SteppingStone Theatre maintained the accessibility of its programs in FY2010 with an average ticket price of just $5.80 for 34,267 mainstage patrons. SteppingStone Theatre also exceeded projected registration and revenue for its School for Young Actors, reaching 871 students and generating $170,000 in earned income. SteppingStone Theatre's Outreach program provided a total of 94 residencies and workshops to 5,638 participants in schools and community centers across the state. In the 2009-2010 season, SteppingStone Theatre produced six plays for young audiences, all featuring primarily young actors performing works that reflect and celebrate the social fabric of our community. The season featured four commissioned and produced new works by local playwrights including Hanuman and the Girl Prince by Aditi Brennan Kapil, directed by Warren C. Bowles and choreography by Rita Mustaphi; Henry’s Freedom Box by Christina Ham; and our first collaboration with Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater on My Grandmother’s Tsotchkes: Tales of a Gambling Grandmother. Participants were drawn from culturally and economically diverse communities. In FY2010, 623 young people between the ages of 8-19 took part in auditions; of these, 132 were cast in productions and/or participated in various backstage roles.

1. Provide rich, life-enhancing theatre experiences to the youth of the region. 2. Develop an artistically-challenging body of work based on the idea that theatre for young audiences is not watered-down theatre for adults, but fully-developed artistic expression that is accessible to audiences of all ages. 3. Ensure that all of our programs are accessible to all—economically, culturally and physically. 4. Engage top professional theatre artists as teachers, mentors, creators, and interpreters for the original work the theatre commissions, produces and creates.

Children, youth, families and educators from diverse communities

Twin Cities & Minnesota