Our Next Act: Invest in the Future of Studio East

If you have ever sat in the theatre for a performance at Studio East, you know the feeling. That quiet moment before the lights come up, the first brave step onto the stage, and the joy of seeing young artists come alive in front of your very eyes. It is more than just a show. It is courage. It is community. For many of our students, it is a second home.

Your support makes these moments possible. Thanks to you, Studio East has taken many significant steps forward this year:

• Our 2025–2026 Mainstage season will engage more than 350 young performers, technicians, and creative leaders.
• Cinderella drew the highest number of auditionees since Les Misérables.
• Macbeth broke Bard Series box office records.
• Outreach and SchoolStage programs will serve more than 300 students this fall.
• Nearly 500 young people will take part in on-site classes, camps, workshops, and Studio Intensive.
• Thanks to a generous grant from 4Culture, we increased the number of full scholarships provided for our programs and offered additional free and pay-what-you-can tickets to mainstage performances.
• StoryBook Theatre returns in 2026 with Me, Jane, celebrating the early life of Jane Goodall.

“Not only did the Studio East Intensive refine my son’s skills as a performing artist, it gave him more confidence in all other areas of his life. The quality of instruction was superb.” - Studio Intensive Parent

We are proud of these achievements and deeply grateful for the support of our community. However, we need your support to sustain this momentum as increased operational costs and the end of pandemic-era funding have created an urgent financial gap for us. 

We are committed to building a sustainable future through long-term planning and a careful review of our expenses, but we need immediate resources to close the current fiscal gap. Your investment today helps ensure the lights stay bright for every young artist.

We must raise $100,000 by December 31st to stabilize our operations and continue our essential programming uninterrupted into the new year. Achieving this critical milestone will then allow us to focus on the next steps: meeting our annual fund goal of $275,000 by the end of summer and completing our 5-year strategic plan.

You are crucial to our success. Whether this is your first time donating or you've supported us for years, your contribution makes a direct impact. For those who have given in the past, we ask you to consider a stretch gift this season. Whether that means increasing from $100 to $250 or $1,000 to $5,000, every gift gets us closer to our goal. 

When you donate to Studio East, you are giving more than financial support. You are giving confidence to a shy kid, purpose to a teen who has found their passion, and hope to families who see what creativity can do for their children.

If Studio East has touched your family, inspired your child, or brought you joy from the audience, we hope you will stand with us now. Let's ensure the lights not only stay on, but that they shine brighter than ever as we step into this exciting new chapter.

Thank you for your belief in our students, our mission, and the power of the arts to shape resilient, imaginative young people.

To donate by mail, please send a check to 10718 NE 68th St, Kirkland, WA 98033. All gifts to the campaign, regardless of method, will help us reach our year-end goal!