Last night, our space filled up with people. Volunteers, staff, cast members, and even Young Artists who are not in the Little Women cast all gathered for one shared purpose: to assemble, paint, style, and finish the set for our September production.
There is something remarkable about getting everyone into one room to work on a single project. People problem-solved, socialized, rolled up their sleeves, and helped bring this story to life together. That kind of night is one of the things we are proudest of at Encore. When our youth, our families, and our community show up to build something side by side, we are doing exactly what we set out to do.
We know we could hire professional builders, or sub the whole thing out. But we believe, with real conviction, that involving our Young Artists in the process matters far more. Building the set themselves helps them take ownership. It teaches them skills, unlocks new interests, and lets them be part of the storytelling in a much deeper way.
That is the heart of our mission at Encore: to learn the skills and qualities unique to theater that go well beyond singing, acting, and dancing. We love watching Young Artists learn to paint, texture, and stylize, all the craft that goes into building a show. It is also why we call them Young Artists and not kids. On this journey of putting a show together, they are artists alongside the rest of us, bringing the story to life.
We are so grateful for our team and this cast. Some of the people who showed up last night are not in the show at all. They came as friends of the cast, there to support and be part of the process. More than twenty helpers, each playing a unique role to pull it all together. That is a sight worth being proud of.
We cannot wait for you to see what these hands have built.
Adam and the Encore Team