Children's theatre program goes nonprofit

by Laura Hutton, St. Johns Sentinal

April 2006

Although in its seventh year of operation, Portland’s Theatre Brigade is just getting used to working independently. Until 2005, Portland’s Parks and Recreation Bureau operated the children’s theatre organization. When the theatre program was cut last year, the Theatre Brigade lost funding.

Luckily, Mayor Tom Potter has been a longstanding fan of the program. Brigade founder and director as well as IFCC coordinator Adrienne Flagg recalls that when Potter realized the program had been cut, he sent down representatives from his office as well as the office of Sam Adams to encourage the Brigade to file for 501c3.

There was always an interest at the school level, Flagg says, but knowing there was a strong interest from people in high places reinforced the Theatre Brigade’s mission. Flagg and her colleagues filed for nonprofit standing in June.

“This is the first year on our own,” Flagg says. “It’s been a big adjustment.”

The Theatre Brigade is a professional theatre company for young people aged seven to 15 years based in Laurelhurst and the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center. The children and teens audition at the beginning of the school year. They receive the same training as adults, including vocal, improv, and acting skills. In December, the adults turn the program over to the kids, who assign leadership roles, casting, and choose their own performances without adult intervention. They even run their own business meetings and decide their own goals. The kids then take their self-designed group and tour Portland schools, libraries, and community centers.

“When they’re on tour, they’re in charge,” Flagg says. “It’s an empowerment-based program so that other kids can see they’re in charge of their own program.”

Although the Brigade originally focused on outer Southeast and Parkrose school districts, two years ago, Flagg and the Brigade branched out into North Portland. The North Portland Theatre Brigade tours North Portland schools for free.

“I made an effort to start a brigade in North Portland,” she says. “There’s a lot of schools we go to where we are one of the few outside assemblies they can have for free.”

The performances remain free for the schools, but Flagg is still adjusting to the programs newfound independence. Flagg committed to a year of unpaid work, opting instead to pay her two assistant directors. It has also been difficult for the Brigade to secure tour vans, which had not been a problem under Portland Parks and Recreation. However, Flagg remains hopeful that the Brigade will settle comfortably into its independence.

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