MONMOUTH — Theater at Monmouth will celebrate 45 years of arts education for young people throughout Maine with two arts learning programs: Page to Stage and the Write On! Student Playwriting Project.

Each program provides students hands-on opportunities to explore their creative voices with professional artists.

For grades pre-k to 8, the Page to Stage Tour brings a world premiere adaptation of Ruth Stiles Gannett’s “My Father’s Dragon” to schools across the state.

The second annual Write On! Student Playwriting Project invites students in grades 5-12 to make their voices heard by submitting their  own original plays for a opportunity to be presented in TAM’s 2014 Summer Season.

Page to Stage

Page to Stage deepens understanding of, appreciation for and connection to classic literature for learners of all ages. The program annually reaches more than 9,000 students from York to Limestone, Rangeley to Lubec.

“My Father’s Dragon,” the tale of a young boy’s quest to rescue a baby dragon, comes to life in TAM’s world premiere adaptation by Dawn McAndrews. It will tour schools and community centers across the state from April 28 through May 24.

The beloved children’s classic tells the story of Elmer Elevator’s journey to Wild Island. When he hears about the poor mistreated baby dragon, he packs his knapsack with supplies and stows away on a ship headed for the faraway land. With the help of two dozen pink lollipops, rubber bands, chewing gum and a fine-toothed comb, Elmer disarms the fiercest of beasts on Wild Island.

For performance details visit www.theateratmonmouth.org or call 207-933-9999.

Write On!

Launched in 2013 with support from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, Write On! integrates the art of playwriting into the middle and high school curriculum to enhance academic and culturally literacy, creative expression and communication skills. Students learn the importance of language structure, grammar and word choice as a means of clearly communicating their own thoughts, choices and imaginations through the development of an original play.

Write On! includes professional development workshops for teachers, curriculum guides and classroom visits with professional teaching artists, continuing TAM’s mission to take learning in and through the arts to all corners of the state.

Student playwrights are invited to submit an original 10-minute play (grades 5-8) or a one-act play (grades 9-12). Plays are reviewed by a jury of professional theater artists, and finalists receive a workshop and stage-reading of their play as part of TAM’s 2014 summer season.

Student writers work with professional directors and dramaturges to edit and revise their scripts, participate in casting the roles, attend rehearsals offering feedback on their intentions and sit on stage during the performance to place the spotlight directly on their work.

One grand finalist receives $500; second- and third-place finalists receive season tickets to the theater; all selected playwrights benefit from the opportunity to have their original play produced at a professional theatre.

Submission forms and guidelines are available at www.theateratmonmouth.org in Education. Student submissions must be received no later than May 1.

For more information on how to become involved in Write On! (as a teacher in the classroom or as an aspiring young writer) call 207-933-2952.