Support PaperMap

One of my favorite things about PaperMap is hearing someone say, “I haven’t done this since high school.”

Usually, there’s a little hesitation. Then we get into rehearsal, they start getting to know people, and something they’ve missed becomes part of their week again. We also have folks trying theater for the very first time, working alongside actors who have loved it for years.

That’s a big part of why I opened this place.

Orlando has a wonderful theater community, and I’m glad we get to contribute something of our own. Here in Thornton Park, we’re making productions especially for our small space, with audiences close enough to feel like guests in whatever world we’ve built. You might find yourself sitting beside a family’s dining table, watching people you recognize from the neighborhood tell a story together.

I want the experience of making those shows to feel just as welcoming. People are giving us their evenings, their energy, and sometimes quite a bit of courage. They deserve to be treated with care, and encouraged to find something inside themselves they may not have known was there.

With our young performers, that means keeping casts small enough to know each child and give them plenty to experience. They learn how to listen, take responsibility, and help each other succeed while making a fully staged production they’re proud to share.

I care very much about keeping that kind of experience available here. Your support helps us do it.