Palo Alto Children's Theatre
1305 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(Part of the Lucie Stern Community Center, at the corner of Middlefield Rd. and Melville Ave.)
Phone: (650) 463-4930
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 9:30am - 6:30pm
Box Office
Box Office Phone: (650) 463-4970
Box Office Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 1:30-5:00pm
Ticket Prices: $10 Adult, $5 Child
Mission Statement
Palo Alto Children's Theatre (PACT) exists to nurture the intellectual, artistic, and personal development of children and youth through multi-arts education, performing opportunities, and extraordinary theatre experiences. We believe process and product are of equal importance and aim to create excellent theatre for young audiences. Through multi-arts education, PACT develops life skills such as critical and creative thinking, cooperation, and aesthetic sensitivity.
A theater and a school, PACT provides classes and programming designed to further learning experiences for children and youth. This invaluable teaching tool develops skills and provides and excellent opportunity to develop our participants' theatrical knowledge.
A Brief History of the Children's Theatre
The Palo Alto Children's Theatre program began in 1932 with a performance of the play THE PERFECT GIFT. The play was commissioned by the Mayor's Committee for Unemployment Relief. It was directed by Hazel Glaister Robertson, the founding Director of the Children's Theatre. After a brief stay in the old Veteran's Building, now MacArthur Park Restaurant, Mrs. Louis Stern gave the community its own theatre facility. The Children's Theatre shared the facility with the adult players until it became evident that the children needed their own place and environment in which to learn and grow. "Aunt Lucie" as the young people called Mrs. Stern, made another gift to the City; a fully equipped theatre, consisting of an auditorium, stage, fly, lighting and sound systems, shop, costume room, dressing rooms and office area, just for young people of the community. On January 29, 1937, the doors of the facility were opened.
Throughout its history the theatre has provided an average of 20 plays a year for audiences and participants. It has included radio, television, film and video as each became a special interest to the participants. It has gained world acclaim as a model for theatres by and for young people. Guests and scholars from around the world have been welcomed and told about the theatre. It is included in the textbooks and history books on Children's Theatre in America.
The theatre has from its inception worked closely with the Palo Alto Unified School District to provide innovative programming which benefits the young people of the community and teaches them the value of performing arts in their every day lives.
As one looks back on the theatre's history, it becomes apparent that the City Council, in accepting Mrs. Stern's gift, created a Palo Alto tradition, one of the many traditions which makes our community a special and unique place to live.
The Children's Theatre serves children and young adults aged four to twenty four years. Throughout the past 77 years, the theatre has provided programs for audiences and participants including radio, television, film, and video as each became a special interest. It has gained world acclaim as a model for theatres by and for young people. Guests and scholars from around the world have been welcomed and told about the Theatre. It is included in the textbooks and history books on Children's Theatre in America and in 1998 the Children's Theatre programs were the subject of a Doctoral Dissertation by Bryna Rifkind through New York University.
