Wheelock Family Theatre, About the Theatre

Our Pioneering Mission

Wheelock Family Theatre (WFT) creates intergenerational and multicultural productions that provide a shared experience for the whole family. Among increasingly few institutions, we are committed to serving and supporting families of all kinds. Indeed, our productions celebrate the diverse range of families found in the world today and seek to unite them in the shared experience of live theatre. We are especially dedicated to those who are historically under-served: people of color, people with disabilities, and low-income families. We know that it is not only children who are “at risk” in our society– but entire families and communities.

We are devoted to the ideal of complete access and reject the notion that the arts should be available only to audiences of privilege. Our play selection, casting policy, affordable ticket prices, education programs, and access provisions for people with disabilities reflect an unwavering commitment to inclusive, community-based theatre. We believe theatre is a crucial element of human experience. It is both a means of self-revelation and a basis for empathy with others; it inspires both individualism and responsibility through the giving and the receiving of human experience. 

Established:

1981 by Andrea Genser, Anthony Hancock, Susan Kosoff, and Jane Staab.

Location:

Conveniently located on The Riverway in Boston, near the museums, Longwood Medical Area, and Fenway Park.
Address: 200 The Riverway, Boston 02215
Ticket office at 180 The Riverway, at Wheelock College, between Longwood and Brookline Avenues

Status:

Non-profit professional theatre affiliated with Actors' Equity Association.

Awards:

• Massachusetts Cultural Council's Commonwealth Award (2005)
• LEAD Award from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation for Excellence in Accessibility Leadership (2005)
• Boston Parents’ Paper Family Hall of Fame (2002-2005)
• StageSource Hero Award (2002)
• Bay State Council Arts and Business Excellence in the Arts Award (2002)
• Bay State Council of the Blind’s Access Achievement Award (2001)
• Our Place Theatre Project’s African American Theatre Festival Award (2001)
• Actors’ Equity Association’s Rosetta LeNoire Award (2000)
• President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities & National Endowment for the Arts Coming Up Taller Award for PAH! Deaf Youth Theatre (1998)
• Massachusetts Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Award for PAH! Deaf Youth Theatre (1996)
• New England Theatre Conference Moss Hart Memorial Award (1988)

WHEEL Award [pdf]

 

Season:

Three mainstage productions -- usually a family musical, a children's play appealing to all ages, and an adult drama or comedy. Staged readings of original works in the "Little Theatre".

Reviews of Past Shows

 

Accessible to all:

• All Performances are Open Captioned, Infrared Assisted Listening Devices are available for use at any seat.
• Selected performances interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL) for the deaf. (For additional information contact tickets@wheelock.edu)
• Selected performances audio-described for visually impaired patrons, with a live pre-show introduction and live audio-description. (For additional information contact tickets@wheelock.edu)
• Braille and Large Format programs are available upon request.
• Sound enhancement devices available.
• Wheelchair accessible.
• We make every attempt to honor special seating requests.

Recommendations for Age Appropriate Plays

The Wheelock Family Theatre seats 650 in a comfortable, raked auditorium. The 21 rows provide intimacy with the actors on stage, and there is excellent visibility, with no obstructions, from all seats.

All persons, including infants must have a ticket to enter the theatre. WFT does not encourage attendance by children under 3 years of age.

Each production is directed to appeal to both young people and adults.

WFT recognizes that each play may not be suitable for every age. You know your child best. However, should you have any questions regarding the content of any play, or wish our recommendations of age appropriateness, please call 617-879-2235

Auditions:

All children who attend classes at Wheelock Family Theatre are invited to audition for children's and chorus roles in upcoming productions. Specific requirements are addressed on notices and appointments are necessary. Core curriculum classes: Basic Acting, Character and Monologue, All About Auditioning, and Musical Theatre are not required but strongly encouraged. If you would like to receive information about our classes, or additional information about upcoming audition dates, please call 617-879-2235.

All adult audition notices are also posted on the StageSource website at www.stagesource.org.

Actors:

Wheelock Family Theatre is a member of Actors' Equity Association. Equity actors pictured on these web pages:

Robin V. Allison, Byron Darden, Scott Davis, Ricardo Engermann, Erik Dickinson, Neil Gustafson, Maureen Keillor, Sarah di Lima, Doug Lockwood, Gamalia Pharms, Chip Phillips, Merle Perkins, Bill Mootos,Yvonne Murphy, Grace Napier, Gary Ng,  Eileen Nugent, Andrea Ross, Robert Saoud, Jane Staab, Monica Tosches