Junior Programs, Inc. began in the 1930s as a national movement to help children develop an appreciation for live theater. Following Tacoma and Seattle, Olympia was approached in 1940 to sponsor a Junior Programs organization. A financial guarantee was needed, and ten local women’s organizations underwrote the plan for the 1940-41 school year.
The first year, there were three shows (a play, an opera, and a ballet) at a single ticket price of 15 cents each show. The Olympia High School auditorium was filled with 1300 students. The next year, tickets were 55 cents for all three shows. National tours of performers were discontinued during World War II, but in 1947 Olympia Junior Programs was incorporated as a non-profit organization and has remained an all-volunteer organization with continuous yearly productions.
Programs were presented at the Capitol Theater from 1952 to 1985 and moved to the Washington Center for the Performing Arts in 1986. Four different productions are presented, two shows for grades 1-3, and two for grades 3-6. Care is taken to select shows that support the school curriculum, often based on literature, historical events, or famous people. OJP strives to present a wide variety of theatrical experiences (drama, comedy, music, mime, masks, dance and song) by professional performers in a state-of-the-art theater.
Attending during school hours allows every student the opportunity to participate. Currently, with students from over 60 schools and homeschool groups, annual attendance is about 15,000-20,000. Hundreds of volunteers are involved, including an executive board, school representatives, parent ushers, traffic directors and others.
olympiajuniorprograms.com 