Theatre for Children Theater Production

What is Children’s Theater? Theater for children, or young people. Theater designed for an audience of children.

Childhood is New! Until the last century, most children received only a 3rd grade education and then were placed in the work force. With the 20th century came the push for K-12 education for the public, creating the demographic of childhood and teens.

Theatre for Youth is new Plays have existed since Classical Greece (400 B.C.) but have only been developed for children within the past century. Children were grouped with adults in public entertainments and most entertainment now considered for children, was originally for adults. Puppetry, pantomimes and melodramas attracted family audiences.

20th Century Developments People produce plays because they will make money. Children did not have money and were not considered a viable audience. Once adults felt it was important to provide entertainment for children and families, plays for young audiences began to emerge.

1878-1903 New York Theatres began to produce adaptations of fairy tales that were very popular with family audiences.

1920-1950 Community Theatre movement begins and spurs the development of plays for Young Audiences. In 1928 over half of the outstanding community theatres produced at least one production for young audiences.

1920-1950 Plays are developed for children to perform in, rather than see as an audience. Most scripts written by amateurs which sacrificed character and plot development for large casts to be performed by children. The majority of plays were still fairy tale adaptations. Standards were growing in playwriting and production that would gradually raise the standards of what Theater for Young Audiences should be.

Writing Plays for Children Now writers were inspired to write for young audiences because there was a way to encourage other producers to buy their plays.

1950 - 1980 The development of professional theatre companies solely dedicated to performing for young people. New theatre companies often had resident writers and used improvisation to develop new plays. Experimentation led away from fairytales and created modern plays of different styles.

Forces behind new works British and European influences set the standard for what American writers wanted to create. Plays were written to reflect the times and became based upon modern issues, themes and settings. Plays began to run the gamut in style, subject and quality.

Present day Children’s Theater Almost every major city in the US has a resident Theatre for Young Audiences. Several professional organizations for Children’s Theater professionals for research and journals. Several publishers of plays for young people.

Challenges for the Future Creating relevant plays for a changing population. Keeping theatre vital in a technological world. Advocating the validity of Children’s Theater as an important part of education and community. Increasing the profile of Children’s Theater so that more people support and demand Children’s Theater for current and future children.