Giving in Action

When you make a contribution to The Wilma Theater, you are making it possible for us to create engaging, socially relevant plays about our ever-changing world. Blanka often reminds us of Francisco Goya's pencil drawing of an old man leaning on a cane with a caption that says “I'm still learning.”  

As we look to the Wilma’s future, we are investing heavily in the training of local Philadelphia artists through the creation of a series of workshops that train actors in physical and vocal techniques to help them find emotional truths.  When audiences encounter our work, they connect with the characters on a visceral level.    

We are taking the training we give our actors and involving these same actors in aspects of our educational programing.  Our initiatives have been newly reinvigorated by the Virginia and Harvey Kimmel Family Campaign to Build the Audiences of Tomorrow, and we invite you to match their support, which allows us to place our artists directly into Philadelphia schools.

One aspect of the campaign, our Wilmagination in-school residency program, is making an immediate impact in the community.  These residencies allow us to work with schools to bring our artists into classrooms for an extended period of time.  Science Leadership Academy, El Centro de Estudiantes, and John Bartrum High School are just some of the Philadelphia schools where we spend 10 to 12 weeks working with students to teach them expression and, eventually, to create their own work of theater. 

While we focus on themes related to our mainstage work and the theatrical process, students are learning so much more.  They are learning how to work in a group, think critically and creatively, and gain confidence for public speaking and presentation skills.  These are skills that students will take with them for the rest of their lives.

Please help us continue this work.  If you’ve already made a donation this year, thank you; we hope you will consider a special gift for our ambitious educational programming.  If you have not made a gift yet this year, please consider acting now. It will make a difference!

Gratefully from Team Wilma,

Blanka, Artistic Director; Iain, Development Director; Anne, Education Director; Debby, Development Assistant; Jamie, Managing Director

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