Theatre Action Project’s growth and success is founded on our ability to recognize and meet the needs of Central Texas youth, from the 530 youth we reached in our first year to the more than 14,000 youth and adults we will serve this year.

Evolution of TAP’s Success

1997
TAP is founded as a Master’s Thesis project in the University of Texas at Austin’s Drama and Theatre for Youth Program by Lynn Hoare, Alison Downey and Avis Strong. The new organization garners funding from the Travis County Crime Victims Fund to support 20 performances of “It’s In Your Hands,” a theatrical violence prevention program; 530 students in Austin are served.

08-00
TAP becomes a sponsored project of Austin Circle of Theatres (ACOT). “It’s In Your Hands” is performed 95 times for over 2000 students in two years.

2001
TAP receives the IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and expands programming, recruits a Board of Directors, and acquires office space. “It’s In Your Hands” is performed 30 times for over 600 students. “The Courage to Stand,” a five-day interactive performance residency exploring the role of the courageous bystander in a bullying situation, is developed and piloted.

02-03
TAP presents at “Theatre-In-Education” conference hosted by New York University.  TAP develops a formal collaboration with SafePlace, creating “The Changing Lives Youth Theatre Company,” a teen theatre company educating youth and adults about healthy relationships through their performance, “Good Love” in August of 2003.  Partnership programs and independent projects serve up to 800 people.

03-04
TAP develops “TAP After School” and implements 20 classes per week by the end of the school year. Staff expands to one full time, two part-time staff and ten contracted teaching artists. The “Alternative Solutions” program, an interactive conflict resolution workshop for students on alternative learning campuses and “Youth for Youth Performance Project,” provides workshops in which students create original issues-based performances for their peers’ debut. Partnership programs and independent projects serve up to 3,000 people.

04-05
TAP continues to grow, increasing from five part-time staff and teaching artists to a total of 25. TAP develops five-day interactive performance, “The Heroes/Los Héroes,” a bilingual, musical puppet show helping K-2nd graders develop conflict resolution skills. TAP offers 35 afterschool classes a week, and expansion funded in part by a $25,000 grant from the A Glimmer of Hope Foundation. Partnership programs and independent projects serve up to 7,000 people.

05-06
In order to keep up with dramatic growth and demand for programming TAP increases organizational capacity by creating six full time positions and 21 part-time teaching artists. TAP is now providing programming to eight school districts and teaching 75 after school classes per week. The Webber Family Foundation grants $25,000 to fund the creation of the peer mentoring performance “Courage In Action,” a sequel to “The Courage to Stand.” TAP’s partnership programs and independent projects serve up to 11,000 people.

06-07  
TAP continues to grow! In response to demand for programming, TAP increases organizational capacity by creating nine full time positions in addition to contracting 30 teaching artists. TAP after school grows due to the addition of a new "Artist in Residence" model and offers 330 after school classes per week. Actor teachers perform a new interactive show called "Courage in Action," which teaches young people about community organizing and the history of youth activism, is added. Once again working with 5 area schools, TAP presents a huge spectacle of puppets, banners, masks and drumming as part of First Night 2006 animating the theme Soaring into 2007! TAP presents at several area festivals including the Pecan Street Festival and the Zilker Park Kite Festival.  Partnership programs and independent projects serve more than 12,000 people and over 10,000 hours of programming are delivered to the area.

07-08  
2007-2008 was another big year for TAP! With 10 full time staff members and over the year 40 teaching artists.We continued all of our programs and added new Middle School Youth Theatre Companies, several of which are in partnership with local organizations.We piloted a new literacy program called Journey into the Story in which 3rd grade classrooms explored relevant novels and stories for young people through theatre and improve comprehension skills as well as got excited about reading. We presented  “Peace Cranes” for First Night 2008 through which we engaged over 30 schools and community members in creating origami cranes to explore how each of us can be a part of a peaceful community. We held our first ever large fundraising event and made over $31,000.  We served nearly 14,000 young people and the adults who care for them.

08-09  
With a new mission statement and an exciting strategic plan, we continue to grow and become an even stronger organization. We now have 12 Staff members and work with over 50 artists each year. We continue to offer our 4 core areas of programs. Highlights of the year include: First Night Austin and our theme "Keep the Night Alive," a celebration of Texas' Endangered Nocturnal Species, a youth symposium and festival for our Middle and High School Youth, our 2nd annual Pageant in the Park in June, a pilot of a new program with the UT School of Nursing for 7th graders addressing sexual harassment, and the continuation of our new 3rd grade interactive residency on literacy, Journey Into the Story. We will provide programming at 85 sites reaching more than 16,000 people.