Running to Places
Mission Statement
Running to Places provides area youth
with theatrical opportunities in which they are the
primary artists and technicians, advancing knowledge in
their respective crafts through the support of
professional mentors. We are committed to making theatre
more accessible to teens, and will do so by holding
productions in a variety of locations with no mandatory
fees.
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 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. The shows are
performed, designed, crewed, stage managed, etc. by
teens. All 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 meet.
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.
The Staff
Get to know the people
behind Running to
Places.