Oregon Children's Theatre Receives Oregon Community Foundation Grant for $73,000

Oregon Children's Theatre is thrilled to announce that it has received a grant from The Oregon Community Foundation Creative Heights Initiative for $73,000. The grant will support the touring production of Tomás and the Library Lady, which will advance OCT's vision of broadening access and inclusion to all communities. The show will be performed first at the Winningstad Theatre in Portland from April 1-23. A subsequent mobile version will follow later in 2017, and will visit rural and underserved communities throughout Oregon.

OCT has built an artistic reputation based on our professionally produced plays in Portland. However, far too many people face geographic and financial obstacles that block them from full participation. Through this project, OCT will create a production that is mobile and adaptable for a variety of venues, while still meeting the company's high artistic standards. OCT will also design community engagement activities as an integral part of the project.

Tomás and the Library Lady tells the true story of Tomás Rivera, the child of migrant workers who, through his strong belief in education, became an award-winning novelist and a nationally recognized educator. Unable to read English, Tomás is terrified of school. When his family travels north for the harvest, he finds refuge in the local library. A compassionate librarian opens his world and ignites his imagination through the joy of reading. The core themes of Tomás present opportunities to engage communities in conversation and support OCT's goals of fostering a lifetime love of learning and literacy in young people.

The mission of The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) is "to improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy." In 2014, OCF launched a five-year, $32-million investment in strategies and programs that support the arts for all Oregonians. The recent grant to OCT is one of 18 totaling $966,890 made to arts organizations throughout the state through the foundation's innovative Creative Heights initiative. Creative Heights grants address the need for performing and visual artists and other cultural creatives to test new ideas, stretch their creative capacity, and take creative risks.

"This grant opportunity allowed us to dream about the kind of creative and community work we really want to do, but haven't been able to pursue because of financial risks," said OCT's Managing Director, Ross McKeen. "It is a remarkable step for a foundation to take to support the arts." By supporting the touring production of Tomás and the Library Lady, the foundation will help improve the lives of Oregonians by giving them the opportunity to experience theater that holds a powerful message to youth.

About Oregon Children's Theatre:
Founded in 1988, Oregon Children's Theatre (OCT) is Oregon's largest nonprofit professional children's theater company. OCT's mission is to create exceptional theater experiences that transform lives. OCT believes theater and storytelling can educate, empower, inspire, and entertain in remarkable ways. OCT annually reaches 120,000 children, parents, and educators from more than 18 Oregon and four Washington counties. OCT offers a year-round Acting Academy for students ages 3-18 and the unique Young Professionals mentoring program. The company also offers a range of services to schools and the community, including teacher professional development, resource guides, Loud & Clear (a public speaking workshop), an extensive outreach program, and student internship and apprenticeship opportunities.

Under the shared vision of healthier kids and communities, Kaiser Permanente Northwest and OCT are delivering free Educational Theatre Programs to schools and community organizations in Oregon and SW Washington. Through free touring productions, residencies, workshops and after-school programs, this innovative collaboration helps catalyze healthy life choices.

Oregon Children's Theatre is a resident company of the Portland'5 Centers for the Arts and a member of Theatre Communications Group, Travel Portland, and ASSITEJ, the international children's theater association.

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