Red Ladder Theatre Company: History
John McCluggage joined San Jose Rep as Associate Artistic Director in 1989 with the goal of establishing a youth outreach program that would directly and positively impact the lives of at-risk youth. McCluggage wanted to respond to the needs and circumstances of at-risk youth and effect a significant change in the way they viewed their lives and ability to make positive changes.
McCluggage studied the philosophies, methodologies, and outcomes of leading national arts education programs. Finding a kindred spirit in Robert A. “Bobby” Alexander, Founder and Director of Living Stage Theatre Company, McCluggage traveled to Washington D.C. to steep himself in the Living Stage method of highly interactive programs and its mission of community building. On his return McCluggage launched Red Ladder Theatre Company, with the assistance of Karen Altree Piemme, as an integral part of the work of San Jose Rep.
The name “Red Ladder” was borrowed from a London theatre group as an apt metaphor for the program McCluggage was about to build. Red is a vibrant, passionate, eye-catching color that motivates and energizes. Ladders symbolize climbing and reaching otherwise impossible heights. Ladders extend an invitation to rise up and glimpse wonderful, new and attainable vistas.
Since its inception in 1992, Red Ladder has been dedicated to serving individuals outside the scope of mainstream services, with a special commitment to young people. Red Ladder works with at-risk populations, incarcerated youth and adults, pregnant and parenting teens, homeless high school students, developmentally disabled youth, drug recovery program participants and community service leaders. Red Ladder achieves phenomenal success with each of these groups partly because of the deep work that the artistic process requires from each participant and partly because Red Ladder is not a one-size-fits-all program. Workshops are tailor-made for each population, each group, and each session.
To achieve this customization, Red Ladder staff work with teachers and social service professionals to plan sessions that advance groups at their own speed while incorporating their own specific interests, concerns, and dreams. Though thoughtfully planned to achieve concrete objectives, actual sessions are allowed to remain somewhat fluid. This fluidity permits Red Ladder staff to react in real time to abilities and interests demonstrated by each group and by individuals within that group, drawing directly upon each student’s unique artistic genius and life experience.
Throughout each session, participants’ interests and decisions drive the action. Their efforts are rewarded with praise and encouragement. Through this method of acknowledging and validating participants’ choices, a safe and creative environment—free from judgment and consequence—is forged. Red Ladder’s multi-disciplinary approach fuses theatre, performance skills, music, dance, writing, and visual art and fosters all learning styles and abilities. Most workshops run from two to three hours in length and are held once a week for four to eight weeks. Throughout the workshop experience group members are challenged with progressively more difficult interactions to help develop their abilities to the fullest. Red Ladder aims to jump-start participants’ imaginations in the confident knowledge that it is the mastery of creativity that holds the greatest promise for change.