Come and Experience Our Unique Community
ACT’s comprehensive, full-day arts magnet high school serves grades 9-12 and is housed in the historic, fully renovated Capitol Theater on Main Street in Willimantic. This small city is also home to Eastern Connecticut State University, as well as a vibrant downtown. ACT is located in northeastern Connecticut, about 35 minutes from Hartford.
The Capitol Theater itself boasts three theaters, a set design and construction shop, audio/video editing suites, classrooms, dance studios, a costume shop, computer-aided drafting equipment, a café and an art gallery.
Each day, ACT students arrive from across eastern Connecticut to attend our high school that is steeped in the arts and supported by a demanding academic curriculum. ACT not only offers a supportive and safe school environment, but plentiful opportunities to get involved in the bustling community surrounding the school. ACT’s philosophical foundation is: Respect Yourself, Respect the Work and Respect the Community. This small, tightly-knit community provides students with a place to flourish and reach their true potential.
Interested applicants should schedule a Shadow Day through the form linked above. Completing a shadow day allows prospective students the opportunity to meet current students and staff and to experience a “day-in-the-life” of an ACT student.
Where to Park: While limited on street parking is available, we suggest using the Walnut St parking garage. The garage is a short walk from our Main Street entrance through which all visitors should enter.
ACT Application Process - 3 Steps
High school students who demonstrate a passion for and commitment to the arts will be considered for admission to EASTCONN’s Arts at the Capitol Theater (ACT) performing arts magnet high school. In order to take full advantage of integrated arts and academic classes, small class sizes and performance opportunities, we ask that students come to us with the energy, motivation and commitment it takes to succeed in this unique setting. Every student applicant must undergo a three-step process to ensure that they and their parents/guardians understand the performing arts magnet concept and our expectations.
The application process includes:
1. Completion of the application:
2. Administrative Interview
3. Arts Audition/Portfolio
All prospective students who submit their application on or by Friday, January 23rd will be invited to ACT’s Applied Students’ Day 2026 on Saturday, February 28th from 9am-12noon. That day applicants will complete their administrative interviews and arts audition/portfolio review as well as complete an arts electives survey. Parents of ACT (PACT) join us that morning providing a light continental breakfast. Prospective students who apply after January 23rd will be asked to schedule their interview and arts audition for an alternative date.
Once students complete steps 1-3, they will be eligible for the lottery process. Students who meet the requirements for entry but who are not selected by the lottery process will be placed on a waiting list in the order in which their names were drawn. These individuals will then be eligible for admission based on available space.
For more information please contact:
