About Stages Theatre Company
Center Stage for Young People
Since our founding in 1984 Stages Theatre Company, a professional theatre for young audiences, has put the well-being and growth of youth in the center of everything we do; on stage, backstage, in the audience, and in the classroom. When a youth enters any of our spaces, they are the center of not only why we do what we do, but how we do it.
Our Mission
Inspiring Growth Through Theatre
Stages Theatre Company is committed to the enrichment and education of children and youth in a professional theatre environment that stimulates artistic excellence and personal growth.
Our Inclusion Statement
A Welcome Home for All Voices
Stages Theatre Company is dedicated to creating a space where diverse opinions, courageous dialogue, and local, national, and international community engagement is not only valued, but vital to our shared artistic and educational success. We make this pledge in the hope of curating a welcome home for all.
Our Core Values
What Guides Every Story We Tell
Integrity
Accessibility
We strive to overcome barriers that block points of entry into Stages Theatre Company.
Innovation
We embrace a continual process of renewal and experimentation in theatre and arts education.
Collaboration
We foster collaboration among professional artists and youth to create exceptional theatre.
Entertainment
We maintain a commitment to entertain our audience in diverse ways.
Challenge
We design programs that inspire students, artists, and audiences.
Sustainability
We ensure organizational stability through long-range planning, assessment, and retention of quality, professional staff, and fiscal responsibility.
Our Access Statement
Creating Theatre for All
Stages Theatre Company is committed to addressing barriers that can restrict participation to our performances and programming. We believe that every individual should be able to access the joy, wonder, and benefits of participation in the theatre arts. We are working toward a fully inclusive environment where all programs and performances are accessible to all.
Land Acknowledgement
Honoring the Land We Stand On
Stages Theatre Company acknowledges with respect and gratitude that the land on which we live and work is unceded, traditional land of the Dakota Nation.
We are committed to learning from the past and critically examining the implications of colonial histories in our day-to-day lives.
To honor the traditional custodians on this land, complimentary tickets to every performance are available specifically for our Indigenous community. We hope these resources can move us to take collective action towards land repatriation. Call our box office to claim tickets or for any questions.
BIPOC in TYA
Amplifying Diverse Stories
Stages Theatre Company actively supports, amplifies, and creates opportunities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) voices in Theatre for Young Audiences. Our commitment is to produce work that reflects the diversity of our audiences and communities.
Our History
Four Decades of Creative Impact
Founding
- Stages Theatre Company, originally called Child's Play Theatre, was founded in the western suburbs of Minneapolis to provide quality theatre programming for children.
- Early focus on engaging young people on stage, backstage, in the audience, and in the classroom.
- Annual attendance: ~20,000.
- Annual budget: ~$100,000.
Early Growth & Eisenhower Community Center Era
- Most performances staged at Eisenhower Community Center in Hopkins, MN.
- Built collaborations with multiple organizations.
Expanded scale and scope of programming. - Grew into a fully professional theatre company.
Hopkins Center for the Arts Planning
- Partnership between Stages Theatre Company, the City of Hopkins, and Hopkins School District.
- Led by Artistic Director Steve Barberio.
- Designed and fundraised for Hopkins Center for the Arts (HCA) — $4.3 million, 37,000 sq. ft. multi-disciplinary facility in downtown Hopkins.
Move to Hopkins Center for the Arts
- Officially relocated into HCA.
- Expanded artistic and education offerings and audience base.
Piloting C.A.S.T. Program
- Stages Theatre Company created C.A.S.T. in partnership with AuSM (Autism Society of Minnesota) to provide theatre classes for youth with autism and other sensory sensitivities. This pilot program was designed to create a safe and welcoming environment for students to foster self-expression, social engagement, and confidence.
Theatre for the Very Young & First Sensory-Friendly Performance
- Added annual Theatre for the Very Young production each August.
- Enhanced education programs: school-year classes (ages 3–17), community workshops, summer/winter camps, school outreach for thousands of students.
- "The Mitten" was our very first Sensory Friendly performance!
National Recognition
- Won Harold Oaks Award from TYA/USA for Innovation in Theatre for Young Audiences (Perspectives on Peace program).
Playwright Gender Equality Recognition
- Received 50/50 Applause Award from the International Centre for Women Playwrights.
Awards & Media Recognition
- MN Best Awards:
- Best Live Theatre Venue (Gold)
- Best Summer Camp (Silver)
- Best Theatre Group (Silver)
- Participated in the Emmy-award winning Clouds video.
Leadership in Youth Theatre
- Annual attendance: ~150,000.
- Annual operating budget: $3+ million.
- Full-time staff significantly expanded.
- Recognized as a leader in theatre education & production programming for children and young adults at both regional and national levels.
Our Creative Home in Hopkins
The Hopkins Center for the Arts is our home: a collaborative community arts space that fosters creativity and connection, housing our productions, classes, and outreach programs in the heart of downtown Hopkins.
Reconnect with Us
Keeping the Stages Family Connected
We are nothing without our amazing ALUMNI who have been a part of our classes and productions. Our alumni have gone on to work in theatre regionally, on Broadway, in television, feature films, and achieved all sorts of greatness in areas outside the entertainment realm. If you are an alumni of Stages Theatre Company or Child’s Play Theatre Company, we invite you to reconnect with us via our Facebook Group. We’d love to hear from all of you! Share your latest news and updates with us.
Sign Up to Receive Alumni News & Ticket Offers
ALUMNI CONTACT FORM
If you are an alumni of Stages Theatre Company or Child’s Play Theatre Company, we invite you to reconnect with us via the form below or via our Alumni Facebook Group. We’d love to hear from all of you! Share your latest news and updates with us.
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