About SteppingStone Theatre
SteppingStone Theatre’s mission is to develop the whole child by using educational theatre programs, and fully staged productions to build self-esteem, confidence, and a sense of community while celebrating diversity in a supportive, non-competitive atmosphere.

SteppingStone’s programs foster creativity, self-expression and self-confidence; teach children and youth about history, diverse cultures, literature and the arts while making learning engaging and entertaining; and help to create in youth a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

In December 2007, the company will move to its new home in a 100-year-old renovated former church in St. Paul (next to William Mitchell Law School). SteppingStone Theatre’s renovation plans include improvement of the exterior; conversion of the sanctuary into a 430-seat theatre with a proscenium-style stage equipped with modern lighting and sound capabilities; installation of an elevator for accessibility to all areas of the building; and construction of classrooms, dressing rooms and administrative offices on the lower level. When complete, the facility will be home not only to SteppingStone Theatre’s programs, but also available for use by other arts and community organizations as well. More details.

SteppingStone Theatre for Youth Development is in its 20th year of serving youth from diverse ethnic, social and economic backgrounds by teaching life skills through theatre. Founded in 1987 from the education programs at the former Chimera Theatre. More than 750,000 children, families and educators have attended or participated in SteppingStone Theatre events over the years.
The organization has never run a deficit, even while registering approximately 10% growth each year. SteppingStone Theatre for Youth Development won the 2005 Sally Ordway Irvine award for excellence in theatre education. The company focuses on three program areas:

Mainstage
200 performances each year
Nearly 100 performers ages 8–18 perform on stage annually
40,000 audience members each year

Education
Over 550 students served ages 3-1/2 to 16 each year through 10-week semester classes and summer camps

Outreach
Over 40 curriculum-based artists-in-residency in schools across Minnesota
Over 100 community education and after-school programs across region
Over 10,000 participants and students