WCU Magazine Fall/Winter 2025

WCU’s Pennsylvania Theatre Institute:
BUILDING ARTISTS, EDUCATORS, AND COMMUNITY

“An artist is generous, curious, playful, and kind. An artist works hard. I am an artist.”

Each morning at the Pennsylvania Theatre Institute (PTI) summer program, these words are spoken by students and teachers before the day’s work begins. The mantra sets the tone for what has become a creative home for young performers across the region and a living example of WCU’s commitment to education and the surrounding community.

PTI was founded in 2018 by married arts educators Charlie DelMarcelle, associate professor of theatre at WCU, and Katherine Fritz. Each summer, approximately 120 students ages 8 to 18 come to campus to study theatre through two distinct programs: Young Company and the Pre-College Intensive. Sessions regularly fill, and many families return year after year — often enrolling siblings and watching their children grow up within the program.

Young Company, designed for students ages 8–14, introduces theatre through acting, movement, voice, improvisation, and storytelling. Mornings are spent in structured classes, while afternoons are spent creating an original work that culminates in a final showcase performance. Unlike many youth theatre programs, the emphasis is deliberately placed on creative process rather than performance.

“We wanted to build the program we wished had existed when we were kids,” says DelMarcelle. “Instead of mounting a full musical in two weeks, we focus on collaboration, imagination, and ensemble building.”

That philosophy fosters strong bonds among campers and creates a supportive learning environment where creativity and kindness are prioritized alongside skill-building.

PTI’s impact extends well beyond its campers. The program also offers paid summer apprenticeships for WCU students, providing hands-on teaching experience for students who may wish to pursue careers in theatre and arts education. Apprentices work alongside professional teaching artists and faculty, gaining practical classroom experience while mentoring the next generation of performers.

The institute further supports emerging educators through the PTI Prize for an Emerging Theatre Educator, a scholarship awarded annually to a graduating WCU student committed to a career in arts education. Together, these initiatives position PTI as both a youth training program and a professional pipeline, reinforcing the University’s role in cultivating both future artists and educators.

For older students, the Pre-College Intensive offers a 10-day immersive, residential experience designed for high school students who are considering a theatre major or minor in college. Enrollment is capped at 24 students, allowing for individualized coaching and audition preparation. Participants train with University faculty and professional artists, gaining firsthand experience of college life in the arts.

PTI is supported through a partnership with the University’s College of Arts & Humanities, which provides access to rehearsal, classroom, and performance spaces.

College of Arts & Humanities Dean Dr. Jen Bacon says, “WCU is proud to support PTI. It is a joy to see the ways this program reflects WCU’s commitment to community engagement, arts education, and providing access to high quality learning experiences.”

As PTI looks ahead to another summer, its mission remains rooted in helping to grow artists and educators in a warm and caring environment.

“Families place a great deal of confidence in us during a formative time in their children’s lives,” DelMarcelle says. “That responsibility guides everything we do.”

Registration for PTI’s Summer 2026 is currently open.

WCU hosts summer camps in theatre, music, creative writing, art, sports, and media. Information can be found here.