About ECCT

Ellis County Children’s Theater (ECCT) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, founded by Gail Stutts Harrell in 2008. We provide local artists, professional teachers, and directors an organization in which they may collaborate and coordinate skills in creating a rich educational environment for children living in southern Dallas and surrounding counties.

It is the intention for Ellis County Children’s Theater to offer a wide range of theater and music opportunities to any child able to attend classes and performances. We seek to be inclusive in reaching children ages 5 through 18 of any ability including physically impaired, emotionally challenged, or learning disabled at an affordable cost. In addition, we invite the underserved children lacking access to fine arts programs in their communities to join us. We offer any financial assistance that can make attendance possible.

It is the mission of Ellis County Children’s Theater (ECCT) to provide exceptional theater arts education to all children in Ellis and surrounding counties in grades Kindergarten through twelfth regardless of learning abilities, ethnicity, or economic hardship. We provide transformative, life changing opportunities with the intention of creating a world of imaginative expression resulting in expanded, positive thinking.

ECCT’s Goals:

• Offer classes under the leadership of professional directors and certified teachers

• Embrace all learning styles and abilities to be inclusive of special needs children and

those who are currently underserved in our community

• Create productions for multi-generational and multi-cultural audiences

• Comply with the Texas Knowledge and Essential Skills curriculum in our classes in

teaching theater and music skills holistically with Language Arts, Social Studies, Science,

and Math education

• Inspire children to implement creative, higher level thinking skills in problem solving

We believe tuition costs should not prohibit families from participating in the opportunity to explore the power of live theater.

We celebrate diversity and it’s power to improve and enhance any and all theater experiences. We respect human dignity, inclusion of all children and maintain a compassionate environment for all to participate.

Child Safety Policy

Ellis County Children’s Theatre has zero tolerance of child abuse. As an organization that primarily serves children, our highest priority is child safety. It is the policy of ECCT to diligently empower and protect Youth by providing safe spaces for theatre education and experiences. We work every day to ensure our policies, procedures and practices embody the highest safety standards for the young people that we serve.

For questions or inquiries, please contact the Managing Director at info@ecctheater.org.

COVID-19 Safety & Schedule Update

We are thrilled to be able to offer in-person performances this Summer and Fall !! At ECCT, the safety of our patrons, students, artists, and staff is our highest priority. We are consulting experts and developing plans for your return to the ECCT….. as well as the return of our actors, musicians, and production staff.    We continue to monitor and follow the guidelines and recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Texas Department of Health (TDH) as we develop and refine our COVID-19 Safety Practices & Policies to ensure a safe and clean experience for everyone.  We will continue to update our practices and plans as circumstances and guidelines change.  

Keeping Our Spaces Safe 

What We’re Doing

  • All ECCT staff will have a health screening that includes a temperature check prior to each shift. There will be a designated COVID-19 safety officer at each performance.

  • Programs will be left at your seat rather than handed out to reduce the potential for germ spread.

  • Door handles, light switches, and other high-touch surfaces will be sanitized frequently with CDC & EPA recommended disinfectants.

  • Hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes will be available for patron use throughout the lobby and entrance areas.

    What We’re Asking You to Do

    • Monitor your health, and the health of your family. If you feel ill for any reason, please do not come to the theatre. Your health and safety, and that of our other patrons, our artists and our staff is our highest priority.

    • Purchase with Confidence! If you must miss your scheduled performance for health reasons, or if any performances need to be cancelled for any reason, ticketholders will be rescheduled at no charge, have their money held on account to be used at their convenience, or refunded.