Organization

We are a registered federal 501c3 and we are in our 9th year of operation. (2001-2004 we were part of Kent Civic and Performing Arts Board, a registered 501c3, 2005-ART established as a state non-profit pursuing federal status, 2006-present ART is a fully functioning 501c3). To date we have done eight main stage productions; Oklahoma, Once Upon a Mattress, Hello, Dolly, Brigadoon, Cinderella, Bye Bye Birdie, Godspell, The Music Man and Into the Woods.

Our current (Jul 21, 2010 - Aug 7, 2010 main stage production Is RENT. In conjunction with our production, we run musical theater camps for the children (ages 4-17) in our community. Over the first nine years, over 800 students have participated in our camp program, each year we seek out and scholarship students from disadvantaged schools in our communities. By attending local shows and concerts in our elementary and middle schools, we have been able to find young students in our community and offer them "talent scholarships" to attend our camp. We make this a big deal, working with the student's teachers and the local schools. By doing this, the student feels that they are valued and recognized for their worth and not simply being given a "hand out". We have had so many of these students grow in their confidence and feelings of worth in our program. We have worked hard to keep costs down. Whereas other local theaters charge $300-$600 for similar camps, we are only charging $100 so that more children can be involved. The college students and adults from our main stage production each summer act as mentors in the camp, which has developed lasting positive relationships for everyone involved.

Over the first nine years of our program, we have given out a total of over $100,000 in college scholarships. Each year the majority of profits from our summer program are given back to students in the form of scholarships, where checks are written directly to colleges, universities and conservatories. We have many students in top programs in the ARTS around the country, but we also have funded engineering, nursing, education, and many other fields of study. The students in our program are able to share their love of the arts with our community by participating in amazing productions, which have become a staple in our community each summer, but also mentor and share with children in our community.