MONROE — Monroe Arts Center, in collaboration with Monroe Theatre Guild, recently announced a new free arts program to be offered to 25 students in third through fifth grades. 

Connections Creative Theater Program will give students the opportunity to experience the world of theater from the inside out. Each class session in this 11-week program will take place on Monday afternoons from 3 to 4:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 7 and will run through the week of March 18. Class sessions will take place at both Monroe Arts Center, 1315 11th Street, and Monroe Theatre Guild, 910 16th Avenue in Monroe.

The connections program will provide students the chance to explore the various facets of the theater, play fun characters, create props and costumes, help with stage lighting, write original scripts and perform for family and friends.

Students who have enrolled in the connections program will also take a field trip Jan. 13 to see the national Broadway tour of “Finding Neverland” at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison. After the show, students will have the opportunity to meet the professionals involved in the production.

Space is limited. For more information, contact Monroe Arts Center at 608-325-5700 or 1315 11th Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Additional details and registration forms are available online at monroeartscenter.com. The registration deadline is 5 p.m. Jan. 3.

The connections program is underwritten by the Monroe Morning Optimist Club.