Apprentice program returns for Old Brick’s 35th year
Trending
ELKINS -- The Old Brick Playhouse is preparing for a new season of its Apprentice Program this month.
The biweekly after-school theatre program for middle and high school students returns for its fall season on Aug. 24, with students meeting every Monday and Thursday at the Old Brick’s location on Davis Avenue in Elkins.
Following productions of “The Wizard of Oz” and the original musical “Titanic Lives” in their 2025-2026 season, Old Brick officials said that Apprentices will be delivering a musical “never before performed on the Old Brick stage” this November. The title of said show is yet to be revealed to the public, but an announcement is expected to be made this month.
"It has always been a tradition to hide the title of the show until the first Apprentice gathering, and we strive to deliver the message in an extremely unique and fun manner,” Old Brick Executive Director Missy Armentrout McCollam said in a release announcing the new season. “We had 160 students enrolled in our 2026/27 season.”
The Old Brick conducts two sessions annually that culminate in two mainstage performances showcasing the talents of every student, where some students can be actors and others can be technicians. Since 1991, the Apprentice program has “included every student with a desire to participate,” the release states.
The non-profit arts education center, now celebrating its 35th year, has produced more than 50 Apprentice productions, celebrated 71 seasons of camps and had an alumni roster of more than 6,000. The program is award-winning, having been merited at the White House with the Coming Up Taller Award as one of the top educational arts programs in the nation.
Old Brick officials also say that this new session will also feature “exciting formatting changes” that will deliver more opportunities for the Apprentices to work in small groups.
"Between each season, our team takes a significant amount of time to evaluate and increase the vitality, functionality and excitement about learning the arts,” McCollam said. "We have to improve and change in order to accommodate our vibrant group of creative students."
Old Brick officials say that their principal belief is that "Everyone is Different and Everyone is important,” so the organization strives to create a safe haven where students can strengthen their self-esteem, explore the creative arts, learn leadership skills and belong to a positive group of young people.
Apart from the Apprentice Program, the Old Brick Playhouse continues to collaborate with local community partners such as the Elkins Rehabilitation & Care Center and the Augusta Heritage Foundation to provide programming for all ages.
While the Old Brick team continues their twice-weekly creative aging program with ERCC, their work with the Augusta Heritage Foundation has taken on a new facet this summer. The Old Brick Playhouse has also been hosting all of Augusta's Folk Arts for Kids and Folk Arts for Teens classes, and recently concluded their own Folk Arts Session teaching Legends and Lore of WV.
"Our work has been recognized regionally, nationally and internationally, but our greatest accomplishment has always been reflected in the lives of the young people we serve,” McCollam said “This would not be possible without the generous support that we receive from our community.”
The Old Brick team “assures even more is to come” this calendar year, and thanks the continued support from their community, students, families and collaborators.
For those interested in Old Brick Playhouse programming, contact the organization at missy@theoldbrick.org. Enrollment is currently open for the Fall Apprentice program, which begins on Aug. 24. To enroll, visit theoldbrick.org.