Children's Theatre of Charlotte

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte (CTC) is an American theater organization founded in 1948 which has become one of the country’s largest arts and education organizations serving young people. CTC serves over 320,000 families and young people each year with professional productions and education programs. Measured by audience attendance, CTC ranks in the top five nationally among theatres for young audiences.^[1] CTC has received accolades on the national, state and local levels, including a 2008 "Medallion" from the Children's Theatre Foundation of America.^[2]

ImaginOn

CTC is part of a nationally unique collaboration with the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County at ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center. Opened to the public on October 8, 2005, ImaginOn is a 102,000-square-foot (9,500 m²) facility that holds the Library's downtown youth services locations along with theatre spaces and classrooms.^[3]

CTC mounts performances from September through May in two state-of-the-art theatre spaces at ImaginOn: the 570-seat McColl Family Theatre and the 250-seat Wachovia Playhouse.^[4] CTC is also home to a fully professional touring company, the Tarradiddle Players, which travels across North Carolina and throughout the Southeast. One of the Southeast’s only true repertory companies, as of June 2009 the Tarradiddle Players have performed for well over 1,200,000 people.

Education Programs

In addition to productions, the CTC offers a full range of Education Programs for ages 3–18. Each year the Theatre enrolls nearly 3,000 young people in enrichment classes at the main facility and satellite locations throughout the county. CTC implements programs in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) system, including in-school residencies and a substance abuse prevention program made up of a production and workshop that tour eighth-grade classrooms. CTC also holds extensive week-long camp programs during the summer months.^[5]

Community Involvement Program

The Theatre's Community Involvement Program (CIP) encourages participation among audiences traditionally underserved by arts organizations. Through this program, eligible families may receive scholarships for classes and tickets to productions. CTC also partners with other service organizations to provide outreach classes in the community. CTC's Community Involvement Program has been cited as a model by Charlotte's Arts and Science Council.^[6]

Awards

Over the course of its history, Children's Theatre of Charlotte has earned recognition from local, regional and national organizations, corporations, foundations and federated campaigns. Recent accolades include:

• Readers' Choice - Best Performing Arts Company and Editors' Choice - Best Kid Friendly Cultural Outing Charlotte Magazine 2009 "Best of the Best" Awards

• 2008 Medallion Award - Children's Theatre Foundation The "Medallion" was awarded in acknowledgement of staff quality, artistic standards, and extent of growing audience, as well as the creation of ImaginOn. Other nationally-known winners of this award include Charles M. Schulz and the Peanuts Gang, Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and Dr. Seuss.

• 2008 Nonprofit Sector Stewardship Award - N.C. Center for Nonprofits Children's Theatre of Charlotte was named one of three statewide recipients of this award, which honors organizations that exhibit exemplary stewardship of the resources entrusted to them.

• Selected Partner - US Airways New Plays Festival for Families Children’s Theatre, along with Childsplay in Phoenix, AZ and People’s Light and Theatre in Malvern, PA, were winners of a single national grant from US Airways with a joint proposal to create a two-year new play festival for families entitled Imagination Begins with US!

• Financial Excellence in Culture Award In January 2007, Children's Theatre received the inaugural Financial Excellence in Culture Award presented by Stanford Group Company in partnership with the Arts & Science Council. The initiative recognizes and rewards a cultural organization that demonstrates exemplary financial management.

• McColl Award - Arts and Science Council Children’s Theatre was presented with the 2007 McColl Award by the Arts and Science Council. Named for Hugh McColl, former CEO of Bank of America and his wife, Jane Bratton Spratt McColl, the award supports a single arts organization in the creation of a new work for the community.

References

1. ^ "Marquee Season Listings". Theatre for Young Audiences USA. 2007-2008. http://www.assitej-usa.org/pdfs/Marquee%20Season%20Listings_0708_FINAL.pdf. 
2. ^ "Medallions". Children's Theatre Foundation of America. 2008. http://www.childrenstheatrefoundation.org/accomplish.html. .
3. ^ "Imagine This". School Library Journal. December 1, 2005. http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6286436.html. 
4. ^ "ImaginOn Imagines the Dream of Youth Theatre". Backstage. March 1, 2006. http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/stage/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002114471. 
5. ^ "2009 BOB Awards: Family and Kids". Charlotte Magazine. May 2009. http://www.charlottemagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7141. 
6. ^ "Q&A with Bruce LaRowe". Charlotte Viewpoint. March 2006. http://www.charlotteviewpoint.org/default.aspx?viewpoint=93&objid=120. 

External links

• Children's Theatre of Charlotte website
• ImaginOn website