who we are

The mission of the Birmingham Children’s Theatre (BCT) is to educate, entertain, and enrich the lives of children through the magic of professional theatre.

One of the nation's oldest and largest professional theatre companies for young audiences, BCT produces high-quality, professional theatrical entertainment and curriculum-relevant arts education experiences for children and families. As Birmingham’s only professional theatre company with a specific focus on the education of children through the arts, BCT celebrates the unique role that it plays in the community and recognizes the importance of providing a quality experience for eager young minds from across the State of Alabama.

BCT strives to be the arts education bridge for schools, educators, and families. Through inventive and entertaining productions, in-school and out-of-school outreach, tours, engaging digital content, and study guides, our artists fill a void many schools face in terms of arts curriculum. We know the arts are integral to enriching lives, promoting mental wellness, and fostering joy. The BCT team believes theatre is an essential service that improves the quality of life of individuals by utilizing locally crafted storytelling to create experiences that promote interconnectivity; and, we work to provide theatrical experiences and integrated arts education to any school or individual that requests it - regardless of their funding or ability to pay.

Established in 1947, BCT has touched the lives of over thirteen million students throughout its seven-decade history. In-house productions at the BJCC annually play to over 90,000 school students in grades K-12, while BCT On Tour reaches over 30,000 additional students each year in approximately 50 cities across Alabama and the Southeast. BCT Players education programs provide one-on-one instruction for students ages 3 - 18 in theatre training and childhood development skills as well as outreach classes in area schools and community centers.

As the resident professional theatre company of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC), BCT operates the intimate 250-seat Wee Folks Theatre and the larger 950-seat MainStage Theatre.