Timeline     

The following timeline highlights the significant benchmarks in The Growing Stage's history:

1982: Debuts at The Black River Playhouse; 500 patrons attend four Main Stage productions. Inaugurates the Touring Company entertaining 1200 students; Annual Budget: $ 30,000

1984: Moves to the Williamson Building, Chester, New Jersey. Begins ten-year association and establishes itself as a cultural fixture in northwestern Morris County. Receives final IRS determination as a 501-c-3 not for profit corporation. Over the next several years The Growing Stage opens a summer camp for the arts and establishes an intern program for students of theatre.

1992: Becomes an associate member of the New Jersey Theatre Group - an association of professional theatre groups.

1994: Acquires the Palace Theatre; average season attendance grows to 6000 and Touring Company travels throughout the state; Annual Budget reaches $ 75,000

1995: The Growing Stage opens the Palace with The Wizard of Oz attracting 1,200 patrons through six performances.

1996: Becomes a professional member theatre of the Association of Actor's Equity. Annual attendance approaches 10,000.

Our accomplishments over the past two seasons include:

2005/2006: The Performing/Teaching Artist Repertory Company is formed. The position of Marketing Director is added to the staff. “Main Stage Matinees” program is extended to two productions. Work continues on the construction of the ADA elevator. The Teen Workshop Series is launched. The theatre adds two new members to its Board of Trustees. The New Jersey State Council on the Arts approves the inclusion of The Growing Stage to the roster of artists’ companies eligible to participate in the Council’s artist residency program. Executive Director Stephen L. Fredericks is invited to participate in a program for graduate students and M.F.A. alumni at Arizona State University discussing future trends in the field of professional theatre for young audiences. A strategic business plan with the Non-Profit Finance Fund is completed and presented to the Board of Trustees as we continue to prepare for the future.

2006/2007: We established a partnership with Young Audiences of New Jersey which provided us the opportunity to expand offerings in both music and dance to our patrons. We received funding from the Morris County Historical Trust to produce a cost study on the completion of our front façade. This report allows us to proceed judiciously as we continue to restore and renovate our facility. The catalog of fifteen plays that have been created by the staff of the Growing Stage has been created and the pieces are being reformatted as Word documents. Launching of the publishing company is scheduled for the Fall of 2007. The ADA compliant elevator is completed. The chandelier, which was designed by the resident artist of Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, Hank Adams, is unveiled. A Financial Structure Analysis is completed by the Nonprofit Finance Fund and continues to assist us as our organization continues to plan forward.