CTM seeks to provide access to theater arts to ALL youth regardless of ability or financial situation. We strive to break down the social and economic barriers that prevent youth from participating in the arts. CTM believes in providing all youth with the opportunity to experience the magic of live theater, and to learn life skills through theater classes that will provide them with more options in their educational and professional futures. We have seen firsthand the difference that arts education makes in the lives our students and how expanding this access can and will change lives in our community.

CTM's strategies for addressing these barriers include: --providing sensory-friendly performances for youth on the autism spectrum, youth with other sensory processing disorders, and youth with other developmental needs -- ASL interpreted performances for all mainstage productions for the hearing impaired --No-cost after school classes are held at area community centers --Scholarships for students in need of financial assistance for our theater classes --Ticket subsidies for students receiving free/reduced lunch for student matinee performances

CTM is dedicated to providing access for ALL youth regardless of circumstance. We have an Access for All Coordinator on staff who works with a variety of community groups and organizations to learn the needs of various communities of youth. Through this position we have dramatically expanded our work with youth on the autism spectrum, and youth who are deaf or hard of hearing. CTM has a Board Committee dedicated to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion whose members have been instrumental in reaching out to low-income families, and communities of color--providing information about scholarship programs, audition opportunities, and community center workshops and classes.

CTM will know we are making progress when more youth from a variety of under-served groups have access to and are participating in the theater arts in our community. We believe that providing youth with access to classes in theater skills will improve academic performance, increase engagement with learning, and provide confidence and leadership skills.

1) Financial Aid and scholarships: For the 2019-20 school year CTM would like to increase the students served to between 75 and 100 youth. To do this, we will need to increase our financial aid and scholarship fund from $20,000 to $30,000. 2) Collaboration with Community Centers serving low-income youth: CTM currently hosts no-costs classes and workshops at both Goodman Community Center and Lussier Community Education Center. These programs currently serve between 65 and 75 youth (combined), and we have seen these programs continue to grow and would like to see 100 students in these programs next season. 3) Tickets made available to low-income families: CTM also partners with the Madison Children's Museum to provide tickets to low-income families through their Play to Play program. We will continue to partner with MCM in 2019-20. In addition, another major barriers for youth can be transportation. We are developing a transportation fund to providing transport for individual youth to classes; and bus/van transportation for groups. We are seeking $5,000 to establish a fund to support this addition to our existing scholarship and financial program. We believe this will enable many more youth to participate. Overall, we will be successful when we no longer have to turn away any child who wants to be involved in the theater arts.