PLAY TIME THEATER
A SIMULATED ENTREPRENEURAL NON-PROFIT CHILDREN’S THEATRE COMPANY
Introduction
Since the age of 3, I have participated in the theatrical
performing arts. I attribute much of my success to the life
lessons I learned growing up a “theatre kid.” Theatre is a
great creative outlet for individuals to grow into their best
selves in a diverse atmosphere where each person’s
uniqueness is celebrated.
From my experience, and the experience of others
around me, I have found that theatre helps individuals
build self-esteem, confidence, and happiness. Although
there are so many advantages to participating in theatre,
it is underappreciated by society. This is represented by
many school programs cutting the budgets of arts
education. In the state of Rhode Island, theatre programs
are currently scarce and expensive.
Methods
The project has two main components:
1. Comprehensive Business Overview (theory)
2. One Week Theatre Class (application)
Comprehensive Business Overview:
•Class Description
•Lesson Plans
• 8 Week Lesson Plan
• 5 Day lesson Plan
•Supporting Documentation
• Marketing
• International Dimensions of Business
• Legal Environment of Business
• Business in Society
• Human Resources
One Week Theatre Class:
• Day 1: Components of a Story
• Day 2: Characterization/Character
Development
• Day 3: Staging and State Presence
• Day 4: Working Together On and Off Stage
• Day 5: Thinking Quick on Stage
Figure 1. The local acting class was
held at the Kent County YMCA in
Warwick, Rhode Island.
Alexander Diehl
Results
Mission Statement:
“Play Time Theater is a non-profit theater company with a focus
on producing superior theatrical experiences for children ages six
to eighteen. Our company’s goal is to promote creativity and self-
expression among the individuals who participate in any of our
programs. Our work is multidimensional as we focus on three
areas: 1. Teaching fundamental theatrical skills. 2. Teaching
basic creative writing and storytelling techniques. 3. Creating a
diverse, inclusive, and accepting atmosphere among all
participants. We believe that through our work any individual in
our program will grow to be a more confident, self-assured, and
happy individual. In sum, Play Time Theater’s mission is to
produce happier individuals through application of the arts while
providing a safe and accepting environment to grow.”
Business Specifics:
Name: Play Time Theater
Productive/Service: Children’s theatre and
creative writing education
Business Type: Non-profit
Location:
- All of Rhode Island
(The company’s reach using mobile units)
- Providence, Rhode Island (Physical location)
Size: Small
Number of Employees: 20-50 part-time to full-time
Business Strategy:
To offer a low cost but high value
experience in the arts that will have a
positive impact on the students by
promoting educational theatre and
creative writing lessons and facilitating
social and emotional growth.
Figure 3. This graph visualizes Play Time
Theater’s position in the children’s theatre
market and their ability to reach their target
market.
Figure 2. This is the custom
logo for Play Time Theater.
Culture:
Play Time Theater defines itself
through its focus on company
culture. The culture
is:
•Safe
•Inclusive
•Diverse
•Celebrates Differences
•Creative
This culture is for both Play Time
Theater employees and the
students in all of the classes.
Play Time Theater Competition:
•Trinity Repertoire
•Fantasy Works Youth Theater
•Stadium Theatre
•Cast Children’s Theatre
•Broadway Kids and Co. Inc.
•School Programs
Play Time Theater is highly accessible due
to the mobile units and one physical
location. Play Time Theater has moderate
Thank you to:
quality because some programs have the
•URI Honors Program for project funding and support
finances to hire retired theatre
•Donna Gamache-Griffiths for being an amazing faculty sponsor
professionals while Play Time Theater
for this project
instructors are qualified, they are not
•Kent County YMCA (Patricia Driscoll and Kirsten Petrarca) for
professionals.
Conclusions
Play Time Theater will thrive as an innovative
children’s theatre company in the state of Rhode
Island as there is little competition that can
compete with the unique product. Due to its
nonprofit status, Play Time Theater will offer
affordable classes which will increase its target
market tremendously.
Play Time Theater is also unique due to
accessing its target market. By having physical
location classes and traveling throughout the
state of Rhode Island, the company will increase
its customer base. Although this report finds that
Play Time Theater would be very successful it
does present major areas of weakness that
require special attention by management.
Recommendations include:
•To preserve the ethical nature of the company to
perpetuate Play Time Theaters’ positive
reputation
•To avoid any legal issue as one legal case could
end the business
•To ensure that all Play Time Theater employees
understand and promote the inclusive and
diverse culture that makes the company unique.
Figure 4. The one week class was held
through the YMCA preschool program.
The one week acting class was very
successful. We started with 22 enrolled students
and ended with 24 in the program. The staff said
that the children loved it and would talk about it
all day. By the end of the week, the students
were closer and they all were comfortable being
creative and expressing themselves.
The students and staff inquired about running
the program again during the summer camp
session. This reflects the strong customer service
Play Time Theater strives for that will build a
reputation that will bring the company success.
Acknowledgements
hosting the Play Time Theater classes