About Children’s Theatre of Knoxville
Children’s Theatre of Knoxville, Inc. (CTK) is a Tennessee non-profit corporation, operating under Tennessee State Charter #0561570, dedicated to producing meaningful theatrical productions for children and families, providing advanced theatrical instruction for children, and serving the community through drama-related outreach programs. The company was formed by Zack Allen, who serves as the corporation’s Executive Director, and by Jenny Ballard, who serves as Artistic Director.
Since our first production in February 2008, over 8,500 people have attended our shows. Over 545 children have auditioned for CTK shows since we formed, and we have produced over 225 roles for children in the past two years. In the company’s first year of eligibility, CTK was named as a Runner-Up in Metropulse’s Best of Knoxville - Best Theatre Group.
Starting in July 2009, CTK will produce two types of shows. Our primary production type is a show for children and their families and featuring casts made of primarily of children. Our second production type is a show which features in-depth roles for children in a cast made up primarily of adults, such as our upcoming production of “The Diary of Anne Frank.” The first production type offers many roles for children of varying experience levels, including roles for first-time actors. The second production type offers roles for those children showing exceptional ability and dedication in previous CTK shows and allows CTK to perform shows for audiences of children as well as adults.
In April 2009, CTK acquired a new permanent home, a 2,900 square-foot theatre facility, which includes a large 100-seat auditorium and a rehearsal hall. The theatre is located in downtown Knoxville at 800 Tyson Street. Heading north from downtown on Broadway, Tyson Street turns left (west) immediately past Old Gray Cemetery, across the street from historic Emory Place. The theatre sits about 300 feet down Tyson Street, and our CTK sign is visible from Broadway. All classes, rehearsals and performances now take place at our new home!
In July 2009, after 2,000 votes were cast in WTNZ’s Best of Knoxville contest, Children’s Theatre won the “Best Local Theatre Company” award, with over 35% of the votes. In 2010, we were runner-up to adult improvisational comedy troupe Einstein Simplified. CTK was also named a Runner-Up, along with The Clarence Brown Theatre, as Best Local Theatre in MetroPulse’s 2009 Best of Knoxville contest. During the week of July 13, WBIR honored Jenny Ballard and Zack Allen of Children’s Theatre of Knoxville as one of five “Hometown Heroes”! Thanks to those who nominated and voted for our organization!
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About Jenny Ballard
Jenny Ballard is one of Knoxville’s busiest actors and directors. She has performed numerous roles for Tennessee Stage Company’s Shakespeare in the Square (including an upcoming performance as Hamlet in Summer 2009), as well as appearing in plays for The Roane State Playmakers, The Actors Co-Op, Theatre Knoxville Downtown, and The Clarence Brown Theatre. Jenny has also served as Education and Outreach Coordinator for both The Actors Co-Op and Tennessee Stage Company. Her production of “Charlotte’s Web” was named Best Children’s Play by Knoxville Area Theatre Coalition in 2003 and was chosen to be featured in the promotional materials for that show by Dramatists Publishing Company. In May 2009, Jenny was named Runner-Up (and the only female listed) to Johnny Knoxville in MetroPulse’s Best of Knoxville - Best Local Actor.
About Zack Allen
Zack Allen was most recently the Executive Director of Rose Center, a multi-disciplinary cultural arts center in Morristown, TN, which serves as the Designated Agency of the Tennessee Arts Commission for an 8-county area of northeast Tennessee. As a member of the Clarence Brown Theatre Company, Allen performed in over 30 productions there from 1986 to 1996. He also served as Director of Media Relations for the CBT for six years. As a company member of The Actor’s Co-Op, Allen directed Prelude to A Kiss, On the Verge, Cloud 9, and many other plays. He has also directed plays for Tennessee Stage Company (The Foreigner, Much Ado About Nothing) and Theatre Knoxville Downtown (Driving Miss Daisy, The Trip to Bountiful). Zack has taught theatre classes for 20 years, beginning with a four-year stint with The Bijou Theatre in 1989. He is also a playwright, having penned the CTK adaptations of “The Princess and The Pauper,” “Treasure Island USA,” ”The Little Prince,’ and “The Ballad of Robin Hood.”
How to Help
Only about 50% of our annual budget is comprised of ticket sales. CTK relies on the support of arts-minded and child-supporting businesses and individuals to continue our on-going activities. If you believe in the positive impact CTK is having on the children who perform and attend the productions, please consider a donation to our organization. Donations are accepted by mail at 800 Tyson Street (Knoxville, TN 37917). For more information about sponsorship opportunities and other donation possibilities, please contact Zack Allen at (865) 599-5284.