I was one of those kids, who...well let's just say that theater really saved my life. It has always been an outlet for me. I really wanted to be an actor.

The benefits are almost intangible but there's so much to it. It is almost an addiction in the sense that it fulfills so many aspects of being alive, being human. Kids benefit especially adolescents because they're so in touch with their emotions. But these kids are still malleable-they aren't so set that they can't break out of their shell.

Now that we have such a great space it's totally different. We've always had a certain heart to our productions that was different from other places that had everything on a silver platter. We didn't have some of the luxuries–actors were building sets, moving sets, working tech. Now each can focus on their own position. It's amazing to have the luxury of that space.

We were really trying to help teachers–trying to bring arts to the classroom to find others ways of reaching the kids.

I just wasn't interested in going to New York, my interest wasn't TV or film. It was always the stage, musicals, Shakespeare.

I think so few kids rarely see theater anymore, especially Shakespeare. When they see it performed well, they realize it's not a boring story, and they can understand it.