Founded in 1975, Seattle Children's Theatre (SCT) is the second-largest resident theatre for young audiences in North America and among the twenty largest regional theatres in the United States, with an annual operating budget of approximately $6.5 Million. SCT's mission statement reads: "The mission of Seattle Children's Theatre is to provide children of all ages access to professional theatre, with a focus on new works, and theatre education."
SCT employs bargaining unit members of Actor's Equity, United Scenic Artists and IATSE and is a member of Theatre Puget Sound, International Performing Arts for Youth and Theatre Communications Group. Mainstage Season performances are presented at Seattle Center in the 482-seat Charlotte Martin and 275-seat Eve Alvord Theatres from September through June. SCT's Drama School also produces a Summer Season with student actors who work hand-in-hand with professional creative staff and technicians.
Throughout its history, SCT has developed and produced more than 113 new works, many of which go on to be produced by other regional theatres around the country and the world.
SCT programming reaches approximately 220,000 children, parents, and teachers annually.
In addition to its mainstage productions, SCT operates several education programs. Its Education Outreach arm brings theatre-related teaching to schools and other organizations in the Seattle area. Its on-site Drama School provides classes year-round, taught by professional artists, and produces Summer Season shows providing young people with participatory theatre education and theatre arts training. The SCT Deaf Youth Drama Program (DYDP) was founded in 1993 by brothers Howie and Billy Seago. DYDP lost funding and was discontinued in 2007.
Seattle Children's Theatre has gained national and international prominence as a producer of theatre, educational programs, and new scripts for young people. SCT's awards and honors include:
2015 Puget Sound Business Journal honors Artistic Director Linda Hartzell as a Woman of Influence2015 Artistic Director Linda Hartzell honored with the Individual Artist Award at the Washington Governor's Arts & Heritage Award2013 Children’s Theatre Foundation of America’s Corey Medallion Award presented to Linda Hartzell, SCT Artistic Director2012 Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Linda Hartzell, SCT Artistic Director2011 ASSITEJ Award for Artist of Excellence presented to Linda Hartzell, SCT Artistic Director.2009 ArtsFund awards Artistic Director Linda Hartzell their award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, and awards board member Eve and Chap Alvord their award for Lifetime Dedication to the Arts.2006 Mayor's Arts Award for contribution to the cultural vitality of the region.2004 TIME Magazine's #2 ranking in the top five children's theatres in the nation.2004 Tibet Through the Red Box receives the AT&T: OnStage award2002 Holes receives the AT&T: OnStage award.2001 $50,000 award from The Pew Charitable Trust and Theatre Communications Group to continue a multi-year-collaboration with Speeltheater Holland2000 Cyrano performed at the opening night festivities of Theatre Communications Group's annual conference1999 The Book of Ruth receives the AT&T: OnStage award1999 Cyrano performed at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.1997 $100,000 award from The Pew Charitable Trust and Theatre Communications Group to facilitate a collaboration with Speeltheater Holland.1996 $2 million leadership grant from The Allen Foundation for the Arts for the construction of a Technical Pavilion.1996 Still Life With Iris granted a Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays award1993 $500,000 National Arts Stabilization Fund award to create a working capital reserve1975
Little Red Riding Hood *Winnie-the-PoohYou're a Good Man, Charlie BrownThe Tinder BoxGertrude Stein's First Reader1976
Hansel and GretelImperial Nightingale *Foolery *Tom SawyerIce Wolf1977
The Prince and the Pauper *Aladdin's Lamp *Pippi LongstockingAlice in Wonderland *Circus Home *1978
The Wind in the WillowsPinocchio *Step on a Crack *The Legend of Sleepy HollowA Tale of King Arthur *1979 - Fifth Season
The HobbitThe Revenge of the Space Pandas or Binky Rudich & the Two Speed ClockDoc Maynard *CinderellaOzma of Oz *1980
Treasure IslandThe Boy Who Talked to Whales *Five Minutes to MorningHuck Finn *To Kill a Mockingbird1981
The Ransom of Red EyeHeidiThe Miracle Worker1981-82
The Diary of Anne FrankMaggie's Gift Outside *Heidi (Part II) *Twilight of a Crane1982-83
Dracula *The Best Christmas Pageant EverFamilies *The Comedy of ErrorsMother Hicks *1983-84
Great Expectations *Pinocchio *The Best Christmas Pageant EverThe TempestNewcomerTall Tales from Mark Twain1984-85 - Tenth Season
The Count of Monte CristoThe Snow QueenThe Best Christmas Pageant EverBirds *Through Separate DoorsThe Miser1985-86
The Former One-on-One Basketball ChampionPuss in Boots *The Best Christmas Pageant EverRobin Hood *The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde *Little Lulu *1986-87
The Curse of Castle Mongrew *Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs *Follow the Drinking Gourd: A Play About Harriet Tubman *Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing *The Three Musketeers *Little Lulu1987-88
The Hunchback of Notre Dame *Rocky and Bullwinkle *Most Valuable PlayerJames and the Giant PeachThe Death and Life of Sherlock Holmes *1988-89
Up the Down StaircaseThe Hoboken Chicken Emergency *The Secret GardenAccording to CoyoteThe Would-Be Gentleman1989-90 - Fifteenth Season
Rip Van Winkle and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow: A Tribute to Washington Irving *The Magic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle *Apollo: To the MoonAmelia Earhart: Flights of FancyJungalbookTuck Everlasting *1990-91
Captain Fantasto *The Reluctant DragonThe Magic Mrs. Piggle-WiggleThe Council *Anne of Green Gables *There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom *1991-92
The Firebird *Nancy and Plum *Charlotte's WebRoll of Thunder, Hear My Cry *Make Me Pele for a Day *1992-93
Invisible FriendsDoctor Dolittle in the Moon *The Invisible Man *The Velveteen RabbitDragonwingsRamona Quimby1993-94
Afternoon of the Elves *Jack and the Beanstalk *The Hardy Boys in the Mystery of the Haunted House *The Rememberer *Just So and Other Stories *1994-95 - Twentieth Season
Sara Crewe *A Wrinkle in Time *The Yellow BoatWinnie-the-Pooh *the Portrait the Wind the Chair *Little Rock *1995-96
Naomi's Road **The Day After Tomorrow **The Magic Mrs. Piggle-WiggleThe Witch of Blackbird Pond *Romeo and JulietAlice's Adventures in Wonderland *1996-97
The Taste of Sunrise: Tuc's Story *Bunnicula *Pinocchio *The Short Tree and the Bird Who Could Not Sing **The OdysseyThe Hardy Boys in the Secret of Skullbone Island *1997-98
Still Life With Iris *Stellaluna *A Day at the Beach *Mr. Popper's PenguinsPink and Say *Frog and Toad *The Tempest1998-99
Kenny's Window *Cyrano **The Cricket in Times Square *Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse *The Book of Ruth *The King of Ireland's Son *1999-00 - Twenty-Fifth Season
The Boxcar Children *The Velveteen RabbitTime Again in Oz *Apple to Grandma **The Midwife's Apprentice *When I Grow Up I'm Gonna Get Some Big Words *2000-01
Animal FarmThe Red BalloonPrince Brat and the Whipping Boy *Mask of the Unicorn Warrior *Winnie-the-PoohSideways Stories from Wayside School *2001-02
Johnny Tremain *The Hoboken Chicken EmergencyThe Wrestling SeasonCharlotte's WebInto the WestHoles *2002-03
Our Only May Amelia *The Big Friendly GiantThe Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeThe OutsidersGo, Dog. Go! *Nicky Somewhere Else **The Shakespeare Stealer2003-04
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle *The Gingerbread ManThe Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeTibet Through the Red Box *The Shape of a Girl **Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle *2004-05 - Thirtieth Season
The Magic City *BunniculaThe Secret GardenThe Red Badge of Courage *Glittra's Mission **A Year With Frog and ToadAlexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day2005-06
SeussicalNothing is the SameSleeping BeautyPeter and the Wolf *The Devil and Daniel Webster *Honus and Me *Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business2006-07
Harriet's Halloween CandyJason and the Golden FleeceThe Sorcerer's Apprentice *Goodnight Moon *Afternoon of the ElvesEveryone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like *Addy: An American Girl Story *2007 - Special Event
The Green Sheep2007-08
Disney's High School MusicalThe Big Friendly GiantThe Neverending Story *HamletThe Hundred DressesAccording to CoyoteBusytown *2008 - Special Events
The Green SheepNight of the Living Dead2008-09
Bluenose**The Wizard of OzTomás and the Library LadyPharaoh Serket and the Lost Stone of Fire*A Tale of Two CitiesGoodnight MoonI Was a Rat!*2009-10 - Thirty-Fifth Season
Mysterious Gifts: Theatre of Iran **If You Give a Mouse a CookiePeter PanPerôIn the Northern Lands: Norse Myths *Getting Near to BabyBrementown Musicians *2010-11
The Green Sheep: based on the book by Mem Fox and Judy Horace; directed by Cate FowlerThe Borrowers: By Charles Way, based on the books by Mary Norton; directed by Rita GiomiMorgan's JourneyLyle the Crocodile: Book by Kevin Kling, music and lyrics by Richard Gray, based on the book by Bernard Waber; directed by Linda HartzellGo, Dog, Go!: By Steven Dietz and Allison Gregory, based on the book by P.D. Eastman; directed by Steven DietzThe Man Who Planted Trees: by Richard Medrington, Rick Conte and Ailie Cohen, based on the book by Jean Giono; directed by Ailie CohenJackie and Me*: By Steven Dietz, based on the book by Dan Gutman; directed by Sheila Daniels2011-12
Harold and the Purple Crayon*: Book by Don Darryl Rivera, music by Auston James, lyrics by Rob Burgess, based on the books by Crockett JohnsonRobin Hood: By Greg BanksA Year with Frog and Toad: Music by Robert Reale, book and lyrics by Willie Reale, based on the books by Arnold LobelA Single Shard*: Based upon the book by Linda Sue Park, adapted by Robert Schenkkan; directed by Linda HartzellHELP: Presented by Theatergroep Max., music by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Vincent Van Warmerdam and others; directed by Moniek MerkxThe Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites: Adapted, directed, and designed by Jim Morrow, music by Steven Naylor; directed by Jim Morrow2012-13
Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat: Based on the book by Dr. Seuss; directed by R. Hamilton WrightDanny, King of the Basement: By David S. Craig; directed by Rita GiomiThe Wizard of Oz: By L. Frank Baum, adapted by John Kane, music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg; directed by Linda HartzellDot & Ziggy: Created by Linda Hartzell, Mark Perry, and Seattle Children’s Theatre, music by Chris Walker; directed by Linda HartzellThe Edge of Peace*: By Suzan Zeder; directed by Linda HartzellAdventures with Spot*: Adapted for the stage by Rob Burgess, Linda Hartzell, and Don Darryl Rivera, based on the books by Eric Hill; directed by Linda HartzellCrash*: By Y York, based on the novel by Jerry Spinelli; directed by Rita Giomi2013-14
Pippi Longstocking: The Family Musical: Music and lyrics by Sebastian, adapted for the stage by Sebastian and Staffan Götestam, based on the novel by Astrid Lindgren; directed by Rita GiomiDot & Ziggy: Created by Linda Hartzell, Mark Perry, and Seattle Children’s Theatre, music by Chris Walker; directed by Linda HartzellJames and the Giant Peach*: Words and Music by Justin Paul and Benj Pasek, book by Timothy Allen McDonald, based on the book by Roald Dahl; directed by Linda HartzellPinocchio: By Carlo Collodi, adapted by Greg Banks, produced and commissioned by Children's Theatre Company; directed by Greg BanksThe Boy at the Edge of Everything*: By Finegan Kruckemeyer, a co-production with Trusty Sidekick Theater Company; directed by Jonathan Shmidt ChapmanArt Dog*: Based upon the book by Thacher Hurd, adapted by John Olive, composed by Susan Ennis; directed by Rita Giomi2014-15 - Fortieth Season
The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi: By Y York, adapted from the story by Rudyard Kipling; directed by Rita GiomiDick Whittington and His Cat*: By Jeff Church, based on an English folk tale, original music by Richard Gray; directed by Allison NarverMwindo*: By Cheryl L. West; directed by Linda HartzellGoodnight Moon: Book, music, and lyrics by Chad Henry, adapted from the book by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd; directed by Rita GiomiRobin Hood: By Greg Banks; directed by Allison Narver2015-16
Elephant and Piggie's "We Are in a Play!": Script and lyrics by Mo Willems, music by Deborah Wicks La Puma; directed by Rita GiomiChitty Chitty Bang Bang: Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, music by special arrangement with Sony/ATV publishing, adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams, based on the MGM Motion Picture, licensed script adapted by Ray Roderick; directed by Linda HartzellWhere the Wild Things Are: Based on the book by Maurice Sendak, a Presentation House Production, originally adapted for the stage by TAG Theatre Glasgow, Scotland; directed by Kim SelodyHana's Suitcase: Based on the book by Karen Levine, published by Second Story Press, produced by Young People’s Theatre, Toronto, Canada; directed by Allen MacInnisBrooklyn Bridge: A co-production with The University of Washington School of Drama, written by Melissa James Gibson; directed by Rita GiomiDr. Seuss The Cat in the Hat: Based on the book by Dr. Seuss; directed by Linda Hartzell * = World Premiere ** = American PremiereJason Ohlberg, ChoreographerMarianne Roberts, ChoreographerAlyssa Keene, Dialect CoachDavid Duvall, Musical DirectorFrancesca Zambello, DirectorGeoffrey Alm, Fight DirectorGreg Banks, Adaptor/DirectorJeff Church, DirectorKathleen Collins, DirectorMark Lutwak, DirectorR. Hamilton Wright, DirectorRita Giomi, DirectorValerie Curtis-Newton, DirectorOnny Huisink, Director/Set, Puppet, and Costume DesignerMichael Koerner, Composer/Musical DirectorCarey Wong, Set DesignerCatherine Hunt, Costume DesignerChris R. Walker, Composer/Sound DesignerDouglas N. Paasch, Puppet Designer/CoachEdie Whitsett, Set DesignerEtta Lilienthal, Set DesignerJeanette deJong, Costume DesignerJennifer Lupton, Set DesignerMatthew Smucker, Scenic DesignerMelanie Taylor Burgess, Costume DesignerMichael Wellborn, Lighting DesignerRick Paulsen, Lighting DesignerSarah Nash Gates, Costume DesignerTristan M. T. Dalley, Puppet DesignerAllison Gregory, Playwright/ChoreographerBarbara Field, PlaywrightChad Henry, Playwright/ComposerCharles Way, PlaywrightCheryl L. West, PlaywrightDavid Henry Hwang, PlaywrightDeborah Lynn Frockt, PlaywrightGary L. Blackwood, Author/PlaywrightHummie Mann, ComposerJohn Olive, PlaywrightJoe Sutton, PlaywrightJon Klein, PlaywrightKevin Kling, PlaywrightLaurie Brooks, PlaywrightLouis Sachar, AuthorSaskia Janse, Playwright/DramaturgOyamO, PlaywrightPaula Wing, PlaywrightRobert Schenkkan, PlaywrightSid Fleischman, Author/PlaywrightSteven Dietz, Playwright/DirectorY York, PlaywrightAn information technology worker, William Edgar Hoke, was arrested and subsequently convicted of possessing at least 13,000 pornographic images of child pornography, spanning over three years of browsing illegal bulletin boards which he accessed from both home and work computers. There was no indication that Hoke had unsupervised contact with children at SCT. He was charged by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of Operation Predator, a program aimed at bringing to justice those who prey upon children. He was sentenced to eighteen months in prison as well as ten years probation.