.png)
Our History
Who is Little Tomato Children’s Theatre?
Little Tomato Children’s Theatre (LTCT) is a not-for-profit children’s theatre company established in 2000 in Leamington Ontario. LTCT was the brainchild of Carol and the late Jeffrey Scott, who believed in the importance of the arts in the lives of children. Our beginnings were quite modest. Our productions started out small in church basements including a few dozen children, but over the last two decades we have grown into a thriving children’s theatre company annually producing large-scale musicals which include 75-100 children ages 6-18 from all over Windsor, Essex and Kent Counties. We have come a long way from our humble beginnings with our recent annual productions being enjoyed by over 2000 patrons each year. So, how did we get here?
A Little Bit More
About Our History:
After producing and directing numerous children’s musicals, in 2006 Carol Scott moved back home to Nevada. Wanting to keep alive her dream for Little Tomato as a children’s theatre company which embodied her vision of ‘theatre for children by children’, she turned to the talents of Terry Raisbeck, a local teacher and musical director and his wife, also a teacher, Lenore, as producer. After guest directing several shows they were approached by Sharon Clifford, Board President, in the hopes that this vision could continue with the Raisbecks agreeing to take on the artistic reins as our resident creative team. Through the dedication and talents of this dynamic duo, along with a committed Board of Directors and dozens of volunteers, Little Tomato Children’s Theatre continued to grow. In 2016 the Raisbecks retired, but since we all felt the show must go on, our Board of Directors ensured that our annual magical productions continued by inviting new guest directors every year. Little Tomato Children’s Theatre is proud to celebrate our 20th year of providing the community with theatre for children by children.
What makes Little Tomato Little Tomato?
LTCT is a unique company because children are involved in all aspects of our productions. This is what we mean by our mission statement which is to provide theatre for children by children. We believe that all talent is unique and special and that all children deserve a place to grow and shine. Our company is dedicated to introducing children and youth to the magic of theatre by placing the child at the centre of the theatre experience. It is committed to stimulating and liberating each child’s imagination, intellect and spirit. Along with developing their artistic achievements, we are also committed to developing a sense of citizenship.
We Are Here for YOU!
Realizing the importance of the performing arts to all children, the LTCT Board has made a conscious decision to ensure that the cost of participating in our productions is minimal in order that everyone can be given a chance to shine regardless of their family’s economic situation. Our registration fees remain as affordable as possible with fees being waived for those who cannot afford them. We also provide most costumes for our children so that very little is required of them. We stage discounted performances for schools keeping ticket prices low so as many students as possible can attend in the hopes that they will come to develop a lifelong appreciation of the arts and perhaps consider being a part of one of our productions one day.
Little Tomatoes grow BIG!
Pursuing the Arts
Evidence of successfully achieving our mission can be found in the many former Little Tomatoes who have developed a love of performing which extends well beyond their years with us. Some of our Little Tomatoes have gone on to study the performing arts, such as music, art, drama, and opera at post-secondary institutions. We are very proud to have seen former Little Tomatoes go on to perform on stages at Stratford, in New York and Toronto as part of professional theatre companies and national tours.
