MFA in Theatre - Theatre for Young Audiences in Honolulu United States | University of Hawaii at Manoa

The TYA initiative fosters creativity and curiosity, blending core principles of drama education and curriculum design with the vibrant artistry of puppetry, masks, clowning, and movement. The program's adaptable structure allows students to focus on diverse fields—from performance and directing to playwriting and puppetry—all aimed at sparking young minds' imaginations.
We embrace a broad vision of TYA that belongs onstage, in classrooms, and across communities. These pillars—performance, education, and outreach—form the bedrock of every program element.
With spectacular performances, the TYA program honors the thrill of live theater. Annually, countless children, teens, and families enter Kennedy Theatre's doors to discover enchanting realms. Our productions span timeless fairy tales, literary adaptations, and original student/faculty works, featuring daring theatrical designs that weave together music, dance, puppetry, masks, and Asian/Pacific performance traditions. The program challenges outdated perceptions of youth theater as simplistic or inferior, insisting instead on uncompromising artistic excellence in every production detail.
TYA students enhance educational impact by integrating drama techniques into learning environments. This core philosophy positions the program where theater meets pedagogy, where performance intersects with child development, and where life lessons merge with creative play.
We view theater not just as entertainment but as a catalyst for change. Combining academic study with practical experience, the program provides internships with arts organizations and chances to employ theater techniques for community betterment locally and globally.