Photo by Jack Valancy
Who We Are, What We Do, and Why We Do It
Formed 25 years ago, The Musical Theater Project is a unique “museum,” its doors open wide both locally and nationally. Our mission is to preserve and honor 20th-century American musical theater in songs, stories and social history. We guide participants in learning about and making personal connections with the art form’s past through local live performances and school programs, and in national radio broadcasts, online discussions and recordings.
TMTP has a steadfast commitment to inclusion. Everyone is fully welcomed and invited into all facets of the organization’s life regardless of age, race, sex, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or economic status—not just as people living in the world, but as equal citizens living in a democracy.
As with any institution that documents the past, TMTP’s work grows out of a huge library of books containing both admirable and offensive chapters. These reflect the complexity of a society that was seriously conflicted in values and representation. But censoring that which is now rightly seen as disrespectful would be the same as declaring it never existed. We must not erase history; rather we are dedicated to providing context and background that illuminate the social forces behind whatever time period we are exploring. In short, we seek to reveal our nation’s biography as it unfolded through this art form. It is in so doing that we find a gateway to a better future.
By approaching the art with this degree of care, our goal is to bring us all closer together in greater understanding of each other, and in joy, hope and love—these are meaningful and uplifting hallmarks of the classic American musical.
