Tucson, AZ--- Fox Tucson Theatre has been a place for kids since the heyday of the original, live and in-person Saturday morning Mickey Mouse Club, which served tens of thousands of Tucson kids from the 1930s – 1950s. Today, the Fox’s contemporary KITT (Kids in the Theatre) program continues a commitment to youth that is growing and deepening each year. In 2023, the program proudly served 10,600; in 2024, it grew to 18,600; and in 2025 we expect to serve up to 25,000 kids and their families.
Fueling this continued growth in 2025, the Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation is thrilled to announce the recent receipt of a generous grant from the Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation. The award supports significant expansion of our youth education through the arts offerings.
“It is so exciting to witness the positive impact that participation in live performance events has for kids,” says Fox Executive Director Bonnie Schock. “Not only do these experiences drive immediate increased educational outcomes, they create marker moments that can have lifelong significance. In partnership with talented artists both local and national, our own teaching artist education team, and a growing number of generous donors, we are strategically building our youth programs today with our eye on the future. Today’s growth aims toward our Vision 2030 of an expanded Fox Tucson Theatre and Performing Arts Center and all the possibilities that the physical expansion will bring.”
More School Matinees, Workshops, and a bigger Literacy event, plus
All new Preschool Story Times and Summer Day Camp
The Diane and Bruce Halle Foundation joins other KITT program funders, including Angel Charity for Children, Stocker Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Hazen Family Foundation, and Pioneer Title, making it possible for the KITT program to deepen existing offerings, and launch bold new initiatives in 2025 as well. Below is a sampling of what is to come!
Summer Day Camp: “Scamps on the Silver Screen: Acting and the Art of Silent Films.” This exciting addition to the KITT schedule, the Fox’s new summer camp—created and offered in partnership with the Scoundrel and Scamp Theatre--gives preteen and teen youth the opportunity to learn the art of storytelling without spoken dialog and to channel their inner Charlie Chaplin. Silent films were once the only movies, and they set the stage for all modern cinema to come – from Disney animations to action blockbusters. From start to finish, campers will devise, write, storyboard, shoot, and act in their own original, black-and-white, silent movies. Camp will conclude with a red-carpet premiere of their work on the Fox’s silver screen! The two week Camp is offered to students ages 10-16 and will take place Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, June 16-27, 2025, on location at the Fox Tucson Theatre and The Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre in Tucson. Camp fee: $595/child. Registration details here: https://foxtucson.com/event/scamps-on-the-silver-screen/
Story Time for preschool kids and parents: each quarter the Fox will open its doors for young children and their caregivers to engage in stories, Fox style! There will be a featured, curated book that will be read (theatrically, of course), and then those that wish to stay can remain for an age-appropriate, short movie experience on the Fox’s big screen, based on the book. The first of these free events will be on the morning of Wednesday, March 26. Register at https://foxtucson.com/?post_type=event&p=7556&preview=true
New Artist in Residence opportunities: currently, the Fox works with visiting talent and local educational organizations (e.g. the Reid Park Zoo, Children’s Museum, SARSEF, and more) to offer relevant workshops to groups attending school matinee shows. The expanded KITT Program will offer custom workshops of its own, allowing the Fox to take the profound impact of its shows to an even deeper and broader level.
In addition, funding from the Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation is enabling the Fox’s KITT Program to meet growing demand by expanding its school show line-up and popular Monsoon Literacy Celebration, while also forming a new KITT Youth Council – offering teens mentorship and a behind-scenes educational and leadership experience of the performing arts business.
With the ongoing expansion of the new Education and Programs, the Fox is pleased to announce the addition of an Education and Programs Assistant, growing our dedicated education team to two full-time staff. Lisa Bauer brings a wealth of experience to the newly created position. With a background in teaching visual and performing arts, as well as hands-on experience running a historic arts center, Lisa brings her passion for arts education and event coordination to the Fox Education Department. Before moving to Tucson in the fall of 2022, Lisa and her husband owned and operated a small, 1928 vaudeville/movie theater in downtown Troy, Ohio. For ten wonderful years, they transformed the space into a vibrant arts center, offering visual art classes, concerts, performances, and weekend movie experiences. “This experience helped me develop strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of how to create and nurture engaging community programs. Most of all, it reinforced my love for the arts and my dedication to sharing it with others,” said Lisa.
Outreach & Education Manager Jordan Wiley-Hill has been the driving force behind the exceptional growth of youth programs. As a former teacher, he understands the power of the performing arts. In particular, he aims to use educational activities to help channel the curiosity and excitement of student arts experiences in transformative directions. “Participation in the performing arts is a gamechanger for kids of all ages. The Fox Tucson is uniquely positioned to do this kind of work due to its position as the historic “Crown Jewel” of Tucson, its unique ability to present modern educational programming in a historic setting, and the organization’s commitment to building both internal expertise and external collaboration. When we bring it all together, we make memories and connections that last a lifetime.”