Who We Are
Running to Places is a nonprofit theatre company for teens that rehearses and performs all over the Tompkins County area – hence the name. We provide opportunities for collaboration across all of Tompkins County. Our company is made up of more than 200 youth in grades 6-12 that come together to make great theatre.
What We Do
We Train Artists
The combined experience of our dedicated team helps teens build skills in all areas of theatre during the rehearsal process and in productions, and through mentorship and workshops.
We Connect People
Running to Places is a unique, inclusive community, overcoming all kinds of barriers to connect teens across Tompkins County. “R2P has always been a place for kids in surrounding communities to meet each other” (Emily S. grade 9, current R2P company member)
We Create Theatre
Our company members come together to perform, design, tech, and stage manage six fully staged productions each year. Approximately 6,000 people attend our shows.
We Go Beyond
We empower youth by treating them with respect and as professionals, teaching them life skills such as responsibility, team work, and time management. “I am constantly hearing about or seeing young people who are struggling in so many ways – with self-esteem, peer pressure, family discord, school issues, work ethics, and so much more. R2P is the kind of group that can address all these issues in one place” (Gay Huddle, Community Member)
Mission Statement
The mission of Running to Places is to provide young people with opportunities for theatrical performances in which they are the primary artists and technicians, to contribute to the artistic life of any community of which we may be a part, and to advance the artistic horizons and knowledge of young people in the theatrical arts.
History
Running to Places was created by Joey Steinhagen in 2007 to fill an empty niche. With so many talented and eager young artists across Tompkins County, why weren't there more opportunities for them to perform? Most have access to one musical a year at their schools. Some (but not all) schools also do a play or variety show. There usually are some roles for young performers at the Kitchen Theatre Company and Hangar Theatre. There are awesome things happening in Orange Tree Theatre Company and Shakespeare in the Basement. But none of these focuses exclusively on doing big ol' Broadway musicals featuring casts of dozens of teens. That's what we do.
"I grew up in northern New Jersey doing about four shows a year in a community theatre company called Song & Dance Associates," says Co-Artistic Director Joey Steinhagen. "We did A Chorus Line, George M., Dames at Sea – we did West Side and Oklahoma in the same summer one year! I learned nearly everything I knew about theatre prior to college [at IC] working in that company, and made some of the best friends of my life, too. I want there to be something like that here."
Running to Places puts the focus on youth. All company members onstage and off have their knowledge of their respective crafts advanced by professional mentors. They have the opportunity to meet and work with new friends from all over the county – some of whom they never might have had the chance even to know.
R2P incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2008. Founding members were Gail Belokur, Ross Mizrahi, Todd Peterson and Joey Steinhagen.
Theatre brings people together in unique and unexpected ways. We look forward to seeing you working on or in the audience of one of our shows soon.
