Bonham Elementary students show DCT Education Director Nancy Schaeffer how they can roar like the wolf in “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs”

Dallas Children’s Theater believes that every child should have the chance to experience the magic of live theater. Donors who give above and beyond the ticket price or class fee are necessary for us to continue this important work. Here’s just one example of the impact your donations have on DCT’s audiences in need.

Did you know that DCT professionals work with school teachers to enhance core curriculum for their students by using the multisensory power of theater?

Anna, the principal of DISD’s Rosemont Elementary, told us about her school’s 20-year partnership with DCT through the “Curtains up on Reading” program. “Karl [a DCT Academy teacher] comes in and meets with the grade level teams and they talk about what the kids are struggling with,” she said. “Then he makes [the concepts] come alive with theater—singing, dancing, and acting. You don’t forget the ABC’s because you sing them. When the kids learn a concept through acting and singing, it solidifies the concept or skill that they need to learn.”

Rosemont Elementary students perform a song about converting fractions into decimals in their CUOR show “Rosemont Renaissance: Parodies from Portable Ten.”

“Curtains Up On Reading” is an in-school and summer program integrating theater techniques in the learning of literature, language arts, social studies, history, science, math, and other subjects. DCT artists-in-residence collaborate with educators in DISD elementary schools to incorporate the arts into areas where it can help children more readily grasp the concepts. More than 3,500 students are currently served by CUOR annually.

Theater can be an especially effective teaching tool for children who struggle in school. A student doesn’t need to speak English or read well to get something out of theater education. “You have to get out and learn and move and feel and experience,” said Kimberly, a former DCT Academy student who has a learning difference. “And I think the theater is definitely the place to do that.” Curtains Up On Reading’s interdisciplinary units are designed and taught using a hands-on approach to enhance students’ understanding, enthusiasm for learning, and self-confidence.

CUOR yields results. In a review of 2012 state test scores from the Texas Education Agency, the National Math and Science Initiative found that schools that fully participated in DCT’s drama residencies outperformed like schools in as much as 90% of the math, science and English exams analyzed. DCT is spreading the power of interdisciplinary arts education by making the CUOR curriculum book available to schools around the country. Your donations to DCT make it possible for us to continue to provide exciting, effective programming to students and teachers!