About our pause: what happens next?

When we made the difficult decision to pause all programming at Oregon Children’s Theatre, effective September 1, 2025, we knew that the path forward would be challenging. We also recognized that our existing model was no longer sustainable. This pause will give us the time and space to reflect and plan intentionally for our future.

We continue to be humbled by the outpouring of support for OCT—most recently, audience members at our Impulse to Give fundraising event raised over $32,000 to benefit our rebuilding fund, bringing us closer to our $1 million goal—THANK YOU!

Many of you have asked us, “What comes next? What are your plans for this coming year?” We have already taken some critical first steps and have engaged with local business consultants to conduct community-based research and funding feasibility. This information will be the foundation as we reimagine OCT’s programming to better serve youth and families in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

In September, we will evaluate our findings and begin laying the groundwork for OCT’s reopening. This process will involve an evaluation of our programs and offerings based on the research conducted, reviewing the financial sustainability of those programs, and creating a community-centric operations model that will allow us to continue serving families for another 35 years and beyond.

These steps will require patience, but they are immensely important to the future stability of OCT. Most importantly, we cannot do this work without your ongoing support now and through the next twelve months. We encourage you to give generously now and over the next year as we imagine, learn, and grow—together.