Northbrook Theatre Receives Major Arts Grants to Boost Youth and Community Stage Talent

The stage is set, and Northbrook Theatre is taking a confident step ahead.

Winning two grants totaling $18,390 from the Illinois Arts Council (IAC), the Northbrook Park District hopes to expand its youth theater program—a major achievement for local arts in the area.

For a suburban theater with an outsized impact on local culture, this is not just about numbers. It’s about continuing to nurture the next generation of performers, technicians, and creatives, while keeping community voices center stage.

Targeted Support for Youth Employment and Operational Growth

The first grant, $15,000 in state funds, supports general operations and youth employment within the Northbrook Theatre. The second, a $3,390 federal grant funded through the National Endowment for the Arts, is designated exclusively for youth employment in the arts.

“Over the years, the IAC’s grant support has been integral in achieving the creative freedom to expand theater offerings for the Northbrook community, which has a deep appreciation for arts programming,” said Drew Kambach, Visual and Performing Arts Manager at Northbrook Park District.

The Park District explained that this is the first time it will receive funds through the youth employment grant. Although the Park District received a similar grant in 2020, it was not able to use it because of disruptions related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, they are ready to act.

A new position is being created for a young person to assist with artistic and administrative tasks. That means real-world experience: helping directors, supporting backstage logistics, contributing to the creative engine of a live production.

It’s employment, yes. But it’s also mentorship.

Three Companies, One Mission

The Northbrook Theatre belongs to the Northbrook Park District and is the base for three separate but related companies.

Firstly, the Northbrook Theatre Youth Company includes participants from the age of eight and up. Some of the next generation of actors, teachers, designers, and directors find their start in the family-oriented musicals and plays produced there.

Then there’s the Northbrook Theatre for Young Audiences, a group of professionals who put on stage productions designed for kids learning about theatre. The performers are experts, but the whole project focuses on education.

Lastly, the Northbrook Community Theatre allows adults and youth of any background or skill to participate in area performances. Because it’s open and friendly by nature, it rightly earns the title of a community theatre.

The companies help young people build creativity, stage skills, and form connections with the community by often involving several generations.

A Season Already in Motion

The impact of this year’s funding is already visible on stage. The grant helped support a recent production of Diary of a Wimpy Kid by the Northbrook Theatre Youth Company.

More  shows are on the way.

The upcoming Northbrook Theatre schedule includes School of Rock (Northbrook Community Theatre), Mean Girls and 13 (Northbrook Youth Company), and A Christmas Chaos (Northbrook Community Theatre). All productions stand to benefit directly from the added resources made possible by the grants.

Kambach referred to this year’s general operating grant as “especially generous,” highlighting how the increased funding helps sustain and scale ambitious programming.

Strengthening a Local Creative Pipeline

Northbrook’s arts scene has long punched above its weight. This new funding helps secure its status not only as a creative hub but as a space where equity and access are prioritized.

For families watching their children grow into artists, and for educators who understand the value of performance-based learning, this matters.

The Northbrook Theatre isn’t just putting on shows. It’s shaping future leaders, on and off the stage.

The funds provided by the IAC are more than just budget boosters. They drive things forward. Some productions are bigger than the stage, and activities like education programs make their mark offstage and among communities.

What’s really important is that they prove what locals suspect: theatre is not just something to do in spare time. This is key infrastructure for communities.

The Bigger Picture

For audiences, the payoff is in the performance. For those taking part, the creation process is what’s important. For those in the community, it’s the hope of more opportunities, a venue for sharing ideas, and future efforts that reward creative thinking.

With a grant-funded season underway and more productions in the pipeline, Northbrook Theatre is proving once again that when the curtain rises, the entire town stands to benefit.

Because in Northbrook, the arts don’t just entertain. They empower.