Give the Gift Of Creativity
Carousel Players is a professional theatre company that specializes in making and teaching theatre for young people. Our core activities are producing
- two to four plays a year for school and public audiences
- working with artists to create new Canadian plays for young audiences
- providing Theatre School programs for young people ages 2-14
Give the Gift of Imagination
Children don’t forget how theatre makes them feel. Carousel Players creates spaces for young people to express themselves and to see themselves in our plays. Engaging with children through drama teaches them to interact with empathy and creates a sense of hope for the future.
Carousel Players’ work helps our audiences make memories, not just in the moment but for the rest of their lives. People remember Carousel shows for decades after they see them because they are a live experience – it creates a different connection than watching a screen.
Give the Gift of Community
As children return to school and socializing after long periods of isolation, there is a particular need for the social and emotional benefits of live theatre.
Now that we are able to be together in schools and communities again, the act of gathering and sharing is very important for the healing of children who have been without community for so long.
Why Your Support Matters
WHAT IT COSTS TO BRING THEATRE TO YOUNG PEOPLE
The average Carousel Players production costs between $50,000 and $60,000 to create and tour, while schools pay $350 to $750 per performance, and family audiences pay $10 per ticket.
Our Theatre School programs are offered below cost, and in some cases at no cost to schools or parents. Registration fees cover 70% of program expenses, with the balance coming from donations and grants.
These prices reflect the economic realities of school board arts funding and of household incomes in Niagara. Charging the full cost per show or per educational program would create financial barriers for many of Niagara’s children, 1 in 7 of whom live in households with incomes below the poverty line.
Carousel Players is able to access support from governments and foundations, but we need support of the private sector to help take us the final steps to our goal of removing all financial barriers between Niagara’s young people and the proven benefits of experiencing theatre.
Recent Carousel Players Corporate History
2020/21 Annual Report | Financial Statements
2020/21 Annual Report | Financial Statements
2019/20 Annual Report | Financial Statements
2018/19 Annual Report | Financial Statements
2017/18 Annual Report | Financial Statements
2022 - 2023 season supporters
Core Funders
Project and Program Support
Rotary Club of St Catharines
Kiwanis St Catharines
May Court Club of St Catharines
Port Colborne Lions Club
Rotary Club of St Catharines Lakeshore
Stamford Lions Club
Port Dalhousie Lions Club
St David’s & District Lioness Club
Job Creation Support
Individual Supporters
Individual Donors
Erin Amadio, Jenniffer Anand, B.J. Armstrong, Jerome Black, Arlene Copland, Mallory Daley, Alexandra Del Vecchio, Sande Farrauto, Stephanie Filippi, Nadia Ganesh, Lauren Hundert, Wendy Kulp, Carol Lewis, Sarah Lynch, Ted Loewen, Carolyn Mackenzie, Suzanne Melville, Joan McCurdy-Myers, Paddy & Brian Parr, Audrey Pilling, Mary Jane Sferrazza, Hazel Smith, Sybil Wilson, Odette Yazbeck.
In Memory of Glynis Bergsma Robbins
Donor Organizations
Bansaree, Bird Kingdom, Brennagh Burns, Carolyn Mackenzie, CNE, de la Terre Bakery, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, FreshCo (Ontario & Carleton), Foster Festival, Gallery Players, GoodLife Fitness, Janis Barlow & Rebcca Cann, Little Chief & Co, Mahtay Cafe, Meaghan Eady Photography, Merchant Ale House, Niagara Artists Centre, Niagara Ice Dogs, Niagara Parks, Niagara River Lions, Niagara Symphony Orchestra, Ontario Science Centre, Phoenix Rising Games, Ruby Red Beautiful, Safari Niagara, Suitcase in Point Multi-Arts Company, White Oaks Resort and Spa, The Write Bookshop.
Individual Donors
Jenniffer Anand, B.J. Armstrong, Sue Benson, Garry & Barbara Blain, James Bradley, Rebecca Cann, Karen Caplan, Nola Cartner, Arlene Copland, Stewart B Cumberland, Marlene Dagenais, Alexandra Del Vecchio, Laurette Demers, Claudia DiSante, Roberta Doylend, Pablo Felices-Luna, Karen Fricker, Jane Gardner, Lynda Gibson, Nigel Scott & Gyllian Raby, Angela Harris, Kevin Hobbs, Kevin Hobbs, Lauren Hundert, Deanna Jones, Viktorija Kovac, Carol Lewis, Sarah Lynch, Carolyn Mackenzie, Chelsey MacLean, Joan McCurdy-Myers, Suzanne & Doug Melville, Suzanne Merriam, Mabel Moss, Teresa Murre, Brenda Palchynski Foote, Liz Palmieri, Paddy Parr, Jill Planche, Rebecca Raby, Mary Jane Sferrazza, Colleen Smith, Kendall Stone, Donna Tredway, David Vivian, Wendy Waind, Jennifer Wallace, Rebecca Walsh, Sybil Wilson, Danielle Wilson, Tina Yeung-Moore, Darla Zacharchuk.
Donor Organizations
Art Gallery of Ontario, Beatties Basics, Bird Kingdom, Carolyn Mackenzie, Counterpart Brewing, Flatrock Winery, Garden City Essentials, Incoho, Lake House, Little Chief, Mindbomb Records, Mostly Comics, Niagara College Teaching Brewery, Niagara Parks, Phoenix Rising Games, Ruby Red Beautiful, Shawn & Ed Brewery, Someday Books, Sound Healing Instrument Shop, Spicy Thai, The Keg, Thistle Bookshop and Cafe, White Oaks Resort and Spa.
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
May Court Club of St Catharines
Probus Club of North Niagara
St David’s and District Lionesses
Wise Guys Charity Fund
Sharon Abbey, Rodger Beatty , Jeanie Bellamy, Mary & Tony Blaikie, Catherine Borthwick & Gary Zalot, Brock University Department of Teacher Education Arts Team, Ken & Lindsey Cairns, Rick & Lynda Campbell, Rebecca Cann & Janis Barlow, Ken & Meg Collett, Carrie Costello, Pablo Felices Luna and Family, Miles & Kimberly Coverdale, Dave Csikos, Jane Deluzio, James & Mary Ann DeRoy, Tony Di Petta, Ron Dodson & Wendy McNaughton, George Doros, Martin & Judi Doyle, Alan & Susan Dyer, Harry & Marilyn Ebert, Anne Elliott & Richard Holder, The English Family, Jayne Evans, Wayne Fairhead, Lynette Fast, Alan & Sandra Felton, Stephanie Filippi, Jane Gardner, John & Susan Goddard, Marilyn & Terry Gordon, Dr. Shelley Griffin, Douglas Hummell, The Hunt Family, Len & Mary Jane Keenan, Lynn Kennedy, Renee Kuchapski, John & Margaret Lampman, Carol Lewis, Sarah Lynch, Gordon & Gail Lyon, Arlene Lysiuk, Carolyn Mackenzie, Vince & Krystl Marinaccio, Ron & Jennifer Matsushita, Evelyn McElhanney, Shirley & Stephen McIlmurray, Suzanne Merriam, Mary Jane Miller, Cathy Miyata, Sharon Moukperian, Margaret Newby, Marcie, Jennifer & Catherine Newell, Joe Norris, Chair of Dramatic Arts, Brock University, PlanET Group GmbH. PlanET Biogas Solutions Staff, Lawrence & Sheila Porter, Ross & Margaret Pulford, Susan Reicheld, Margaret Roi, William Ross, Dennis & Maria Schrapp, Sears Ontario Drama Festival, Pierre Simpson, Jo Smith, Paul & Mel Smith, Wade Stayzer, Wendy Thompson & Daryl Whiteley, Carol & Malcolm Thurlby, Donna & Jay Tredway, Pearl Van Geest, Darryl Wallace, Jane Wamsley, Derek & Patricia Whitehead , Dr. Kari-Lynn Winters, Pearl Van Geest, Dr. Peter Vietgen, Bryan Yarmola, Lindsay Zalot.