“We are grateful for our extraordinary audiences, artists, educators, and community, whose generosity has allowed ECT to carry out its mission for over two decades and who continue to support that mission. Their dedicated contributions fortify our ability to offer playful, professional, and culturally relevant artistic programming. Together, we have collaborated with thousands of children and their grown-ups across Chicago to develop skills to creatively face the world,” said Jacqueline Stone, Artistic Director.
“The Board of Directors and Executive Management have closely monitored ECT’s financial situation over recent months,” said Heike Spahn, Board Member. “Increased program costs and decreased revenue have made the current financial model unsustainable. While the Board is passionately committed to the mission of ECT, as a company we no longer have adequate resources to provide the exceptional quality programs that have inspired Chicago’s youth for the past 24 years.”
Founded in 1996 by Karen and Alyn Cardarelli, ECT evolved from a storefront into Chicago’s largest theater for young audiences, serving over 60,000 patrons annually. Artistically, the company produces on major stages such as the Broadway Playhouse, Victory Gardens, and the Apollo. Under the leadership of Jacqueline and Associate Artistic Director Jamal Howard, the New Play Development Program focuses explicitly on stories of diversity and inclusion, envisioning an equitable future for stages and audiences alike.
The theater offers three areas of programming: artistic, education, and community engagement. Since its opening, ECT has created over 100 productions and runs the largest theater arts education program in Chicago. Yearly camps, classes, and residencies have served approximately 64,000 children to date and 200 schools annually in all 50 Chicago wards. One Fund, the theater’s signature community engagement program, promotes increased literacy by providing over 100,000 free plays and companion books to students at low-resourced Chicago Public Schools.
ECT extends profound thanks to its donors, staff, consultants, designers, actors, teaching artists, volunteers, and partners, as well as every child and grown-up who has attended a show, class, or camp.
