Childsplay

For 36 years, Childsplay has remained  at the forefront of arts education in Arizona schools—transforming the academic experience for thousands of Arizona students so much so that students have come to recognize the company, its teachings, and shows as part of their traditional academic experiences.

Childsplay was founded by David Saar in 1977 with the belief that children could reap great benefits from experiences with professional theater. Since then, Childsplay has become an internationally respected, award-winning professional theater company, focused on children’s theater and arts education. Childsplay serves an average audience of 200,000 students, families, and teachers each year. Its season includes several local touring productions, a national touring production, and a series of in-house productions at the Tempe Center for the Arts.

The local touring productions, which visit hundreds of schools throughout the state, are the mainstay of the organization and continue a tradition started by Saar and his colleagues in 1964. Childsplay touring productions are so well known, it’s estimated that one in five Arizona students, K-6, has seen a production. This number stands as testament to the reach Childsplay’s touring productions has had in the state where much of its audience lives in rural communities at or below the poverty level. In addition to Childsplay’s productions, the company also hosts an array of educational programming at the Tempe Center for the Arts; programs include a theater academy throughout the year, summer classes, and a conservatory for more serious theater students. The company also partners with school districts to offer afterschool programming. 

Childsplay’s touring theater season and educational programming aren’t the only features of the company that make it Arizona’s leader in arts education; Childsplay also offers arts education resources in more than 40 communities every year. These opportunities take the form of artists’ residencies, facilitated by professional teaching artists, and professional development workshops for teachers.