SING ACT DANCE SHINE
Our Mission
The Adderley School Foundation (TASF) was founded to expand access to the demonstrably successful strategies of the 30-year-old ADDERLEY SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, a children's musical theatre enrichment program offering primarily after-school programming. The ADDERLEY Method of musical theatre training enriches, inspires, and transforms children’s lives.
We believe all children deserve the rich benefits provided by high-quality performing arts education and recognize that children poised to make the greatest gains are those who most often have the most limited access. TASF seeks to reverse this trend in the communities we serve, helping children — regardless of personal resources — discover and develop their unique talents so that they may realize their potential onstage and in life.
COLLABORATE LEARN GROW INSPIRE
Broadway and TV Veteran, JANET ADDERLEY (pictured right), created this amazing place of adventure, learning, and joy in an attempt to teach her shy, young daughter how to be heard. “If I were a color, I’d be fire engine red,” says Adderley. “If my daughter were a color, she’d be lavender.
“I created THE ADDERLEY SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS to help my lavender girl find her red voice.” The result can be seen in Alana Adderley (pictured left), who for years has ignited a fire of passion and pride in countless ADDERLEY students.’
THE ADDERLEY SCHOOL does much more than teach children how to sing, act and dance. Instructors instill joy and confidence in each child one by one through intimate mentorship.
“When a child does a good job, I am thrilled and blessed that the universe has given me great purpose in life, something that fills me with so much pride and joy. Not everybody gets that.” Janet Adderley, Founder and Artistic Director, THE ADDERLEY SCHOOL & The Adderley School Foundation
Graduates of THE ADDERLEY SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS have won Tonys, starred in blockbuster movies, and gone on to star as “Young Cosette” on Broadway and “Winthrop” in The Music Man opposite Eric McCormack and Kristin Chenoweth at The Hollywood Bowl. They have performed for Hillary Clinton and Oprah Winfrey. They have toured with Andrea Bocelli, including a triumphant appearance at the famed Madison Square Garden. Guest teachers and performers have included Broadway veterans, including Tony award-winning Marissa Jaret Winokur and Kristin Chenoweth, as well as industry greats like David Foster and Marc Shaiman.
Janet, a Yale University graduate, has assembled an incredible staff of musical directors, choreographers, voice coaches and accompanists in all 4 states where ADDERLEY SCHOOLS operate.
In 2018, Janet's dream of launching a nonprofit and opening her doors to underserved communities became a reality in Austin. THE ADDERLEY SCHOOL FOUNDATION is expanding its reach to other communities served by ADDERLEY SCHOOL programs.
Origin Story
THE ADDERLEY SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, the for-profit sister organization to THE ADDERLEY SCHOOL FOUNDATION, was founded in 1993 in Pacific Palisades, California, welcoming children from across the United States and the globe and teaching them how to stand confidently in the world. As a result of THE ADDERLEY SCHOOL’s national and international success, it quickly expanded to Santa Barbara, CA. In recent years, ADDERLEY has also opened its doors in Austin, TX; Darien, CT; and New Orleans, LA. Thousands of toddlers, children, and teenagers have found a passion for musical theatre and a belief in their own abilities since the School’s inception.
A nonprofit is born
“I have spent the lion's share of my career impacting the lives of countless fortunate children who could afford to pay tuition. As a woman of color from modest beginnings, who grew up in Texas in the late '60s at the dawn of integration, I was also one of the 'fortunate ones.' I was blessed with brilliant, dedicated parents who supported me and taught me by example to dream big dreams. They made great sacrifices to expose me to everything — theatre, ballet, music and art. Sadly, we are not all so lucky.
“I am determined to be a role model for those less fortunate children among us of all races who don't have the opportunities and support in life that I had. Musical theatre changed my life. Launching THE ADDERLEY SCHOOL FOUNDATION — a nonprofit — allows ADDERLEY to give all children in communities served by THE ADDERLEY SCHOOL the opportunity to benefit from our life-changing musical theatre school program.”
-Janet Adderley, Founder & Artistic Director, THE ADDERLEY SCHOOL; Founder, Artistic Director, & Board President, THE ADDERLEY SCHOOL FOUNDATION