Oregon Children’s Theatre Young Professionals (YP) program

Oregon Children’s Theatre Young Professionals (YP) program is connected with Artists Repertory Theatre, where it has arranged an apprenticeship and shadow experience with the theatre’s Artistic Director on a production. Through this program, a participant has worked directly with a professional theatre director as part of that apprenticeship opportunity.

• Ages: 14–18 years old

The program’s leadership team includes Dani Baldwin, Artistic Director at Oregon Children’s Theatre; Luan Schooler, Artistic Director at Artists Repertory Theatre; and Sara Jean Accuardi, playwright of The Storyteller. Artists Repertory Theatre states a mission to produce intimate, provocative theatre and to provide a home for a diverse community of artists and audiences to take creative risks. Artists Repertory Theatre commits to becoming an anti-racism and anti-oppression organization and to ending racial inequities in its industry and culture. The theatre acknowledges that it rests on land stolen from indigenous communities belonging to the Cowlitz, Chinook, Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, and the Siletz.

One participant describes a long history with theatre, from a first production at age 5 to experiences at age 17 in acting, directing, and writing. Another participant describes their experience at Artists Repertory Theatre as deeply enriching and says they feel more secure in continuing to do what they love. A testimonial notes that aspiring theatre makers need programs like Oregon Children’s Theatre that meet dreams with reality. Another participant states that without this kind of program, they would not have the strength to keep pursuing what they love with the world.

Last updated August 17, 2026.