North Community Theater is a new effort to bring accessible, intergenerational theater experiences to the Northside. Community theaters have a robust presence around the metro, providing groups of all ages and experience a fun way to be part of something, be it on stage, backstage, in the pit or in the audience.

With the support of North HS (letting us rehearse and perform in the Auditorium, covering the costs of rights and script rentals), and the energy of an ever widening circle of support, we have gotten off the ground. Shrek is more than halfway through the rehearsal process and has attracted North HS students and staff, neighbors and their kids, theater lovers, volunteers to work on sets and now musicians to play in the pit orchestra.

Partnerships have naturally emerged, the North HS Dance Ensemble and students from Brightwater Montessori will each be featured in a dance number i in the show. Sanctuary Convenant Church is hosting a community meal before the Sunday matinee, Hopewell Music School, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Morris Park Players, Edison HS and many more have donated space, costumes, set pieces etc. all signaling a desire to this project succeed and continue.
The amount of enthusiasm and joy in the room is moving. Seeing teens mentor younger kids, Moms forge new friendships, alumni and others with ties to the community work hard and learn things together, reinforces that our process will leave just as lasting an imprint on the cast as we hope the performance will leave on the audience.

In fact, it is amazing to us that we have not spent more than a few hundred dollars so far to produce a show that will see close to 50 on stage, with more in the orchestra and backstage and even more who have dropped by a scenic work day to pitch in. Tickets for the 4 performances will be pay what you can, in order to make it accessible to all.