The BGSU Department of Theatre and Film has a long history of presenting plays
for young people and training students in developmental drama dating back over 50
years.

In 1978 the Treehouse Troupe (THT) began as a touring theatre for young audiences.

In 1982 Dr. F. Scott Regan was hired to develop child drama programming and continue the Troupe (among other responsibilities.)

On a leave of absence in 1997, Dr. Regan directed a production of Anne of Green Gables for the Black Swamp Players Community Theatre. While numerous young people were involved, the Community theatre chose not to continue this youth theatre offering in the following year's season.

In 1998 the BGSU Department of Theatre and Film produced, A Christmas Carol. At this time, the Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Programs had discontinued their summer offerings in classes for young people.

It became apparent that there was no adequate training program for developing talent to support the departmental need for child actors and the community desire for ongoing opportunities to develop talents
in the art of drama.

At this time the Department was under pressure, both internal and external, to reduce the number of productions it presented.

With these factors in mind, Dr. Regan and Dr JoBeth Gonzalez, director of the Bowling Green High School Drama Department, called a meeting of community leaders and interested parents in 1998. A group
of parents continued to meet over the next year and a half and drafted a set of goals. These goals focused on providing opportunities for young people ages 8 to 17 to receive beginning and advanced training in the theatre arts and providing an annual series of productions for audiences of all ages utilizing young people in all aspects of production.

With these goals established, a production of Charlotte's Web was presented in collaboration with the Black Swamp Players in the fall of 1998. That same year, a memorandum of agreement with the
Department of Theatre and Film allowed for the free use of classroom space for the summer of 1999 in order to initiate a series of classes in drama for young people.

Each year since 1999, the Horizon Youth Theatre has offered classes and presented productions for the community.

Beginning with the summer classes of 1999, the Department of Theatre and Film took on the responsibility of administering the budget of HYT. Bi-monthly meetings of interested parents finally formalized in 2001
with the establishment of a set of By Laws and the election of Officers to the Horizon Youth Theatre Advisory Board (HYTAB). The purpose of the HYTAB is "to support the work of the HYT through:

• 1) Consultation as requested with the Managing Director,
• 2) organizing and conducting programming and projects that enhance the goals of HYT,
• 3) promoting the organization in the" community,
• 4) fund raising, and
• 5) assisting the organization in meeting its goals.

By both necessity and design, the HYT has actively partnered with numerous community organizations including: Wood County Library, Black Swamp Arts Fair, St Mark's Church, Wood County Community
Learning Centers, COSI Toledo, Bowling Green Community Foundation, Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Department, Pemberville Opera House Guild, Black Swamp Players Community Theatre and the ClaZel Theatre.

Student field trips (Flint Youth Theatre, Stratford Shakespeare Festival) and weekend workshops have also been programmed.