Seattle Children's Theatre

Founded in 1975, Seattle Children's Theatre (SCT) is the second-largest resident theatre for young audiences in North America and among the twenty largest regional theatres in the United States, with an annual operating budget of approximately $6.5 Million. SCT's mission statement reads: "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."

SCT employs bargaining unit members of Actor's Equity, United Scenic Artists and IATSE and is a member of Theatre Puget Sound, International Performing Arts for Youth and Theatre Communications Group. Mainstage Season performances are presented at Seattle Center in the 482-seat Charlotte Martin and 275-seat Eve Alvord Theatres from September through June. SCT's Drama School also produces a Summer Season with student actors who work hand-in-hand with professional creative staff and technicians.

Throughout its history, SCT has developed and produced more than 113 new works, many of which go on to be produced by other regional theatres around the country and the world.

SCT programming reaches approximately 220,000 children, parents, and teachers annually.

Education programs

In addition to its mainstage productions, SCT operates several education programs. Its Education Outreach arm brings theatre-related teaching to schools and other organizations in the Seattle area. Its on-site Drama School provides classes year-round, taught by professional artists, and produces Summer Season shows providing young people with participatory theatre education and theatre arts training.^[1] The SCT Deaf Youth Drama Program (DYDP) was founded in 1993 by brothers Howie and Billy Seago. DYDP lost funding and was discontinued in 2007.

Awards

Seattle Children's Theatre has gained national^[2] and international prominence as a producer of theatre, educational programs, and new scripts for young people. SCT's awards and honors include:

• 2015 Puget Sound Business Journal honors Artistic Director Linda Hartzell as a Woman of Influence
• 2015 Artistic Director Linda Hartzell honored with the Individual Artist Award at the Washington Governor's Arts & Heritage Award
• 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.
• 2009 ArtsFund awards Artistic Director Linda Hartzell their award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, and awards board member Eve and Chap Alvord their award for Lifetime Dedication to the Arts.
• 2006 Mayor's Arts Award for contribution to the cultural vitality of the region.^[3]
• 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^[4]
• 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
• 2000 Cyrano performed at the opening night festivities of Theatre Communications Group's annual conference
• 1999 The Book of Ruth receives the AT&T: OnStage award
• 1999 Cyrano performed at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
• 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 a Technical Pavilion.
• 1996 Still Life With Iris granted a Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays award
• 1993 $500,000 National Arts Stabilization Fund award to create a working capital reserve

Production history

1975-2000

1975

• Little Red Riding Hood *
• Winnie-the-Pooh
• You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
• The Tinder Box
• Gertrude Stein's First Reader

1976

• Hansel and Gretel
• Imperial Nightingale *
• Foolery *
• Tom Sawyer
• Ice Wolf

1977

• The Prince and the Pauper *
• Aladdin's Lamp *
• Pippi Longstocking
• Alice in Wonderland *
• Circus Home *

1978

• The Wind in the Willows
• Pinocchio *
• Step on a Crack *
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
• A Tale of King Arthur *

1979 - Fifth Season

• The Hobbit
• The Revenge of the Space Pandas or Binky Rudich & the Two Speed Clock
• Doc Maynard *
• Cinderella
• Ozma of Oz *

1980

• Treasure Island
• The Boy Who Talked to Whales *
• Five Minutes to Morning
• Huck Finn *
• To Kill a Mockingbird

1981

• The Ransom of Red Eye
• Heidi
• The Miracle Worker

1981-82

• The Diary of Anne Frank
• Maggie's Gift Outside *
• Heidi (Part II) *
• Twilight of a Crane

1982-83

• Dracula *
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
• Families *
• The Comedy of Errors
• Mother Hicks *

1983-84

• Great Expectations *
• Pinocchio *
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
• The Tempest
• Newcomer
• Tall Tales from Mark Twain

1984-85 - Tenth Season

• The Count of Monte Cristo
• The Snow Queen
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
• Birds *
• Through Separate Doors
• The Miser

1985-86

• The Former One-on-One Basketball Champion
• Puss in Boots *
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
• Robin Hood *
• The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde *
• Little Lulu *

1986-87

• The Curse of Castle Mongrew *
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs *
• Follow the Drinking Gourd: A Play About Harriet Tubman *
• Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing *
• The Three Musketeers *
• Little Lulu

1987-88

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame *
• Rocky and Bullwinkle *
• Most Valuable Player
• James and the Giant Peach
• The Death and Life of Sherlock Holmes *

1988-89

• Up the Down Staircase
• The Hoboken Chicken Emergency *
• The Secret Garden
• According to Coyote
• The Would-Be Gentleman

1989-90 - Fifteenth Season

• Rip Van Winkle and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow: A Tribute to Washington Irving *
• The Magic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle *
• Apollo: To the Moon
• Amelia Earhart: Flights of Fancy
• Jungalbook
• Tuck Everlasting *

1990-91

• Captain Fantasto *
• The Reluctant Dragon
• The Magic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
• The Council *
• Anne of Green Gables *
• There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom *

1991-92

• The Firebird *
• Nancy and Plum *
• Charlotte's Web
• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry *
• Make Me Pele for a Day *

1992-93

• Invisible Friends
• Doctor Dolittle in the Moon *
• The Invisible Man *
• The Velveteen Rabbit
• Dragonwings
• Ramona Quimby

1993-94

• Afternoon of the Elves *
• Jack and the Beanstalk *
• The Hardy Boys in the Mystery of the Haunted House *
• The Rememberer *
• Just So and Other Stories *

1994-95 - Twentieth Season

• Sara Crewe *
• A Wrinkle in Time *
• The Yellow Boat
• Winnie-the-Pooh *
• the Portrait the Wind the Chair *
• Little Rock *

1995-96

• Naomi's Road **
• The Day After Tomorrow **
• The Magic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond *
• Romeo and Juliet
• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland *

1996-97

• The Taste of Sunrise: Tuc's Story *
• Bunnicula *
• Pinocchio *
• The Short Tree and the Bird Who Could Not Sing **
• The Odyssey
• The Hardy Boys in the Secret of Skullbone Island *

1997-98

• Still Life With Iris *
• Stellaluna *
• A Day at the Beach *
• Mr. Popper's Penguins
• Pink and Say *
• Frog and Toad *
• The Tempest

1998-99

• Kenny's Window *
• Cyrano **
• The Cricket in Times Square *
• Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse *
• The Book of Ruth *
• The King of Ireland's Son *

1999-00 - Twenty-Fifth Season

• The Boxcar Children *
• The Velveteen Rabbit
• Time Again in Oz *
• Apple to Grandma **
• The Midwife's Apprentice *
• When I Grow Up I'm Gonna Get Some Big Words *

2000-2016

2000-01

• Animal Farm
• The Red Balloon
• Prince Brat and the Whipping Boy *
• Mask of the Unicorn Warrior *
• Winnie-the-Pooh
• Sideways Stories from Wayside School *

2001-02

• Johnny Tremain *
• The Hoboken Chicken Emergency
• The Wrestling Season
• Charlotte's Web
• Into the West
• Holes *

2002-03

• Our Only May Amelia *
• The Big Friendly Giant
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
• The Outsiders
• Go, Dog. Go! *
• Nicky Somewhere Else **
• The Shakespeare Stealer

2003-04

• The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle *
• The Gingerbread Man
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
• Tibet Through the Red Box *
• The Shape of a Girl **
• Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle *

2004-05 - Thirtieth Season

• The Magic City *
• Bunnicula
• The Secret Garden
• The Red Badge of Courage *
• Glittra's Mission **
• A Year With Frog and Toad
• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

2005-06

• Seussical
• Nothing is the Same
• Sleeping Beauty
• Peter and the Wolf *
• The Devil and Daniel Webster *
• Honus and Me *
• Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business

2006-07

• Harriet's Halloween Candy
• Jason and the Golden Fleece
• The Sorcerer's Apprentice *
• Goodnight Moon *
• Afternoon of the Elves
• Everyone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like *
• Addy: An American Girl Story *

2007 - Special Event

• The Green Sheep

2007-08

• Disney's High School Musical
• The Big Friendly Giant
• The Neverending Story *
• Hamlet
• The Hundred Dresses
• According to Coyote
• Busytown *

2008 - Special Events

• The Green Sheep
• Night of the Living Dead

2008-09

• Bluenose**
• The Wizard of Oz
• Tomás and the Library Lady
• Pharaoh Serket and the Lost Stone of Fire*
• A Tale of Two Cities
• Goodnight Moon
• I Was a Rat!*

2009-10 - Thirty-Fifth Season

• Mysterious Gifts: Theatre of Iran **
• If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
• Peter Pan
• Perô
• In the Northern Lands: Norse Myths *
• Getting Near to Baby
• Brementown Musicians *

2010-11

• The Green Sheep: based on the book by Mem Fox and Judy Horace; directed by Cate Fowler
• The Borrowers: By Charles Way, based on the books by Mary Norton; directed by Rita Giomi
• Morgan's Journey
• Lyle the Crocodile: Book by Kevin Kling, music and lyrics by Richard Gray, based on the book by Bernard Waber; directed by Linda Hartzell
• Go, Dog, Go!: By Steven Dietz and Allison Gregory, based on the book by P.D. Eastman; directed by Steven Dietz
• The Man Who Planted Trees: by Richard Medrington, Rick Conte and Ailie Cohen, based on the book by Jean Giono; directed by Ailie Cohen
• Jackie and Me*: By Steven Dietz, based on the book by Dan Gutman; directed by Sheila Daniels

2011-12

• Harold and the Purple Crayon*: Book by Don Darryl Rivera, music by Auston James, lyrics by Rob Burgess, based on the books by Crockett Johnson
• Robin Hood: By Greg Banks
• A Year with Frog and Toad: Music by Robert Reale, book and lyrics by Willie Reale, based on the books by Arnold Lobel
• A Single Shard*: Based upon the book by Linda Sue Park, adapted by Robert Schenkkan; directed by Linda Hartzell
• HELP: Presented by Theatergroep Max., music by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Vincent Van Warmerdam and others; directed by Moniek Merkx
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites: Adapted, directed, and designed by Jim Morrow, music by Steven Naylor; directed by Jim Morrow

2012-13

• Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat: Based on the book by Dr. Seuss; directed by R. Hamilton Wright
• Danny, King of the Basement: By David S. Craig; directed by Rita Giomi
• The Wizard of Oz: By L. Frank Baum, adapted by John Kane, music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg; directed by Linda Hartzell
• Dot & Ziggy: Created by Linda Hartzell, Mark Perry, and Seattle Children’s Theatre, music by Chris Walker; directed by Linda Hartzell
• The Edge of Peace*: By Suzan Zeder; directed by Linda Hartzell
• Adventures with Spot*: Adapted for the stage by Rob Burgess, Linda Hartzell, and Don Darryl Rivera, based on the books by Eric Hill; directed by Linda Hartzell
• Crash*: By Y York, based on the novel by Jerry Spinelli; directed by Rita Giomi

2013-14

• Pippi Longstocking: The Family Musical: Music and lyrics by Sebastian, adapted for the stage by Sebastian and Staffan Götestam, based on the novel by Astrid Lindgren; directed by Rita Giomi
• Dot & Ziggy: Created by Linda Hartzell, Mark Perry, and Seattle Children’s Theatre, music by Chris Walker; directed by Linda Hartzell
• James and the Giant Peach*: Words and Music by Justin Paul and Benj Pasek, book by Timothy Allen McDonald, based on the book by Roald Dahl; directed by Linda Hartzell
• Pinocchio: By Carlo Collodi, adapted by Greg Banks, produced and commissioned by Children's Theatre Company; directed by Greg Banks
• The Boy at the Edge of Everything*: By Finegan Kruckemeyer, a co-production with Trusty Sidekick Theater Company; directed by Jonathan Shmidt Chapman
• Art Dog*: Based upon the book by Thacher Hurd, adapted by John Olive, composed by Susan Ennis; directed by Rita Giomi

2014-15 - Fortieth Season

• The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi: By Y York, adapted from the story by Rudyard Kipling; directed by Rita Giomi
• Dick Whittington and His Cat*: By Jeff Church, based on an English folk tale, original music by Richard Gray; directed by Allison Narver
• Mwindo*: By Cheryl L. West; directed by Linda Hartzell
• Goodnight Moon: Book, music, and lyrics by Chad Henry, adapted from the book by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd; directed by Rita Giomi
• Robin Hood: By Greg Banks; directed by Allison Narver

2015-16

• Elephant and Piggie's "We Are in a Play!": Script and lyrics by Mo Willems, music by Deborah Wicks La Puma; directed by Rita Giomi
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, music by special arrangement with Sony/ATV publishing, adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams, based on the MGM Motion Picture, licensed script adapted by Ray Roderick; directed by Linda Hartzell
• Where the Wild Things Are: Based on the book by Maurice Sendak, a Presentation House Production, originally adapted for the stage by TAG Theatre Glasgow, Scotland; directed by Kim Selody
• Hana's Suitcase: Based on the book by Karen Levine, published by Second Story Press, produced by Young People’s Theatre, Toronto, Canada; directed by Allen MacInnis
• Brooklyn Bridge: A co-production with The University of Washington School of Drama, written by Melissa James Gibson; directed by Rita Giomi
• Dr. Seuss The Cat in the Hat: Based on the book by Dr. Seuss; directed by Linda Hartzell * = World Premiere ** = American Premiere

Affiliated Artists

Choreographers

• Jason Ohlberg, Choreographer
• Marianne Roberts, Choreographer

Directors

• Alyssa Keene, Dialect Coach
• David Duvall, Musical Director
• Francesca Zambello, Director
• Geoffrey Alm, Fight Director
• Greg Banks, Adaptor/Director
• Jeff Church, Director
• Kathleen Collins, Director
• Mark Lutwak, Director
• R. Hamilton Wright, Director
• Rita Giomi, Director
• Valerie Curtis-Newton, Director
• Onny Huisink, Director/Set, Puppet, and Costume Designer
• Michael Koerner, Composer/Musical Director

Designers

• Carey Wong, Set Designer
• Catherine Hunt, Costume Designer
• Chris R. Walker, Composer/Sound Designer
• Douglas N. Paasch, Puppet Designer/Coach
• Edie Whitsett, Set Designer
• Etta Lilienthal, Set Designer
• Jeanette deJong, Costume Designer
• Jennifer Lupton, Set Designer
• Matthew Smucker, Scenic Designer
• Melanie Taylor Burgess, Costume Designer
• Michael Wellborn, Lighting Designer
• Rick Paulsen, Lighting Designer
• Sarah Nash Gates, Costume Designer
• Tristan M. T. Dalley, Puppet Designer

Writers

• Allison Gregory, Playwright/Choreographer
• Barbara Field, Playwright
• Chad Henry, Playwright/Composer
• Charles Way, Playwright
• Cheryl L. West, Playwright
• David Henry Hwang, Playwright
• Deborah Lynn Frockt, Playwright
• Gary L. Blackwood, Author/Playwright
• Hummie Mann, Composer
• John Olive, Playwright
• Joe Sutton, Playwright
• Jon Klein, Playwright
• Kevin Kling, Playwright
• Laurie Brooks, Playwright
• Louis Sachar, Author
• Saskia Janse, Playwright/Dramaturg
• OyamO, Playwright
• Paula Wing, Playwright
• Robert Schenkkan, Playwright
• Sid Fleischman, Author/Playwright
• Steven Dietz, Playwright/Director
• Y York, Playwright

Controversy

An information technology worker, William Edgar Hoke, was arrested and subsequently convicted of possessing at least 13,000 pornographic images of child pornography, spanning over three years of browsing illegal bulletin boards which he accessed from both home and work computers. There was no indication that Hoke had unsupervised contact with children at SCT. He was charged by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of Operation Predator, a program aimed at bringing to justice those who prey upon children. He was sentenced to eighteen months in prison as well as ten years probation.^[5][6]

References

External links

• Seattle Children's Theatre website
• Plays for Young Audiences website
• Seattle Children's Theatre at HistoryLink