About Us - Theater Works, Inc
Theater Works is a Non-profit theater company based Peoria Center for the Performing Arts in the heart of Peoria Arizona. We serve arts patrons from around the entire valley and state.
We strive to present the most professional stage performances for theater goers of all ages. We proudly present dramas, comedies, musicals, and holiday specials.
Vision Statement
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A Brief History of Theater Works
*Longest running community theater in the West Valley.
Theater Works was founded in September of 1986 as a non-profit community theater by a group of theater patrons who believed that the northwest area of suburban
It took less than four months to secure financial backing, lease a facility, and organize a board of directors to oversee various volunteer committees. The first year featured seven Main Stage productions, a high school production and a nine-week children's workshop saluting the work of Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Kids Alive, was the first flagship outreach program for children between the ages of 6 and 18, was created in 1987, with a variety of learning and performing opportunities. September of the second year saw the introduction of a season of shows especially for children called Wonder Works. In 1990, Theater Works expanded its children's program by creating a touring program named Wonder Works on Tour.
In September of 1997, at the beginning of the 1997-98 Main Stage season, founder David Wo died. With David's death theater in the Phoenix Metropolitan area lost a great teacher.
"Don’t ever doubt there are giants in the land. We lost one of them recently. As much as any individual, and more than most, David Wo was theater in this town. He loved the art passionately. He strived to make it available and accessible – not the same thing by a long shot. He worked hard to develop and nurture the next generation of artists."
FOOTLIGHTS, Kyle Lawson,
Following David Wo's death Theater Works went from an organization run primarily by the founder to an institution surviving through the continued efforts of its staff and board.
Facility
In February 2007 Theater Works moved to a new permanent venue, Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, a $13 million facility and signed a 20-year facility management agreement with the City of Peoria. Theater Works new home has a 270-seat state-of-the-art Main Stage theater and an 80-seat Black Box theater, classrooms, set construction and costume shops and dressing rooms.
The 2008-2009 season included 6 Main Stage productions, 6 Youth Works productions, 3 Black Box productions, in addition to year-round Youth Works arts education workshops for youth 8 – 18, summer, winter and spring arts camps, a series of workshops and community performances for home schooled youth, specialty workshops and community performances for the cognitively disabled members of our partner organization, One Step Beyond.
We'd like to thank our loyal patrons and sponsors for their continued support.
