Tacoma Youth Theatre is Broadway Bound!
Tacoma Youth Theatre is opening a new theatre at 924 Broadway in the heart of Tacoma’s Theatre District. The facility is uniquely designed for young artists to experience theatre for themselves. The organization is launching a crowd-funding campaign to pay for needed improvements.
Photo by Michael Martin
Tacoma, WA , September 20, 2013 – Tacoma Youth Theatre is creating a new theatre facility at 924 Broadway, right in the heart of Tacoma's Theatre District. Starting this fall, students will experience all this innovative space has to offer: a fully functioning in-the-round “black box” performance space with ample seating, a separate rehearsal studio, dressing rooms, costume rooms, prop rooms – all designed to provide a hands-on learning environment where young artists can discover the joy, success, and impact of theatre for themselves.
Tacoma Youth Theatre, co-founded by Maggie Knott and Scott Campbell, began in the summer of 2012 and has since produced a dozen plays - all created by young artists.
“It’s exciting to be building a facility specifically geared towards youth theatre. It’s unique,” says Knott. “For them to have access to the costumes, the props, the lighting, and the sound…and have it intentionally designed in a safe way for them to do that.”
Tacoma Youth Theatre will be expanding programming in the fall: a morning class for four and five year old actors who are just starting out and a day-time class for home school students. The organization’s after school program will continue using a Pay What You Can pricing model. Two productions will be offered: Treasure Island and Cinderella. Along with these classes, there will be a weekly improv class and several one-day workshops. This winter, Tacoma Youth Theatre will mount a special holiday production, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, offering young actors and their families an opportunity to experience the joys of theatre together, while sharing the stage with experienced acting mentors.
"During the past year, we have seen steady growth. Parents really appreciate and enjoy the unique and professional way we engage young artists,” says Campbell. “This is a big deal for Tacoma, the Theatre District, and for children and families in this community. We’re launching an Indiegogo campaign to support our mission, to give this theatre the best start possible, and to provide young artists with the very best theatre experiences."
The campaign will raise funds to further the mission of Tacoma Youth Theatre by purchasing equipment and making safety upgrades to the facility. Visit www.tacomayouththeatre.org to see the upcoming fall schedule or call 253-677-0531 for more information or to sign up for a class. Visit igg.me/at/tacomayouththeatre to check out the organization’s crowd-funding campaign.
“Every young person deserves the opportunity to participate in theatre. It's an incomparable learning experience,” says Knott. “Achieving our funding goals will establish a unique, hands-on, youth-only theatre where we're able to take that powerful learning even further, and keep that experience affordable.”
About Tacoma Youth Theatre:
Tacoma Youth Theatre is dedicated to creating high-quality theatre entirely produced by young artists. The company strives to build community by emphasizing core values of self-esteem, empathy, responsibility, collaboration, creativity, and adaptability. Tacoma Youth Theatre provides professional expectations, resources, and mentors that lead young people through the exploration of multiple theatrical disciplines. This process works best in a nurturing, respectful atmosphere where unique individuals, ages 5-18, can discover the impact, success, and joy of theatre for themselves.
Contact:
Scott Campbell, Managing Director
