History
Theater Works was founded in September of 1986 as a non-profit community theater by a group of theater patrons who believed that the northwest area of suburban Phoenix, AZ, needed and was ready to support, a community theater. Kids Alive, was the first flagship outreach program for children between the ages of 6 and 18, was created in 1987, with a variety of learning and performing opportunities. September of the second year saw the introduction of a season of shows especially for children called Wonder Works. In 1990, Theater Works expanded its children's program by creating a touring program named Wonder Works on Tour. Today, Theater Works the resident theater company at Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, is entering its 30th season of providing exceptional theater to the West Valley. As a destination, it features more then 200 events a year including: live theater, classical concerts, jazz, popular music, dance, comedy, cultural events, festivals, youth and adult education cla
Specialties
Theater Works is Peoria Center for the Performing Arts resident theatre company. The current season includes 6 Main Stage Master Works productions, 4 Youth Works productions and 3 Puppet Works productions. In addition year-round Youth Works arts education workshops are taught for kids and teens ages 3 - 18 years old. Summer, winter and spring arts camps are held throughout the year as well as a series of workshops and community performances for home schooled youth. Specialty workshops and community performances are held for the cognitively disabled members of our partner organization, One Step Beyond. The Gyder Main Stage Theater is a 270-seat state-of-the-art auditorium. The McMillin Black Box Theater can accommodate 80 patrons and the seating is designed depending upon the production. All set construction is designed and created in-house at Peoria Center for the Performing Arts. As a full arts facility, it also accommodates classrooms, costume shops and dressing rooms.