1127 Vine Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Education Outreach Programs
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) produces world and regional premieres which explore
compelling social issues. ETC’s mission is fulfilled through stage productions and educational
outreach programs which enlighten, enliven, enrich, and inspire audiences. The Charles H.
Dater Foundation provides support for our education, engagement and inclusion programs,
including the Prelude Program, Hunter Heartbeat Program, Teen Scene subscriptions, Fairy
Godmother performances, Professional Acting Apprenticeships, Summer Stock and more.
Funds contributed assist ETC in covering the cost of materials and supplies, compensation for
teachers, artists and apprentices, security costs to ensure the safety of onsite participants, and
promotional expenses.
The Hunter Heartbeat Program, a series of Shakespeare-based theatre games created for
people with autism and developmental disabilities, aims to enhance social and emotional
interactions. ETC began Hunter Heartbeat five years ago, and participation has increased
exponentially from a start of 5 to over 600 students per week. Parents and teachers report
observing consistent improvements.
One of our Hunter Heartbeat individual donors offered this observation of a student in a Hunter
Heartbeat class. One young man in the lower functioning class has severe autism and rarely
speaks. He is so full of anxiety that it often takes him 45 minutes to enter a classroom and sit
down. Hunter Heartbeat changed that! He walks in, sits down and participates in all activities.
He even speaks, ever so softly. What a gift it is to watch his growth with this program and see
the positive effects it has had on his other school work and interactions.
Through experiential learning activities, ETC’s education programs provide students valuable
life skills such as collaboration and critical thinking, while promoting literacy and self-esteem.
We serve children who are most in need of exposure to the arts, where art can be a source of
healing, creativity, and hope.
Click on any photo to enlarge.
