Primary Players Children’s Theatre Group was founded in 2005 by former school teacher, Mrs. Nikki Andrews, who noted that the standard school curriculum left insufficient time in the classroom for the performing arts. She noticed younger pupils received very little exposure since most drama clubs were only available to older students. Mrs. Andrews wrote a request for a grant, which was approved and awarded by the Maryville City Schools Foundation. Primary Players has grown into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit drama organization devoted to youngsters from ages 8 to 18 who love acting, singing, dancing and learning about the many aspects of theatrical production. We aim to educate, entertain and enrich our students’ lives through the magic of theatre.

Our Mission

Primary Players Children’s Theatre Group is committed to working with young people to develop their theatrical artistry, specifically dramatic expression, artistic interpretation, technical presentation, makeup, sets, and costume design. We anticipate that the students participating in Primary Players will develop a heightened appreciation of the theatrical arts, and will recognize the importance of the arts in their community. We also make an effort to ensure that each student’s time with us is enjoyable and engaging.

The goals of Primary Players Children’s Theatre Group include educating youngsters in the arts, cultivating their talents, and instructing students in life skills, like public speaking, self expression, confidence, professional integrity and responsibility. We also aim to produce outstanding experiences for our young cast members and to give our audiences excellent theatrical events.

The Primary Players Children’s Theatre Group is honored to be the Resident Children’s Theatre Group of the Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville, Tennessee.