Your Support Has a Far-Reaching Impact

Contributions from individuals and organizations assist Dallas Children's Theater in our mission of enriching and educating the lives of 150,000 children and families each year.

Created in 1984 as a response to the growing need for professional entertainment for children and families, Dallas Children's Theater has grown to include vital, groundbreaking educational programs as well as a 6-play professional season. Dallas Children's Theater is ranked among the Top 5 theaters for children in the country according to TIME Magazine.

Because ticket sales cover approximately half of our costs, Dallas Children's Theater relies on your contributions to help produce a professional season of six plays. Revenue for Arts-In-Education programming pays for even less—about a fourth of these educational expenses; therefore, educational initiatives at Dallas Children's Theater exist ONLY through the support of generous individuals, corporations and foundations.

Your Contributions Provide Assistance for the Following Programs

Curtains Up On Reading Residency is an in-school program integrating drama, literature, language arts, social studies, and history. Dallas Children's Theater artists-in-residence collaborate with educators in DISD elementary schools (over 2,500 students) to incorporate the arts into core curriculum. Interdisciplinary units are designed and taught using a hands-on approach to enhance students' understanding of the material, build enthusiasm for learning, and develop self-confidence. This approach is particularly effective in working with low-performing youth impeded by language barriers and learning difficulties. The Curtains Up On Reading curriculum book is available to schools throughout the country.

Student Matinee Performance Series annually serves more than 50,000 students with weekday performances of our mainstage productions. Income from these discounted student tickets covers only a quarter of our costs to produce live, professional theater specifically for children. Originally-created online study guides that meet Texas Essential Skills and Knowledge standards (TEKS) enhance these arts-in-education experiences. Dallas Children's Theater is committed to doing its part to keep cost from being a barrier to the enjoyment of live theater. When available, additional discounts are provided to requests that demonstrate an extraordinary need.

After-School Drama Classes benefit "at-risk" youth through 61 after-school satellite arts programs created and administered by Dallas Children's Theater. Students learn the creative process, teamwork, and communication skills in an arts educational format taught by professional theater artists. A semester's work culminates in the creation and performance of a play based on the group's shared life experiences.

Dallas Children's Theater Academy for Theater Arts offers year-round classes to more than 1,800 young people, ages 3–18. Each class runs for 12 weeks with 200-300 students each session, 16–17 classes each session. Classes are offered in everything from beginning to advanced theater arts and taught by degreed theater professionals with focus on the development of imagination, communication skills, collaborative problem-solving, and performance techniques. "Showbiz Summer" offers over 30 summer classes to some 1,000+ children. "The Teen Conservatory" is very popular with older children. Scholarships are available.

Give now or call us at 214-978-0110 to support these outstanding programs.