Stepping Stone Theater Co.
Background and Purpose
Stepping Stone Theater for Youth Development (Stepping Stone) was founded in 1987. Its mission is “to develop the whole child by using educational theater programs and fully-staged productions to build self-esteem, confidence and a sense of community, while celebrating diversity in a supportive, non-competitive atmosphere.”
The theater is committed to maintaining broad access to its programs through low-ticket prices, scholarships for classes and workshops, discounted residencies for schools and community programs, and assistance with transportation.
Stepping Stone’s work is focused in three primary programs: 1) Mainstage: the production of plays for and about children and youth of diverse cultures and economic backgrounds, with peer modeling and peer education as the primary goal; 2) Education: residencies where theater artists teach students to create performances drawn from school curricula and/or the student’s own experiences; and 3) Outreach: classes taught by professional theater educators that stress creativity and collaboration.
In the past eleven years, the theater has almost tripled its operating budget from $270,000 in FY 1997 to $855,000 in FY 2008. Last year 39,820 patrons attended 179 performances. A 19-member board of directors oversees a staff of eight full-time and five part-time employees.
Current Request
Stepping Stone outgrew its former location at Saint Paul’s Landmark Center where the theater had been located since its inception. The increased demand for classes and services made it more challenging to acquire adequate affordable space in public schools, churches and community locations for classes and rehearsals. As a result, the theater’s board of directors determined that finding new space was essential for the organization to continue to grow in a way that fully supported its mission.
In 2002, Stepping Stone conducted a capital campaign feasibility study and determined that renovating an existing facility would be more cost effective than building. It also concluded that a $4 million campaign goal was achievable, although the majority of funding would have to come from the private sector. After an extensive planning and search period, on August 30, 2005 the theater purchased the former Grace Community Church at 55 North Victoria (across the street from William Mitchell College of Law).
The theater began its capital campaign to raise the necessary funds to pay for the purchase and renovation of this facility. The Saint Paul Foundation supported this campaign with an initial gift of $250,000. In December 2006, the campaign goal was raised to $5.3 million due to increases in the construction costs and newly discovered engineering issues.
On December 1, 2007, Stepping Stone opened the doors to its new theater. The facility meets the size and configuration needed - seating capacity per performance almost doubled from 230 to 400 seats, and capacity for annual enrollment in educational programs increased from just over 500 to nearly 900 participants.
The new facility provides a safe, child-friendly location, easy access from major highways, and good visibility in a diverse and vibrant neighborhood. Stepping Stone has raised over $4.2M for the building and is returning to The Saint Paul Foundation for a supplemental grant to help finish the campaign.