Seattle Children's Theatre

Seattle Children's Theatre provides children of all ages access to professional theatre, with a focus on new works, and theatre education.

Mission

The mission of Seattle Children's Theatre is to provide children of all ages access to professional theatre, with a focus on new works, and theatre education.

Seattle Children's Theatre (SCT) is the second largest resident theatre for young audiences in North America. Our programs empower young people to make new discoveries about themselves and the world around them while building a lifelong interest in the arts.

History

Seattle Children's Theatre (SCT) is one of the most prominent theatres for young audiences and among the top 20 regional theatres in the country. Our programs empower young people to make new discoveries about themselves and the world around them while building a lifelong interest in the arts. The mission of Seattle Children's Theatre is to provide children of all ages access to professional theatre, with a focus on new works, and theatre education.

Founded in 1975, SCT first produced plays in the Poncho Theatre, at Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo. SCT started as a program of the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation, with initial funding from the City of Seattle and PONCHO (Patrons of Northwest Civic, Cultural and Charitable Organizations). Some of the earliest supporters of the organization were teachers and graduate students from the University of Washington's Masters Program in Theatre for Youth (one of the few of its kind at the time).

Since its inception, Seattle Children's Theatre has strived to provide innovative artistic programming and professional theatre for the young people and families of the Puget Sound region. SCT moved into the 482-seat Charlotte Martin Theatre in 1993, the 275-seat Eve Alvord Theatre in 1995, and completed the Allen Family Technical Pavilion, which consists of the paint, costume, prop, and scene shops as well as rehearsal and classroom spaces, in 2000. This state-of-the-art facility was the first self-contained theatre complex built for young audiences in the nation, and has since been used as a model for other theatres.

Awards

• 2013 Children's Theatre Foundation of America's Corey Medallion Award presented to Linda Hartzell, SCT Artistic Director
• 2012 Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Linda Hartzell, SCT Artistic Director
• 2011 ASSITEJ Award for Artist of Excellence presented to Linda Hartzell, SCT Artistic Director.
• 2010 The Wall Street Journal and TYA (Theatre for Young Audiences) Today Magazine recognize SCT as a leader in Toddler Theatre for work with The Green Sheep.
• 2006 Mayor's Arts Award for contribution to the cultural vitality of our region.
• 2004 TIME Magazine's #2 ranking in the top five children's theatres in the nation.
• 2004 Tibet Through the Red Box receives the AT&T: OnStage® award, making Seattle Children's Theatre the only theatre for young audiences to receive the prestigious award for three productions.
• 2002 Holes receives the AT&T: OnStage® award.
• 2001 $50,000 award from The Pew Charitable Trust and Theatre Communications Group to continue a multi-year-collaboration with Speeltheater Holland, internationally acclaimed puppet artists from The Netherlands.
• 2000 Prestigious Gregory Falls Sustained Achievement Award from Theatre Puget Sound presented to SCT Artistic Director Linda Hartzell.
• 2000 Cyrano performed at the opening night festivities of Theatre Communication Group's annual conference; this is the first such invitation offered to a theatre for young audiences.
• 1999 The Book of Ruth receives the AT&T: OnStage® award, making us the first theatre for young audiences to be so honored.
• 1999 Cyrano performed at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
• 1997 $100,000 award from The Pew Charitable Trust and Theatre Communications Group to facilitate a collaboration with Speeltheater Holland.
• 1996 $2 million leadership grant from The Allen Foundation for the Arts for the construction of SCT's new Technical Pavilion.
• 1996 Still Life With Iris granted a Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays award; the first time a script for young audiences had been so honored.
• 1993 $500,000 National Arts Stabilization Fund award to create a working capital reserve; the first time a theatre for young audiences was so honored.

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