Our Philosophy

The founders of Pollyanna Theatre Company believe that theatre is a powerful teaching tool that speaks to people of all ages in a unique and powerful way through a variety of visual, aural, and emotional languages. Therefore, theatre should be a part of all general education from Kindergarten through adulthood. Toward that end, The Pollyanna Theatre Company strives to work along side educators to inspire, motivate, and teach audiences of all ages. Although the company's primary focus is upon young audience members, the ensemble performs top quality theatrical productions that speak to and illuminate the human spirit and condition for all ages.

Humankind has traditionally used stories to pass its history from one generation to the next. These stories, such as folktales, fairytales, and myths have recorded both the best and the worst elements of human nature. We believe that such stories and the characters that inhabit them provide powerful opportunities to re-explore, re-envision, re-discover, and re-create what it means to be alive in the twenty-first century. We also believe that classic literature is still being created today. Therefore, The Pollyanna Theatre Company is dedicated to producing both old and new plays that invite audience members to reflect upon themselves and the society around them in meaningful and constructive ways.

We believe that theatre is a powerful tool for enlightening members of society both young and old. By its very nature, theatre teaches by example. The Pollyanna Theatre Company embraces this power and is dedicated to utilizing it to support educators in the K-12 curriculum whenever possible, creating and providing valuable teaching resources that accompany each of its productions. This does not, however, mean that Pollyanna's productions will be overly or overtly didactic. Our goal is to do the opposite! The ensemble strives to create true art that provides avenues for ethical and moral reflection and discussion.

Quality and artistry are important and are at the heart of The Pollyanna Theatre Company's work. All members of Pollyanna's ensemble are paid professional theatre artists who have professional experience and training in theatre. While remaining a non-commercial theatre, The Pollyanna Theatre Company will work to compensate artists for their talents and efforts while keeping ticket prices within the reach of average school systems and families in our Central Texas service area. We believe that young people need exposure to a variety of theatrical events in order to be culturally literate. Therefore, our productions will be held in formal theatrical venues as well as tour to community centers and school campuses.

The Pollyanna Theatre Company believes that being an audience member at live theatrical events is a right, not a privilege to be enjoyed by only the members of society who can pay for inclusion in our audience. Therefore, the company and its Directors are actively involved in providing the resources needed to include the most challenged segments of our service area, regardless of their individual ability to pay.

Pollyanna believes that all of the arts have surprising power to positively influence the quality of life for young people. We see other existing arts education programs by other organizations as our colleagues, not our competitors. Therefore, the Pollyanna Theatre Company will remain open to creative collaborations and welcomes the opportunity to work along side others artist who endeavor to reach out into the school and general communities that we all serve.