Children’s Healing Project
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford / El Camino Hospital (Comprehensive Eating Disorders Unit) / Ronald McDonald House at Stanford, 725 Welch Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94304
About
The Children’s Healing Project brings TheatreWorks Teaching Artists to work directly with young patients and their siblings. During visits, kids might play a wacky version of The Voice, play with the language of Shakespeare, or spend time explaining why they were a superhero that day.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Throughout the school year, two TheatreWorks Teaching Artists visit the hospital
Founded in 1970 by Robert Kelley (Artistic Director Emeritus), TheatreWorks is Silicon Valley’s leading professional nonprofit theatre company. TheatreWorks states that, whether onstage or off, in everything that it does, it seeks to celebrate the human spirit and the diversity of the Silicon Valley community. In 2019, TheatreWorks was honored to receive the Regional Theatre Tony Award.
The Children’s Healing Project includes TheatreWorks Teaching Artists working with patients and families while they are receiving care. Each year the Children’s Healing Project brings joy and laughter to patients and their families, and through the program, patients have the opportunity, for a short time, to forget their troubles and enjoy their creative and imaginative exploration. A gift to TheatreWorks helps support Arts Engagement programs like the Children’s Healing Project, and families are invited to donate to bring the magic of laughter to kids who need it the most.
One patient shared, “You can have fun like a normal kid. You can forget what is wrong with you.” A hospital administrator described “gales of laughter coming from the rooms & a more positive patient attitude after a visit.” The program is now under the leadership of Artistic Director Giovanna Sardelli and Interim Executive Director Phil Santora.
Last updated March 22, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Throughout the school year, two TheatreWorks Teaching Artists visit the hospital
Founded in 1970 by Robert Kelley (Artistic Director Emeritus), TheatreWorks is Silicon Valley’s leading professional nonprofit theatre company. TheatreWorks states that, whether onstage or off, in everything that it does, it seeks to celebrate the human spirit and the diversity of the Silicon Valley community. In 2019, TheatreWorks was honored to receive the Regional Theatre Tony Award.
The Children’s Healing Project includes TheatreWorks Teaching Artists working with patients and families while they are receiving care. Each year the Children’s Healing Project brings joy and laughter to patients and their families, and through the program, patients have the opportunity, for a short time, to forget their troubles and enjoy their creative and imaginative exploration. A gift to TheatreWorks helps support Arts Engagement programs like the Children’s Healing Project, and families are invited to donate to bring the magic of laughter to kids who need it the most.
One patient shared, “You can have fun like a normal kid. You can forget what is wrong with you.” A hospital administrator described “gales of laughter coming from the rooms & a more positive patient attitude after a visit.” The program is now under the leadership of Artistic Director Giovanna Sardelli and Interim Executive Director Phil Santora.
Last updated March 22, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.