Red Ladder Theatre Company: Mission

Red Ladder Theatre Company is the social outreach branch of San Jose Repertory Theatre. Formed in 1992, Red Ladder exists to create a safe and supportive atmosphere in which disenfranchised members of our community—these include children and teenagers, as well as those who have special needs, are burdened by economic hardship, racial segregation or teen pregnancy, those who are incarcerated or those who are facing the harsh realities of a life on the streets—can explore the myriad possibilities which exist within their own imaginations and which, when acted upon, can help them realize the best solutions to the problems they face every day.

Objectives
• To improve the lives of at-risk youth and marginalized adults through theatre arts.

• To help participants confront and make positive changes to improve their circumstances.

• To create and maintain a safe, supportive, and creative environment for participants.

• To engage participants fully with the artistic process through theatre, music, movement, playwriting, poetry, and illustration.

• To build important skills such as decision making, collaboration, creative problem solving, communication, and leadership

• To promote achievement, leadership, growth, and self-reliance.

• To provide the best programming possible led by a talented and professional staff.

• To form collaborative relationships with teachers, social service professionals, and organizational leaders.

• To share Red Ladder’s techniques through training of educators, community service professionals, and others who advance the interests of children and youth.

• To refine and improve continually Red Ladder methods and practices.

• To conduct all work with professionalism under rigorous internal and external evaluation.

• To develop the Red Ladder program responsibly, ensuring current standards of service while serving an ever-increasing range and number of children, youth, and adults.