Character Kids began in the summer of 2009 when actors Brenda & Randall Dodge offered a single musical theater camp to a YMCA in the Chicago suburbs. The program quickly began picking up steam as they began offering after school theater classes to both public and private elementary schools throughout the Chicagoland area.

After relocating to San Diego in 2011 due to their work in regional theater, they relaunched Character Kids on the West Coast and the program grew exponentially in schools throughout San Diego and LA County for the next five years.

2015 brought another move when the Dodge’s relocated to the Milwaukee Area to raise their kids closer to their extended family. They relaunched Character Kids yet again and the company has continued to grow steadily ever since.

In 2022, Education Coordinator Dana Strothenke relocated to Minneapolis, MN and Character Kids’ third branch was born.

Character Kids has continued to thrive wherever it landed, which speaks volumes for the need for quality arts education in schools and in children’s lives. Students love the creative outlet in the after school hours. Parents love having a safe, fun place to send their kids after school. Teachers and administrators love being able to offer a quality theater program without any added curriculum or staffing. And Character Kids loves being able to provide all of those things!

Students need a safe and encouraging place to connect with their peers, explore their emotions and have some fun! Now more than ever, Character Kids programs focus on theater games and creative drama activities that pack a powerful punch when it comes to teaching empathy, listening, teamwork and emotional literacy.

At Character Kids, we believe that theater education has a powerful effect on children’s lives. We’re excited to build a community of educators, administrators and parents who believe it too.