Original Kids Theatre Company - London, Ontario - Live Stage Theaters on Waymarking.com

Taken from the Original Kids website:

OUR HISTORY



1991
Original Kids Theatre Company was founded as a not-for-profit charitable youth organization by David Conron with 12 members.
First Home- Alma College in St. Thomas.
1994
First production for the general public was at Summer Camp. It was “Cats of Alma”, performed in the outdoor theatre at the College. The production was directed by Art Fidler and Reed Needles.
That same summer, Original Kids moved to London and rented space in the basement of the London Regional Art and what is now museum London.
1996
After two years using the Museum Theatre, Original Kids built its own theatre in the Museum, and called it The Bull-Donaldson Theatre after two volunteers, Keith Bull and Joe Donaldson, who spearheaded its construction.
In February, Art Fidler retired from teaching and took over as Artistic Director for Original Kids. That summer, Original Kids did its first big theatre production “Annie Warbucks” at UWO’s Talbot Theatre, directed by Art.
1997
Original Kids tried their first full length productions as part of their season with “The Boy Friend” directed by Tia Pearse and “Daisy Pulls It Off” directed by KC Cann.
1998
In the summer, a troupe from Original Kids represented Canada at the World Youth Drama Festival in Lingen, Germany in an original work, The Dreamers under the direction of James Schaefer.
1999
Original Kids moved to it's current home, the Spriet Family Theatre in the Covent Garden Market. The theatre was named after the Spriet family. Thanks to the generosity of Andy and Helen Spriet, prominent philanthropists in London, the project was made possible.
Original Kids Summer Camp moved to Spencer Lodge on Windermere Road
2000
Original Kids begins offering a yearly, theatre focused trip to New York City's Broadway every March Break for High School aged Original Kids Main Cast members.
2002
Art Fidler withdrew from the Artistic Directorship to take on Marketing and Special Projects and the position was ably filled by his Assistant Artistic Director, Dale Hirlehey. It was at this time that OK's rehearsal space was given the name “The Art Fidler Rehearsal Hall”.
50+ Original Kids mount "Bye Bye Birdie" -- the first production staged at the Wolf Performance Hall inside the new London Public Library, Central Branch inside Galleria Mall (now Citi Plaza). 
Original Kids carry in the enormous red ribbon at the ribbon cutting ceremonies for downtown's premiere arena and entertainment venue, the John Labatt Centre (now Budweiser Gardens). 
2003
Original Kid's current Executive Director Jeffery Crane was hired as the organizations bookkeeper while he attended Western University.
2005
Summer of 2005 we developed a partnership with the London Arts Council and The London Public Library to produce an outdoor pay what you can production in the Rotary Reading Garden at the London Central Library. This was the first known production in Canada of a new piece from Broadway called "A Year With Frog & Toad".
Original Kids was awarded an Ontario Trillium Grant for $29,600 to upgrade our technical equipment.
2010
The London Fringe Festival featured our first official Original Kids Alumni production, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

2011
Original Kids Theatre Company celebrates its 20th Anniversary.
Original Kids runs a gala at Sunningdale Golf & Country Club to raise money to replace our sound equipment.
In December we brought our Box Office in house that began the creation of a leadership development program for our youth.
2012
Our Box Office system evolves into a youth leadership development program.
In February, Original Kids ran its 2nd gala at Sunningdale Golf & Country Club to complete our technical equipment upgrade. With the performance help of alumni including Kyle Blair & Alexis Gordon, we are able to surpass our two year goal of $20,000.
Dale Hirlehey submitted his resignation and was replaced by our current Artistic Director Andrew Tribe.
2013
Original Kids reaches a membership of 310 performers in the Main Cast Company.
Original Kids introduces its first annual Playfest with an Awards ceremony.
2014
Original Kids is selected to represent Canada at the 13th World Festival of Children's Theatre in Lingen, Germany with their original collective creation, "Dream Journey". The production was also an entry in London Fringe Festival. 
Original Kids amends its by-laws allowing two non-voting youth members to sit on its board of directors.
Art Fidler retires from Original Kids.
2015
Camp OK introduces a new month long Leadership program for the summer of 2015 named the LEAD Program.
2016
Original Kids hosts a reunion evening celebrating 25 years, on the mezzanine of the Covent Garden Market on February 13, 2016 with over 400 in attendance. 
Original Kids presents the Canadian premiere of the new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, "School of Rock", based on the popular film, while it is still running on Broadway. 



CURRENTLY
In its 25th year, Original Kids is exclusively dedicated to young artists.
Our summer camp, Camp OK has grown to a complete July/August event with 4 two-week sessions.
T.A.G. Program has been designed to offer training to Company beginners, offering a series of workshops by theatre professionals and concluding with a final gala showcase.
Our organization on several occasions has participated in the London One-Act Festival and the London Fringe Festival.
Our organization has hosted 3 Playfest Awards Ceremonies. A complete history of award winners is located HERE.
Our complete show history from our Main Cast company is located HERE.

Theater Name: Original Kids Theatre Company Country: Canada Address: 130 King Street London, ON Canada N6A 1C5 Web Site: [Web Link] Venue: Community Theater Type of Productions: Musicals, Shakespeare, Themed Restored Building: no Date of Construction: 1991 Special Productions/Events/Festivals: Architect/Designer: Not listed Stage Type: Not listed Seating Capacity: Not Listed

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