The Mission
When Music Theatre of Wichita was formed in 1972, the founders chose to state our mission as having a two-fold purpose: to provide first class musical entertainment for people of this region, and to provide educational opportunities for talented young Midwesterners. MTW’s dedication to education has been demonstrated for three decades now, and remains an important component of everything we do.
The Apprentices
 The most obvious example of this is the Apprentice Program, which involves high school students in all aspects of production, offstage and on. (To participate, a student must be 16 years old, or about to be a sophomore in high school.) Some of the outstanding success stories of former apprentices include Lora K. Powell (stage manager of The Lion King), J. Branson (set designer of the National Tour of The Music Man), and David Neville (nationally recognized lighting designer). In addition to working on productions, each apprentice also participates in workshops and seminars, led by professionals from Broadway and Hollywood, who offer uniquely practical perspectives on living and working in the arts.
 Whether or not former apprentice ultimately finds a career in professional theatre, each participant gains valuable experience in a positive, nurturing, drug-free environment during a critical period in his or her life. Each apprentice learns the value of developing a strong work ethic, of meeting deadlines in a timely fashion, and of experiencing the power that only comes from many people working together cooperatively.
The Jester Awards
In 2002, MTW launched a program called the Jester Awards, bringing positive attention to area high schools for the excellence of the musical shows being produced on their campuses. With a skilled and dedicated team of judges attending dozens of performances, the Jester Awards have won high praise for successfully increasing awareness and pride in the achievements of local young people. The program has grown at lightning speed during each of its three years, and has rapidly become an esteemed benchmark for excellence within the Kansas educational community.
The MTW Target Teen Choir
 In 2003, MTW established a new performing group for teenagers, with its own staff (musical director, choreographer, company manager), and the group was an immediate success. In 2005 the Target Company lent its support to this performing group. The troupe has now grown into a 75-person choir which annually explores different aspects of the musical theatre repertoire. The group learns music and staging for five different presentations, and performs more than 35 concerts during the summer. Their reputation has already grown to such an extent that other organizations are engaging the Target Teen Choir to do local programs for conventions and business meetings. Most importantly, the Teen Choir has become a strong and supportive network of young people who enjoy getting together to make music and share each others’ company.
Broadway’s Next Generation
 In addition to the local high schoolers, members of the resident professional performing company are also encouraged to look upon MTW as a learning experience. 90% of the young singers and dancers who are hired each summer, apart from the Broadway guest stars and locally based character actors, are collegiates working on a transitional path from the university environment into the professional world. For these performers, MTW is one of the only theatres in the country offering a summer of diversified roles, showcased in a professional environment. The five summer productions are carefully chosen to prepare the performers for the versatility and adaptability necessary for survival. Each production also involves guest stars and artistic staff (directors, choreographers, musical directors) selected from both coasts, who will become the mentors and business contacts for these young aspirants.
Beyond the lessons learned from working hand in hand with top-of-the-line professionals, the MTW staff also offers these students informal workshops on such topics as "How to survive big cities," "How to find an agent," "How to determine the right time to join the unions," "How to select audition material," "How to prepare resumes and headshots," "How actors do taxes," and other such topics, helping to bridge the gap between what they may have learned in college, and what they will need to know in the "real world" of New York or Los Angeles. Many of our alumni, who are currently appearing in Broadway shows, say these classes made all the difference in their adjustment to the completely professional world.
Our Youngest Stars
Over 200 children and teens annually audition in Wichita, hoping to secure young roles in some of the summer productions. Traditionally, over 100 will be selected for participation, receiving instruction, being costumed, and spending at least two weeks working on a Broadway-scale production, making friends and memories that may last a lifetime.
Special Needs Matinee
In 1996, Music Theatre of Wichita began offering a matinee performance specifically for young people with special needs and their families. Through generous underwriting by the Forrest C. Lattner Foundation, now the Lattner Family Foundation, and Boeing I.D.S. MTWichita has been able to offer this special matinee performance at least once a season for the last 12 years. Each summer around 1800 young people with special physical, mental, emotional or economic needs attend this free performance. Many groups are invited, such as Boys and Girls Club, Rainbows United, Wichita Children's Home, Heartspring and Maude Carpenter's Children's Center, among others. Those who attend receive a specially created activity book which includes games, puzzles, study guide materials and information on the production. Each special needs performance is completely accessible for those with special physical needs and is signed for those who are hearing impaired. The ability to offer a free Broadway-quality performance to young people that might not otherwise be able to attend is one of MTWichita's proudest accomplishments.
Educating the Community
MTW’s educational commitment does not end with its cast and crew, however. Each summer, a free matinee is produced expressly for "special needs" children (those with physical, mental or financial disadvantages) and their families, with a specially prepared study guide and activity book provided for each child. The Music Theatre of Wichita staff conducts dozens of programs and lectures for various school groups throughout the year, also offering special tickets and backstage tours to summer school classes. Music Theatre also provides a wide array of low-cost or free musical programs to shut-ins, retirement communities, social clubs, and service organizations.
Beyond this, MTW uniquely strives to educate the general populace on the value of America’s native art form, the Broadway musical, by offering pre-show talks and lecture-demonstrations before each performance, often involving guest artists and members of the production staff. A detailed history of each work in the repertoire is specially prepared for the MTW playbill, to complement the learning experience.
Pointing the Way
Music Theatre of Wichita also tries to set a good example as a community leader. MTW has impressively demonstrated cultural diversity in its hiring, programming and governance, and 60% to 70% of our two million dollar annual budget is spent within the Wichita economy. We are told that our productions are a major boost for tourism, with hotels and restaurants positively impacted, and that our high standards provide major incentives for local corporations for whom cultural events are key elements of attracting qualified executives to our area.
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