About ATFC


ABOUT US​
Our Vision
A Theater For Children was founded in 2016 to serve the residents of Sonoma County. Our goal is to become a role model, demonstrating how to provide children with life-changing opportunities to develop character and confidence, promoting cooperation among multiple generations, and building community through the theater arts.
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Our Programs
A Theater For Children provides quality affordable live entertainment to the community as well as after school theater programs, available at no cost to participants. Participation in the magic of theater, whether behind the scenes or in front of an audience, sparks imagination and ingenuity and helps to build community and character.
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Our pilot after-school theater program at Kid Street Learning Center began in September 2016. We expanded our program to the Boys & Girls Club of Central Sonoma County in 2017 and 2018. In the summer of 2019, we offered our first summer drama camp for children who have faced life altering challenges. In Fall 2020, using funding from Creative Sonoma grant, we launched two large school productions of Disney's Lion King KIDS at Kid Street Charter School and Bellevue Elementary Schools. In Fall 2020, because of the global pandemic, we are taking our programming online with Zoom versions of Alex & The Magic Staff, a Playwriting Workshop, and a Youth Playwriting Competition, inspired by our theme for the season "It Takes a Village to Raise a Child."
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Each year we produce at least two main stage productions, in addition to performances by children in after school programs. Our main stage shows include well-loved interpretations of classic children’s literature, folklore, or mythology. So far we have produced:
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McQuadle: A Dragon's Tale in March 2017
Cinderella, Cinderella, Nov 2017
Dorothy & The Wizard of Oz, March 2018
Disney's 101 Dalmatians KIDS, Nov 2018
Alex & the Magic Staff, March 2019
Disney's Lion King KIDS, Nov 2019
Save Our Planet, March 2020
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Each year, we provide complimentary tickets to non-profits who serve vulnerable children to bring between 150-200 of them to see our productions.
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A Theater For Children is a Fiscally Sponsored Project of Inquiring Systems, Inc. (ISI). ISI is a California Nonprofit 501 (c) (3) Corporation Founded in 1978. Their fiscal sponsorship provides us with administrative and legal support, which frees us up to focus on running our innovative programs.
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Our Participants
People of all ages, ethnicities, and gender orientations are encouraged to participate in our programs. We strive to empower individuals to express themselves and to discover, develop, and share their talents and skills. We promote respect and friendship among children, teens, and adults as they work together in the many aspects of our program. New volunteers are always welcome!
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Our Board and Staff
Our Board of Directors brings a vast amount of theatrical experience as well as professional expertise in finance, sales, entrepreneurial management and marketing. We strive to exemplify excellent leadership and adopt best practices. We promote an organizational culture of kindness, encouragement, and cooperation and strive to be inclusive, positive, and flexible. And, we have fun!
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STAFF
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JIM PLAISTED
BRIDGET PALMER
BEVERLY ESPERON
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COMMUNITY
MK HICKS
JOHN ICE
STEPHANIE SANCHEZ
NICOLE HILL
YEN & JEFF NGO
JENNY SIPLE
CHRISSY TUIDER
MILLIE PLAISTED
LORI NORCIA
DONATA MIKULIK
LYNNEA MACKEY
SARAH BIRD
SARAH VALERIO
RAMIRO RAMIREZ
MAITREYI SIRUGURI
ROBYN CHITTISTER
TIM DECKER
OLIVIA PIPER
OLIN COHEN
SPONSORS
TIMBER CREATIONS
CASTLE CONCRETE PUMPING
SUNRISE HORSE RESCUE
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
SONOMA VOITURE NO. 338 OF THE 40 & 8
US AMERICAN LEGION
COUNTY OF SONOMA
SIGNARAMA
PARTNERS
KIDS STREET LEARNING CENTER
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
SANTA ROSA CHILDREN'S THEATER
CREATIVE SONOMA
COUNTY OF SONOMA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS


JIM PLAISTED
PRESIDENT
BRIDGET PALMER
EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
JIM has been involved with community theater for over 20 years, and served on the board of another community youth theater program for many of them.
BRIDGET has been leading after-school performance classes, school-based drama education, and drama camps for ages 4-14 in Sonoma County for over 20 years. She has a special love for comedy improv and has also taught 8th grade drama for 4 years.
BEVERLY ESPERON