Variety Theatre is a magical, one-of-a-kind production company. Featuring an inclusive Children’s Ensemble performing alongside an adult cast, Variety Theatre is known for producing well-loved stories in new and exciting ways.

By providing children with all abilities the chance to shine, Variety Theatre does far more than teach acting, singing and dancing. Lifelong lessons of confidence, teamwork, independence and more are fostered throughout rehearsals and the children’s time on stage, helping each child to redefine their abilities and reimagine the possibilities.

Audiences are inspired by the sheer talent presented by this inclusive Children’s Ensemble, as well as the professional cast, sets, costumes and music that fill the stage. It really is pure magic – and you must see it to believe it.

To learn more about Variety Theatre’s mission, goals and more, click here to read our policies and procedures.

Variety the Children’s Charity’s history is deeply rooted in theatre and entertainment. The first chapter was founded in Pittsburgh in 1928 by a group of theater owners after discovering an abandoned child in the seat of one of their theaters. Since then, much of what Variety does has a bit of a theatrical flavor, and that is true for Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis, Variety’s fourth chapter, which opened in 1932.

In 2009, Variety St. Louis had an idea – an idea to return to these theatrical roots in a way that had not yet been done by any organization anywhere in the world. This idea was to put children with special needs on stage, but they wouldn’t be on stage alone. A professional cast and crew, as well as an inclusive ensemble of children, would join these Variety Kids for a production that would rival what audiences could see on Broadway.

And the rest, they say, is history. This year, Variety Theatre celebrates its 12^th anniversary. In 2018, the company was also awarded the “Special Award for a Body of Work” from the St. Louis Theater Circle. This award is presented only when the Theater Circle feels a production is truly worthy, and Variety Theatre is honored to have been selected.