Sarah Jane Hardy has been the artistic director of Northwest Children’s Theater (NWCT) for a couple of decades. Since she left her native Liverpool, England, Sarah Jane has weathered many storms at the theatre and produced and directed many successful shows. She’s been a visionary theater leader and when many theaters had to scale back during the pandemic, NWCT actually obtained a long lease to open a new space in downtown Portland. Converting a former movie multiplex into a couple of much-needed new spaces for themselves, NWCT has several options for creating their stage productions but also are now providing affordable spaces for other community and artistic groups. NWCT just returned with their holiday classic, Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer” which runs through December 29, 2024 at their Judy Kafoury Center for Youth Arts.

In this podcast episode, Sarah Jane Hardy talks about…

Music by Johnny Marks, courtesy of NWCT.

Moving from a large space to becoming an artistic hub: we’ve had I think we had over a dozen organizations that are youth centered in the building last year from schools to performing groups to individual artists that perform for children. Sometimes it’s a partnership. Sometimes they’ll work with our students and we’ll create something collaboratively and together.”

Their philosophy with their shows including Rudolph: “You know, when you go to a children’s theater, it’s all adult equity actors that are playing all the parts. And there’s advantages to that too. But we’ve chosen a different route. And so we have some great youth performers. The singing is beautiful. It’s interactive. It’s playful.”

Future goals: “I’m a puzzler by nature. I love to problem solve and the combination in this moment, the combination of the hurt and the community the faces on families who are trying to figure it out post pandemic. And in this new world with everything that’s happening in the world and America at this moment being part of that puzzle—that problem, how do we live in this moment?”

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Music & Lyrics by Johnny Marks, Script Adaptation by Robert Penol

Runs through December 29, 2024.
Shows at 11am & 2:30pm.
Estimated run time: Approx. 75 minutes including a 15 minute intermission.

For tickets visit: NWCTS.org.

Sarah Jane Hardy, Artistic Director of Northwest Children’s Theater loves creating live theater for children because of all the amazing artists she gets to collaborate with, and because children are such great audiences! As Artistic Director of NWCT, Sarah Jane has directed and choreographed many Mainstage productions including Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are In a Play!”, Matilda, Mary Poppins, Chitra: The Girl Prince and many more. Sarah Jane rarely bakes, but every year she makes a batch of giant cinnamon rolls over the holidays. When it’s snowing outside, she likes to take a walk (if it’s not too icy!) and then cozy up and watch British mysteries on TV.