Seattle Rep and Seattle Children’s Theatre (SCT) are thrilled to share that Allen Family Philanthropies has awarded the two organizations a transformative multi-year grant to deepen and expand our long-standing artistic partnership. This new funding, part of nearly $7 million in support for Seattle Center-based arts and culture institutions, will enable Seattle Rep and SCT to jointly produce one mainstage production each season designed specifically for teens and their families.

This announcement builds on a collaboration already years in the making. In 2024, Seattle Rep and SCT launched a resource-sharing initiative that merged several administrative functions, including a joint Box Office team and shared I.T. services. Earlier this year, the two organizations took a major artistic step together when they co-produced the world premiere of Fancy Dancer, the multigenerational new play by acclaimed playwright Larissa FastHorse. With this new grant, Seattle Rep and SCT will be able to further develop and grow this partnership—expanding creative possibilities, inviting new audiences, and exploring bold ideas.

_{Larissa FastHorse in Fancy Dancer (2025). Photo by Sayed Alamy.} 

 
“This incredible gift from the Allen Family Philanthropies to Seattle Rep and our partners at Seattle Children’s Theatre will enable both organizations to work closely together to program for a teenage audience that neither of us could effectively or authentically serve on our own. This will contribute greatly to the vitality, health, and character of the Seattle Center campus we call home and will allow Seattle Rep and SCT to continue and deepen our successful, preexisting partnerships. We are excited and humbled by this gift and can’t wait to get started,” said Seattle Rep Managing Director Jeffrey Herrmann.

“This generous support from the Allen Family Philanthropies empowers Seattle Children’s Theatre and Seattle Rep to deepen and expand our collaboration. By crafting bold, meaningful theater for teen audiences—something neither of us could fully realize alone—we are serving young people in a moment when community and connection are a lifeline. This investment strengthens the creative ecosystem we share at Seattle Center and builds on years of partnership. We are honored by this support and eager to continue the work,” said Seattle Children’s Theatre Managing Director Kevin Malgesini. 

The grant sits alongside support for other campus organizations—including KEXP, MoPOP, Pacific Science Center, Pacific Northwest Ballet, TeenTix, The Vera Project, and NFFTY—and reflects a shared vision: to invest in the next generation of artists, audiences, and cultural leaders. At Seattle Rep, this teen-centered initiative builds on our long-standing commitment to nurturing young theatergoers and creators, including the recent launch of our new Young Rep program, which provides youth with opportunities for theatrical training, creative exploration, and deeper engagement with the arts.

_{The cast of The Outsiders (2025), Seattle Rep's first Young Rep production. Photo by Sayed Alamy.}

Over the coming seasons, Seattle Rep and SCT will work hand-in-hand to identify titles, share artistic and production teams, and develop practices that amplify teen voices and welcome families into both theaters. This model will not only expand access to high-quality theater for young people across the region, but also strengthen the creative ecosystem of the Seattle Center campus.

We look forward to sharing more about our teen-focused co-production in the months ahead. Stay tuned, and thank you to Allen Family Philanthropies for making this exciting new chapter possible. You can also read more about the grant’s city-wide impact in The Seattle Times.