| The Palo Alto History Project |
| The Children's Theatre 1305 Middlefield Road |
| The Children's Theatre: Good Government at Work Good liberals, who know their history, often reminisce of the days of Franklin Roosevelt and the New Dea l--- a time when government was on the side of the little guy, the common man. While conservatives may believe that the government that governs best governs least, old-time liberals (be they actual old-timers or not) reject such laissez-faire notions. They see government being involved in a wide range of important tasks, from creating a social safety net to protecting citizens from racism to creating a vibrant atmosphere for the arts. These good government liberals who still dream about an active pro-arts government --- lending financial support to painters, constructing opera halls, and creating community theatre projects --- might well boost their spirits, in this age of Bush, with a visit to the Children’s Theatre in Palo Alto. In 1932, during those heady days of liberalism, The Children’s Theatre’s first play “The Perfect Gift” was commissioned by the Mayor's Committee for Unemployment Relief. By 1937, they had won their own venue at 1305 Middlefield Road donated by generous Palo Alto benefactor Lucie Stern. A public theatre, funded by government, had come to Palo Alto. Even today, funding for the Palo Alto Children's Theatre comes from the city. The current budget is over a half a million dollars, plus use of the building, facilities and utilities. Ticket prices are set by the City Council, and the money collected goes back to the city. Prices have been kept low --- $8 for adults and $4 for children --- making the Children's Theatre an inexpensive entertainment option for families. The experiment of “children” (16 to 24 year olds) performing for children was extremely popular from its inception. “Child actors for child audiences,” was the Theatre’s early motto. Throughout its long span, the theater has filled to an average of 95 percent of capacity and most shows still sell out. In the 1940’s, the Children’s Theatre became the pride of Palo Alto as none other than The New York Times published two articles on the organization. The Palo Alto Children's Theatre was also featured in Life magazine that year --- it was supposed to be the cover story, but it was bumped by the bombing of Hiroshima and the end of World War II, an understandable editorial decision. The Children's Theatre also had a half-hour weekly local radio show --- "Under the Red Tile Roof" --- in the 1940s, which drew national sponsorship. In the 1950s, the youth theater group performed "Rumplestiltskin" on KRON television in San Francisco. They also produced seven short films --- such as "Pudge," which was about the group's mascot, a cute cocker spaniel with big, floppy ears. As the oldest children’s theatre in the nation, the group has had an effect on other youth theater organizers who have tried to mimic its success. It often appears in textbooks on theatre, as a model for how to set up a children’s theatre. It's still quite common for community leaders, hoping to start a children's theater organization in their own cities, to call Palo Alto for help. The group offers several programs. The regular Children's Theatre performances are held six or seven times during the school year, with performers ranging in age from 8 years old through 18. Kids of those same ages participate in the Hotdog Suppertime Season, producing three plays from late June through early August. Held outdoors in the Secret Garden, adjacent to the theater, the Suppertime shows include a stand that sells hot dogs, hamburgers, milk, soda and chips. Families are also allowed to bring their own picnic suppers to these popular productions. The Wingspread program, for ages 16 to 24, produces five major plays during 10 weeks in the summer. Many of its graduates have gone to star on Broadway, London, or television. In addition, the Children's Theatre has an outreach program that produces plays at school sites using only performers from the host school. There are also workshops for children ages 4 to 7 and various fee-based programs such as Foothill Drama Academy and summer and Saturday conservatories. Approximately 4,000 children per year participate in its programs and more than 50,000 people a year watch its plays Now more than 75 years old, the Children’s Theatre has been a wonderful success, training actors and providing entertainment to the city’s children. So who says government doesn’t work? -Matt Bowling |
| Performers at the Children's Theatre |
| Waiting for the show to begin |
| Getting ready |
| Michael Liftin and the cast of "Tin Pan Ali" |
| The map below shows the Rinconada Park area |
| Longtime director Pat Briggs (PA Weekly) |
| The crowd in the Secret Garden |
| circa 1940 |
| 2007 |
| Palo Alto: Then & Now |
| Associate Director Pat Litfin |
| Patty Hoagland McEwen as Amy in the 1938 Children’s Theatre production of "Little Women." |
| Outside the courtyard |
| A 1985 production of "James and the Giant Peach" (PAHA) |
| Palo Alto Weekly, Palo Alto Historical Association |
| Links: Children's Theatre |