Seattle Children’s Theatre creates access for underserved school children
At Seattle Children’s Theatre (SCT), one of the main ways we reach out to underserved and disadvantaged children is through the free and highly subsidized tickets we provide through our School Children Access Program (SCAP), serving approximately 50,000 people annually, at a cost to SCT of $2.6 million. These tickets allow teachers and students to come and see our Mainstage plays and to benefit from the free educational resources we provide on-line. Tied into Common Core requirements and State curriculum standards, these resources help teachers incorporate the experience of seeing live theatre into their classroom work, enhancing the students’ experience of the play and enriching their regular work with drama-based exercises that speak to all learning styles.
While all tickets to SCT’s SCAP program are highly subsidized, costing less than a third of their value, tickets for all teachers and for low-income students are free. This service is deeply appreciated by the students, as this letter from a teacher communicates so well:
“My name is Uti Cleveland and I am a teacher at First Place School, a private institution that provides tuition free schooling to children whose families are in crisis whether that be facing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or struggling with tremendous emotional trauma. My 1st and 2nd graders walk into my classroom with brave but burdened faces, ready to learn, regardless of whether or not they have had a place to sleep the night before. SCT has worked in partnership with First Place School over the years providing free admission for performances, providing special gift tickets for families, and working with us to do community outreach about their scholarships for families. For my students dealing with daily instability they soak in the opportunity to just sit, quietly and listen to a story. Although many of my students have more life experiences then many adults, they lack access to some of the simple pleasures like a bookshelf filled with stories. Many times all their possessions may need to be stored in their backpack. The instant my students walk into this theater and the lights lower they escape the burdens of daily life. Here, in this surrounding, it’s all tangible and their minds are free to just be kids captivated in a great story.”
SCT is proud to make a vital difference in the lives of so many children, thanks to the generous contributions of many donors and friends. With increased support from Cultural Access Washington, we will be able to do even more to benefit the children who need it most.
