Our Core Values

• The Power of Play: We believe every child deserves access to unbridled play. Theatre-based play promotes creative problem-solving, curiosity, socialization, and emotional intelligence. But most of all, it’s fun! We encourage play across generations, abilities, and disciplines by engaging both children and caregivers in our programming.
• Child Agency: In accordance with The Pediatric Bill of Rights, we support a child’s autonomy and free will. We maximize flexibility and provide choice within structure, all designed to meet a child where they are in the present moment. Occasionally, that means our well-planned activities are tossed aside in favor of child-led free play. We consider these to be moments of great success!
• Adaptive Arts: By working in a hospital setting, we bend standard definitions of theatre. We use digital programming, immersive installations, asynchronous “to-go kits,” and bedside performances to provide a plethora of programming to young patients with varying degrees of mobility and isolation needs.
• Depth over Breadth: Beyond tracking numbers, we measure impact through observation, focus groups, and student reflections. We prioritize lengthy and meaningful engagements with individual patients and aim to disrupt the “revolving door” effect during hospital stays.
• High Impact Education: We strive to be an anchor experience UCF students recall beyond graduation. Using university-sanctioned practices in service-learning and integrative learning, we motivate students to connect to course content on a personal level, to set intentions for academic and professional goals, to experience our collective humanity, and to consider civic responsibility within their respective disciplines.
• Transformative Experiences: We recognize that a hospital stay is a difficult time for children and families, and take seriously the memories we create in this space. Our goal is for children to view their current surroundings differently after we leave. We encourage replaying moments—or imagining new ones—through post-show activities and digital content. Through this, we use the magic of theatre to turn institutional spaces into worlds of whimsy and possibility.

LEADERSHIP

Program Director, Sage Tokach

Sage Tokach, MFA ’22 (she/her/hers), is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) department at the University of Central Florida, where she also received her MFA. At Pegasus PlayLab, UCF’s annual festival of new works, Sage has co-facilitated devising projects with participants with and without disabilities. Before returning to UCF, Sage served as the Director of Education at the New London Barn Playhouse in New Hampshire, serving students age 0–99. She has worked as a teaching artist and director at organizations across the country, including Orlando Family Stage, Maples Repertory, Missoula Children’s Theatre, and the state parks system. Her research interests include applied theatre, eco-theatre, arts and wellness, and devised theatre as an inclusive practice rooted in care. In any project, Sage is interested in creating a learning space where students and young people are encouraged to explore, share ideas, and ask challenging questions.

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Graduate Assistant, Leah O’Hanlon

Leah O’Hanlon, B.A. ’25 (she/her/hers), is a Graduate student at the University of Central Florida pursuing her Master’s Degree in Theatre for Young Audiences. Her involvement with the Jeanette M. Gould Traveling Theatre began as a student performer in 2023 and continued until the end of her undergrad, and was more than excited to continue working with them. Beyond her work with the Traveling Theatre, Leah is a writer, performer and voice actress on various projects. She’s hoping to develop even more work with the JMG that will delight and incite wonder is all Audiences.

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Past Student Leadership

• Christian Anderson
• Gabby Lawlor
• Kirby Lee
• Bethany Post
• Julia Veiga
• Elle Koch