Caryl Crane Children's Theatre Program

Ronald M. Ruble, Ph.D., artistic director

The Caryl Crane Children's Theatre Program exists as a community-campus venture bringing quality theatre productions and workshops to the tri-county area and beyond. Any area youth age 10 and up is eligible to participate in productions of children's musicals, children's classics and original works performed for audiences. BGSU Firelands students can also participate either for academic credit or as non-credit volunteers. The Caryl Crane Children's Theatre is the only resident children's theatre program on a regional campus in Ohio and the only one with an ongoing guest artist program.

The goals are to recognize the existence of alternative programs of instruction in the arts which can be found in our geographic area and to avoid replicating such instruction; to be centered on the music, dance and human experiences that are reflected in literature for, about or involving youth; to encourage more participation in children's theatre in our geographic area; to teach children the wonder of the art of theatre; to perform high-quality children's plays for the public; and to promote a love for the theatre as an enriching and nourishing art form in our lives.

Workshops for children ages 10-18 are offered fall, winter and spring on a variety of theatre topics. Educational outreach into area schools has also been a feature of this program. One or two productions with multiple performances are offered each year.