Orlando Shakes’ education programs help children sharpen their artistic talent, both on and off stage, and develop critical skills that will guide them later in life.

When he was a boy growing up in South Carolina, Keith Traver once had to choose between two afterschool programs: soccer and theater. He had already played soccer, so he opted for theater. The experience awakened something within him, in part because he realized he had a gift for making people laugh.

When his family relocated to Central Florida, his budding interest in theater followed. He had an opportunity to attend a two-week summer camp run by an acclaimed theater company called Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF. At first he was dubious, because the idea of “doing Shakespeare” intimidated him.

“My mom and I went to see an Orlando Shakes’ production of Around the World in 80 Days, and that’s when I realized this place was something different,” he says. “I did the Shakespeare camp, and from that point on I just fell in love with it.”

Traver went on to devote his career to the performing arts. Having worked as an actor, a director, and a producer, he also spent four years as a drama teacher for Osceola County School District. In 2017, he returned to old haunts by joining Orlando Shakes as a teaching artist. Now, in his current role as education coordinator, alongside Director of Education Anne Herring, he gets to help young people discover the magic of theater through experiences similar to his own.

Orlando Shakes has been producing classic, contemporary, and children’s plays since its founding in 1989; the classic works of William Shakespeare serve as a company cornerstone. The company also helps children expand their skills, both on and off stage, through acting classes, summer camps, and workshops, among other programs. These programs are designed to not only sharpen a student’s artistic talent, but also help them become better problem solvers and public speakers, and learn lessons in collaboration, risk taking, and perseverance—vital skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.

The Young Company, an intensive program designed to introduce young people to the world of professional theater, occupies a special place in Traver’s heart. After joining the program either through an audition process or a technical interview, members engage in a four-week rehearsal period alongside professional directors and technical staff (costuming, lighting, and set and sound design). The program culminates in ticketed on-stage performances through which members showcase the fruits of their labor. They also get paid for their work by way of the W. Daniel Mills Program, founded by Harold and Rosy Mills in memory of their late son Daniel.

“Our recent Young Company alumni show of Hamlet almost sold out, which is just incredible,” Traver says. “A lot of the cast were younger college-age students, but we had alumni from as far back as ’89. We’re 35 years old at this point, so it’s wonderful to see that we’ve had such a lasting impact.”

Orlando Shakes’ summer camps are arranged by age group: two-week production camps for rising sixth graders through rising 12th graders; and week-long camps for rising second graders through rising fifth graders. The two-week camps tend to revolve around a shortened version of a popular production, such as Matilda Jr., while the one-week camps use a book or some other intellectual property as the basis for a play they will bring to life with the guidance of an artistic director.

“Maybe it’s Phineas and Ferb or the Wild Kratts or some other popular book or TV show,” Traver says. “Using one of those works as a starting point gives students the ability to create something in a world they are familiar with, but they are making something new, creating their own work.”

Traver also raves about Shakespeare with Heart, a collaborative effort from UCP of Central Florida, the Exceptional Education Department of UCF, and Orlando Shakes. The yearly program enables middle and high school students with disabilities and without to work together on a classic Shakespeare play.

“We had a performance [of The Tempest] a few weeks ago, and it was one of the largest audiences we’ve ever had,” he adds. “The play included a brother and sister; one had disabilities and the other was normally abled. It was the first time they got to do something like this together. In a past year we had one student who was almost nonverbal, but he walked on stage and said all his lines. It was great to see.”

Traver is particularly excited about two upcoming children’s shows: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, a theatrical recreation of Eric Carle’s beautifully imaginative stories, running from Oct. 15 to Nov. 9; and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!, running from April 15 to May 8, 2026.

“The biggest thing that theater can do for young people is stimulate their emotional intelligence,” Traver says. “Giving them that kind of experience is so important now considering the world we live in. Theater is for everyone, and there’s something very special about being in a room with other people and working together to share in a creative experience.”

Orlando Shakes
812 E. Rollins Street
Orlando
(407) 447-1700
OrlandoShakes.org