The Children's Theater Foundation of America


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Accomplishments

In almost fifty years of commitment to American Children's Theatre and Theatre Education of youth, the Children's Theatre Foundation has assisted theatres, artists, scholars, and organizations in significant activities and studies in ten areas. Highlights are...

Scholarships

Eight Campton Bell Graduate Scholarships 1962 - 1969; Administrative Grant to initiate Winifred Ward Memorial Scholarship Fund; Ten Percent Endowment Grant of the Winifred Ward Memorial Scholarship

Playwriting

Initial Grant for The New Generation Play Project which to date has led to the writing/production of eight new plays and their premieres in four major theatres; sustained early support of three of the Waldo M. and Grace C. Bonderman IUPUI National Youth Theatre Playwriting Symposiums in cooperation with the Indiana Repertory Theatre; numerous grants to playwrights; the Aurand Harris Children's Theatre Grants; The CTFA Fellowships for young playwrights selected by the American College Theatre Festival to participate in either Kennedy Center New Visions/New Voices Program or the Waldo M. and Grace C. Bonderman IUPUI National Youth Theatre Playwriting Symposium. Imagination Stage and “Cinderella Eats Beans"; Playwrights in Our Schools 2003, a project of the Playwriting Network of AATE

Theatre Festivals

The Fourth International ASSITEJ Festival, 1972; The 1984 World Festival of Theatre for Young People, New Orleans.

International Exchange

Numerous grants for American Representation in the formation of ASSITEJ from 1966 - 1977; U.S. Artists Participation in International Symposia, and Festivals in East Berlin, Shodo Island, etc.; Aurand Harris travel to China to stage "Rags To Riches" in Shanghai; John Kauffman to perform in Moscow; Mark Taper Forum Improvisational Theatre Project tour of Russia; Everyman Players to ASSITEJ Festival, Venice Biennale, 1970; Pickwick Players Youth Company of Midland tour to New Zealand Festival; travel subsidies for graduate students, early career professionals, and an Intern Mentor to attend the 15th International ASSIEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festival, Montreal, Canada, 2005.

Research

CTAA Creative Drama Symposium and Publication, 1983 - 1985; The Child Drama Archives at Arizona State University; AATE International Center for Studies in Theatre Education, 1991 - 1993; first Research Issues of the Children's Theatre Review, 1981 - 1982; 1983 - 1985 CTAA Creative Drama Symposium; Bibliographic Research Database Covering the Areas of Creative Drama and Theatre for Children and Youth, University of Texas, 1991; Manon van de Water for the development of and translation for publication of a critical anthology of contemporary Dutch plays for young people; etc.

Conferences & Symposiums

CTAA National CT Festival Planning Project, Wingspread 1978; University of Kansas Symposium: Theatre for Young People - Principles and Strategies for the Future; ACTF/ AATE Kennedy Center Conference, 1989; Arizona State University Don Doyle Retirement Symposium, 1991; ASSITEJ/USA Two Regional Conferences, 1996; CT Conferences at Wingspread, 1977; AATE Strategic Planning Retreat, 1995. “What is Cinderella Hiding,” 2003 ASU; One Theatre World, 2003; Forty Years and Counting! Honoring the Achievements of Coleman A. Jennings and the Field of Theatre for Youth, 2004.

Publications

CTA/NEA Directory, 1978; Publication of CTAA Creative Drama Symposium, 1985; Theatre Education: Mandate for Tomorrow, 1985; New publication of AATE: "Stage of the Art," 1995; Aurand Harris Remembered, A Monograph, 1999.

Crisis Management Assistance

Emergency grants to stabilize former CTAA and SSTA organizations in the collapse of ATA, 1985 - 1987; mailing of Journals; travel of Boards to plan; publication and mailing of Material; etc.

Medallions

1992, Seattle, MEDALLIONS I:
- WINIFRED WARD MEMORIAL FUND. Recipient, Agnes Haaga.
- "BEHIND THE SCENES", the 1992 PBS series on arts education, three medallions awarded, one for the TV series, one for Learning Designs Inc, creators of "BEHIND THE SCENES", and Julie Taymor, Director of the drama film. Recipient, Jane Garmey.

1993, Boston, MEDALLIONS II:
- THE PLAYS OF AURAND HARRIS. Recipient, Mr. Harris.
- NIGHT KITCHEN, A NATIONAL CHILDREN'S THEATRE. Co-recipients, Maurice Sendak and Arthur Yorinks.
- PROJECT ZERO OF HARVARD. Recipient, Dr. Howard Gardner

1994, Phoenix, MEDALLIONS III:
- THE CHILD DRAMA COLLECTION. Arizona State University. Recipient, Dean Sherrie Schmidt.
- NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS. Recipient, Ms Kerylee McCord.
- CHARLES STROUSE. Recipient, Mr. Strouse.

1995, Saint Paul, MEDALLIONS IV:
- ANN STAHLMAN HILL. Distinguished All-American Theatre Volunteer. Recipient, Ms Hill.
- KENNEDY CENTER'S EDUCATION PROGRAM. Recipient, Mr. Derek E. Gordon.
- THE NATIONAL SHAKESPEARE COMPETITION OF THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION OF THE UNITED STATES. Recipient, Ms Doe Thornburg.
- THE ROBBINSDALE DISTRICT-WIDE DRAMA PROGRAM of Robbinsdale, Minnesota. Recipient, Thomas Bollin, Superintendent.

1996, New York, MEDALLIONS V:
- THE NATIONAL ACTORS' THEATRE OF TONY RANDALL. Recipient, Ms Kitty Carlisle.
- PROJECT IMPACT, ARTS IN EDUCATION FOUNDATION. Recipient, Ms Lynne Kramer.
- YOUNG AUDIENCES, New York City, Recipient, Ms Eileen Goldblatt.
- YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS, INC. Recipient, Mr. Alfred Uhrey.

1997, Charlotte, MEDALLIONS VI:
- DR. ANN M. SHAW, Mentor. Recipient, Dr. Shaw.
- PAUL SILLS, Theatre Artist. Recipient, Mr. Sills.
- SOUTHWEST CENTER FOR EDUCATION IN THE ARTS. Recipient, Mr. Kim Wheetley.
- MR. BRIAN WAY, Playwright, Mentor. Recipient, Mr. Way.

1998, Denver, MEDALLIONS VII:
- THE BIENNIAL BONDERMAN/IUPUI/IRT. Co-recipients, Ms. Pauline Bonderman, Dr. William M. Plater, Ms Janet Allen.
- CHERRY CREEK DISTRICT DRAMA PROGRAM of COLORADO. Recipient, Dr. Robert D. Tschirki, Superintendent.
- DR. JED H. DAVIS, Mentor. Recipient, Dr. Davis.
- THE NEW 42nd ST., INC/NEW VICTORY THEATER OF NEW YORK CITY. Recipient, Coara Cahn.

1999, Evanston, MEDALLIONS VIII:
- MR. ALVIN COHEN, Benefactor of CTFA. Recipient, Mr. Cohen.
- ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE FESTIVAL. Co-recipients, Illinois Arts Council, Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois State University and University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana.
- INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE OF PERFORMING ARTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. Recipient, Marianne P. Welch, President.
- MS SHARI LEWIS, LAMB CHOP AND FRIENDS. Recipients, Lamb Chop and Ms Mallory Tarcherhood.
- DR. CECILY O'NEILL, mentor, scholar. Recipient, Dr. O'Neill.

2000, Washington, D.C., MEDALLIONS IX:
- THE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS SCHOOLS. Co-Recipients, Ronald Daniel and Mitzi Yates.
- NEW VISIONS/NEW VOICES FESTIVAL of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Recipient, Derek Gordon.
- CHARLES SCHULTZ AND CHARILE BROWN AND THE PEANUTS GANG. Recipient on behalf of the Schultz Family, "Snoopy" as performed by Regina de Ocampo.
- THE STORYTELLING FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL. Recipients, co-founders Jimmy Neil Smith and Jackies Torrence.
- MS JULIE TAYMORE, world theatre artist extradordinaire for "The Lion King." Recipient, Thuli Dumakude.

2001, San Diego, MEDALLIONS X:
- THIRTY YEARS' OF P.L.A.Y. BY THE MARK TAPER FORUM. Recipient, Dolores Apollonia Chavez, Producer.
- THE OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL'S REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS. Recipient, Kim Thomas Donohue.
- THE LEGACY OF DR. SEUSS, a.k.a. DR. THEODOR GEISEL. Recipient, Mrs. Audrey Stone Geisel (Mrs. Seuss).
- DR. SUZAN L. ZEDER, Playwright and National Mentor to AMERICA AND BEYOND. Recipient, Dr. Zeder.

2002, Minneapolis, MEDALLIONS XI:
- A DISTINGUISHED QUARTET OF NATIONAL MENTORS OF THEATRE FOR CHILDREN/YOUTH. Recipients, MARY JANE EVANS, Minneapolis; NELLIE McCASLIN, New York; BARBARA M. McINTYRE, Victoria; GERALDINE B. SIKS, Seattle.
- THE GUTHRIE EDUCATION PROGRAM. Recipients: Sheila Livingstone, founder of the program; Joe Dowling, Artistic Director of the Guthrie Theater.

2003, New York, MEDALLIONS XII:
- VIRGINIA GLASGOW KOSTE, National Mentor/Playwright. Recipient, Ms Koste.
- MISTER ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD. Recipients, Fred Rogers, David Newell ("Mr. McFeely").
- THE PAPER BAG PLAYERS. Recipient, Judith Martin.
- THE THEATRE EDUCATION PROGRAM of NYU. Medallion recipients: Administrator of NYU; Lowell and Nancy Swortzell, visionaries, co-founders and mentors of this program.
- ANNE THURMAN, National Mentor, Recipient, Anne Thurman.

2004, Salt Lake City, MEDALLIONS XIII:
- PATRICIA WHITTON FORREST, Publisher. Recipient, Ms. Forrest.
- THE SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN SOCIETY/EDUCATION THEATRE ASSOCIATION. Recipients: Michael Petz, Executive Director and William Myatt, President of the E.T.A.
- THE CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY OF MINNEAPOLIS. Recipient, Peter C. Brosius.
- HAROLD OAKS, Ph,D. Emeritus Professor, Brigham Young University. Recipient, Dr. Oaks.

2005, Chicago, MEDALLIONS XIV:
- MOSES GOLDBERG, Ph,D, Playwright, Producer, Director, Scholar. Recipient: Dr. Goldberg.
- DONALD P. DOYLE, Ph,D. Professor, Mentor Performing Artist, Founder of Child Drama Education at Arizona State University. Recipient: Dr. Doyle.
- LIN SOMMERS WRIGHT, Ph,D. Professor, Mentor, Visionary, National Leader in Child Drama. Recipient, Dr. Wright.
- KATHERINE PATERSON, Distinguished author of beloved books for young people. Recipient, Ms Paterson.
- ORLIN COREY, Director, Publisher, Producer, Advocate. Recipient, Mr. Corey.

2006, Bethesda, MEDALLIONS XV:
- IRENE LOCKRIDGE COREY, Designer, Author, Master Teacher. Recipient, Ms. Corey.
- JOSEPH ROBINETTE, Playwright, Director, Education, Recipient, Mr. Robinette.
- BELLA ITKIN, Renowned teacher of acting and Director and head of the Goodman Children's Theatre, subsequently Chicago Play works, The Theatre School at DePaul University. Recipient: Dr. Itkin.
- JONATHAN LEVY, Playwright, Scholar, and Distinguished Professor. Recipient: Mr. Levy.

2007, Vancouver, MEDALLIONS XVI:
- CHRISTOPHER GAZE, Nationally honored stage artist, founder/ artistic director of Bard on the Beach;
creator of numerous Shakespearean Workshops in
schools of Western Canada.
- GINA MAY, Lifetime contribution to arts and theatre education in Washington State and nationally; leader, advocate, long commitment to the Winifred Ward Memorial Fund, and a former CTFA Board Member
- TOM BEHM, Lifetime contribution to theatre for youth and children; founder/director of the North Carolina Theatre for Youth for several decades; theatre artist, educator, playwright; and 30 years of service as Board member of CTFA.
- ELIZABETH BALL, Founder and Artistic Director of two continuing theatres--Carousel Theatre for 27 years, and the Waterfront Theatre on Grandville Island for 10 years. Now a Councillor of Vancouver, she is acclaimed as "Arts Councillor" in City Hall

2008, Atlanta, MEDALLIONS XVII:
- THE ALLIANCE THEATRE. Recipients Carol T. Jones, Director of Institute for Educators and Teaching Artists; Rosemary Newcott, The Sally G. Tomlinson Artistic Director of Theatre for Youth; and Sharon Brewer, Director of Education.
- CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF CHARLOTTE. Recipients Bruce LaRowe, Executive Director; Alan Poindexter, Artistic Director; and Valerie Rhymer, Education Director.

Performances & Lecturers

Cecily O'Neill of London; Natalia Sats of Moscow; Jonathan Levy; Jean Houston, Metro Theatre Circus; Neil Postman; Margaret Hamilton; William Ball; Jerome Singer; Tomie de Paola; Wendy Kesselman; Choyd Youth Theatre of Wales; preview of The Yellow Boat; Charles Strouse; Aurand Harris