BEAT Children's Theatre

Credit: Photo courtesy of BEAT Children's Theatre

Interview with Bree Beal, Executive Director

How long has BEAT been around? Was it difficult to gain a foothold in the community?

BEAT Children’s Theatre started in 2006, so we are just about to kick off our 20th season! Our little nonprofit has been growing every year since its inception. We currently serve around 500-600 students per season in our studio, about 1,500-2,000 through community partners and about 5,000 students in our audiences. Our founders, Mary Kilpatrick and Howard Schor, created a supportive community right away.

What sets BEAT apart from other children’s performing arts organizations?

BEAT is not considered a “production company,” but rather an organization that focuses on education and growth. Putting on plays is just one corner of what we do. The mission of BEAT is to help empower young people by building self-confidence, collaboration and creativity. We hold classes to give kids the opportunity to try theater, to grow acting skills and to learn many of the crafts associated with theatre – set building, costuming, sound and lighting design and more. Beyond our walls, BEAT takes theater workshops to schools and other groups all over Central Oregon! It is our commitment to making sure that students get the advantages of a performing arts education that truly sets us apart.

Could you share some of your most rewarding experiences?

We love when we are doing a multi-week series of theater workshops in a school, and each week when we arrive the kids cheer, “Yay! It’s theater day!” We also love the moments when kids we’ve been working with suddenly take incredible personal growth steps such as feeling confident enough to sing a solo.

What’s new and exciting for the future of BEAT?

BEAT has the wonderful challenge of having more demand for programming than we can meet – A LOT more. We have wait lists for most of our programs. So, our strategic goals for the next couple years are all about growing the capacity of BEAT so we can say, “Yes, yes!” We are looking to increase staff, to find bigger studio space and to create more opportunities for all kids who want to explore theater.

This article appears in Bend Nest Summer 2025.