The Fullerton Children’s Repertory Theater was founded in 1983 for the purpose of providing North Orange County youth an opportunity to experience American musical theater by actually performing in some of the most famous shows this medium has produced.  Each year, summer and winter, a Broadway show is produced by the two directors, Vicki Schindele and Brian and Lauren Johnson.   Led by a professional paid staff, children play all roles, former members, now teenagers, act as technical crew, and volunteer parents support what has become known as the “Rep family.”

Membership in the company is by audition, with permanent status obtained after one show.  Students are eligible for membership when they are in the fifth grade and remain eligible through the summer following eighth grade.  In true repertory spirit, they “play” together until they graduate from the company.  Approximately fifty members participate in each show.  Productions run for 3 week-ends, with eight performances.

A unique aspect of FCRT’s productions is that all students are assigned lines and parts rather than some merely being part of a chorus.  In addition, major roles are double cast in order to give more members the opportunity to grow in their abilities and to make important contributions to the libretto.  All students, when “out of cast,” become members of the ensemble, so that they learn how to support their peers.

In addition to presenting two Broadway musicals per year, every third summer, the troupe has traveled to perform a musical revue of American Broadway song and dance.  In 1985, FCRT traveled to Shizuoka, Japan, to participate in the Third Annual International Youth Musicale.  In 1988, the company sang and danced at the International French Musicale in Annecy, France.  In 1990, Rep members performed in Scandinavia, including a performance before the American ambassador to Sweden.  During the summer of 1992, members performed in New Zealand and Australia; in 1995, they toured and sang in Germany and Austria; in 1998, FCRT had performances in England and Scotland.  During the summer of 2001, the company performed their Broadway Revue in France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany;  thirty members performed on the 8^th tour in August, 2004, in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic.  This past summer of 2008, FCRT returned to Australia and New Zealand for 2 weeks.

For 25 years, the Repertory company has truly been a family experience, with parents participating in many supportive ways.  It is also an ongoing growth experience for its members, as they develop show to show.  Auditions are therefore not for an individual production, but rather for the company itself.