ages 12-16)
Wednesdays 4:30-6:45pm, starting February 5, 2025
Rehearsals @ Eliot Hall, JP
Performances @ Eliot Hall, JP
Weekend Rehearsal: Sunday, June 1, 1-5pm
Production Week: June 2-June 6 5:30-7:45
Performance Dates: June 6 @ 7pm & June 7 @ 2pm & 7pm
Spring Show: Losing Eden (written by Mary Torpey and Cooper Evello)
Director – Mary Torpey
Music Director – Cooper Evello
REGISTER FOR PLAYERS TROUPE HERE
Newton Troupe (Ages 8-12)
Mondays 3:30-5:45pm, starting February 3, 2025
Rehearsals @ St. Paul Church, Newton
Performances @ Lasalle University, Yamawaki Art and Cultural Center
Production Week: Saturday, May 10th from 9-12
Sunday May 11th – No rehearsal
Monday-Thursday, May 12th-15th – 3:30pm-5:45pm
Performance Dates: May 16 at 6:30pm & May 17 at 2pm
Spring Show: Red Hats (written by Tom Evans and Cooper Evello)
Director – Mike Casey
Choreographer – TBD
Music Director – Ian Lao
REGISTER FOR NEWTON TROUPE HERE
Spotlight Troupe (Ages 12-16)
Thursdays 5:30-7:45pm, starting February 6, 2025
Rehearsals & Performances @ Congregational Church of Needham, Needham
Production Week: Sunday, May 11, 1-5pm
Monday, May 12, 5:30-7:45pm
Tuesday, May 13, 5:30-7:45pm
Wednesday, May 14, 5:30-8:00pm
Thursday, May 15, 5:30-9:00pm
Friday, May 16, 5:30-7:45pm
Performance Dates: May 16 @ 7pm & May 17 @ 2pm & 7pm
Spring Show: Terrible Gods (written by Tom Evans and Faith Soloway)
Director – Mary Torpey
Music Director – Cooper Evello
REGISTER FOR SPOTLIGHT TROUPE HERE
Bellforge Troupe (Ages 8-12)
Mondays 3:30-5:45pm, starting February 10, 2025
Rehearsals @ UCC Church in Medfield
Performances @ UCC Church in Medfield
Production Week: May 27-May 30, 4:30-6:45
Performance Dates: Friday, May 30 at 6:30pm & Saturday, May 31 @ 2pm
Spring Show: America’s Next Top Monster (written by Mel Carubia)
Director – Mary Torpey
Choreographer – Katy Harnish
Music Director – David Girardin
REGISTER FOR BELLFORGE TROUPE HERE
What is Freelance?
“Even though it wasn’t a traditional class, Freelance was the most influential learning experience I’ve ever had. Through the program, I learned not only how to act, improvise, and sing, but also how to manage stress, navigate social conflict, and make friends.”
Liam, Former Freelance Player
About The Freelance Players
The Freelance Players engages youth in the creation and performance of original, issue-oriented musical theater performed for audiences of all ages. Participants gain skills in acting, singing, dance and improvisation while working collaboratively and discovering empowered self-expression. Five Freelance Troupes each produce two original musicals a year, performed throughout Greater Boston.
Our ensemble-approach fosters imagination, artistic growth and self-confidence. Freelance programs uphold our organizational values of social justice, creativity, respect, cooperation, empathy and positive social change. Students leave the program with a greater knowledge and practiced skill in the holistic study of theater, performing arts and drama. They will have exercised their social-emotional muscles through collaboration, discussion and exploration of the play’s story and characters, which results in a greater awareness of the self, their community and beyond.
Since 1974, The Freelance Players teaching artists, music directors and directors have been writing and publishing original musical theater shows – many of which are available for purchase and licensing for teaching artists and educators everywhere. Themes include climate crisis, gender identity, self-esteem, othering, power dynamics and capitalism. The Freelance Players original musicals are appropriate for ages 8-16, can accommodate large or small casts of any ability, are gender and color-conscious, and explore issues relevant to school-age students and their communities.
For more information about The Freelance Players – including volunteer, internship opportunities and our catalog of available plays – contact Mary Torpey, Creative Director.
The Freelance Players are supported in part by grants from local agencies, including the Boston Cultural Council, Brookline Commission for Arts and Culture, the Dover Cultural Council, the Needham Council for Arts and Culture, and the Newton Cultural Council which are supported by their respective towns and the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
The Ramsey McCluskey Family Foundation
Freelance Players Tuition Refund Policy
100% refund up until the first day or rehearsals
50% once the session starts
0% once the show has been cast
*In all cases, Rehearsal for Life will retain the $50 registration fee