welcome to toy box theatre online

Thanks for visiting! You have reached the official site for Toy Box Theatre Company.

Toy Box Theatre Company aspires to engage the audience in a diverse and thought provoking theatrical experience through multi-disciplinary presentations and original works.

The Toy Box Theatre plan of achievement is threefold. First, Toy Box integrates various genres of the performing arts to generate a provocative, physical and intellectual experience. Second, Toy Box is fully committed to the development and nurturing of emerging artists. To this end, Toy Box produces a minimum of one original work each season and awards an annual scholarship to a theatre/dance major at the founding member's Alma Mater. Third, Toy Box is devoted to creating a mutual respect for all aspects of theatre by encouraging each member to participate in all of the elements of production. As a result, an interdependent and supportive company is created.

Toy Box Theatre Company fosters an atmosphere of experimentation and invention.

Through this website, we invite you to explore our company and learn about the artistic directors, the playwrights, as well as our current and past projects.

Upcoming Projects

Join us on Monday, December 10th for the first showing of Ellen Margolis' newest work, When It Stands Still. In a play that loops through Biblical and contemporary times, a father's sacrifice and a philosopher's obsession interrogate the cost of getting closer to god.

company history

June 2002: Incorporated as a legal 501(c)(3)Not-for-profit company. Founded by Jonathan Barsness, Scott F. DelaCruz and David (Michael) Holmes.
March 2002: First Developmental Reading Series. Staged reading of three original scripts from emerging playwrights: I'm Gonna Run Away by Kathleen Warnock, Burning Dog by Donny Neufuss and Man Sits Writing By David Michael Holmes.
November 2002:Greener Grass. Toy Box's inaugural production. An Equity Showcase of an original script co-written by company members Jonathan Barsness and David Michael Holmes. Directed by Scott F. DelaCruz.
December 2002:NYC vs. ME. A one night cabaret performed by singer/songwriter Maggie Wise.
May 2003:Sounds of the City. A collaborative production featuring the original work of four composers, four choreographers, and one poet all performed live. Directed by Scott F. DelaCruz.
October 2003:Afternight Seating. An Equity Showcase of an original play by 18-year-old playwright Gabrielle Reisman. Directed by David Michael Holmes.
November 2003:How to Draw Mystical Creatures. An original play by Ellen Margolis performed as a staged reading in our developmental series. Directed by David Michael Holmes.
December 2003:Vedantasara Music. An evening of original music composed for the mandolin and performed by Joe Brent, presented as part of our developmental series.
June 2004:Out to Play: An Evening Benefiting Toy Box Theatre Company. Our first benefit featuring Broadway stars performing alongside emerging artists. Directed by Scott F. DelaCruz.
August 2004:How to Draw Mystical Creatures. A New York International Fringe Festival presentation of the world premiere of Ellen Margolis’ original play, which was part of our developmental series. It received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Playwrighting and our first review. Directed by David Michael Holmes.
November 2004:Doctor Faustus. An Equity Showcase of a multi-disciplinary adaptation of Christopher Marlowe's classic play. Adapted and directed by Jonathan Barsness.
May 2005:BluePrints: New Works in Development. Featuring The Landlord by Jonathan Barsness, Hindsight by Wyatt Kuether, Ghost’s Song by poet Michael Collins and Am I…Mis-Afro-Standing, a dance project by choreographer Nicole Roberson.
June 2005:Out to Play, second annual evening benefiting Toy Box Theatre Company. An evening of performances by a variety of artists representing many fields of the performing arts, including musical theater, comedy, music and opera.
December 2005:BluePrints: New Works in Development. Featuring Topsy Turvy Mouse by Peter Gil-Sheridan.
April 2006:Little Red:Lost in the Woods. The exclusive investigation of the story that’s gripping the nation; a young girl in a red hood has been attacked by an “allegedly” big bad wolf. Make up your own mind, if you can, as you witness the multi-media frenzy that consumes the truth of this classic tale. A world premiere production featuring a girl, her mother, a grandmother, a wolf, and a couple of lawyers all sharing the stage with a live newscast.
August 14th, 2006:Out to Play: An Evening Benefiting Toy Box Theatre Company.
November 20th, 2006. BluePrints Fall 2006. A developmental reading of Jonathan Barsness' The Landlord. This evening was a sneak peak at Toy Box's Spring 2007 production followed by a wine reception and talkback with the playwright.
February 23rd, 2007:The Point Is...A Showcase Featuring UWSP Alumni & Friends of Toy Box Theatre Company.

February 24th, 2007:The Landlord A workshop performance of Jonathan Barsness' The Landlord at Access Gallery. The performance will be directed by Michael Daehn and will feature music composed and performed by Leanne Darling. This event is a preview of Toy Box's spring 2007 production. 2:00 pm.
May 2007: The Landlord. The voices in one man's head materialize as characters on the stage in a battle for clarity, identity and personal satisfaction. In this production Toy Box teams up with director Michael Daehn and composer Leanne Darling (performing live) to create a unique piece of theatre that crosses boundaries of performance genres to examine the ever pressing human question, "Who am I?"

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