The Company OnStage, Inc. (COS), is a Texas nonprofit corporation with tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; it operates as a community theater with productions for children and adults each year. Since its founding in 1977, COS has had the following organizational purposes and goals:
- To provide the community with quality theatrical productions at an affordable price.
- To encourage participation in theater by the community.
- To increase awareness and appreciation of the theatrical arts.
- To provide citizens of all ages and backgrounds with an opportunity to develop theatrical talents by participation in acting and other technical aspects of theater.
MISSION STATEMENT:
The Company OnStage serves the community by offering professional quality performances of contemporary and classic theater for children and adults in an intimate setting at affordable prices. COS provides the opportunity for everyone in the community to participate in theater by attending performances, taking classes, or volunteering for all phases of production.
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY:
The Company OnStage recognizes the historic insufficient diversity in the local community theatre, including within our own organization. We also recognize the importance of representation not only on our stage, but throughout the entirety of our organization. With this goal in mind, COS commits to the following:
- To grow our organizational leadership to include more diverse voices at all levels.
- To create and maintain an environment where all volunteers and participants feel welcomed and valued across all ages, races, creeds, sexualities, gender expressions, and religions.
- To stage a variety of productions that are diverse in artistic representation, voice, and genre.
We understand that as a community theatre we are often the first and most consistent exposure to the performing arts for many individuals, and we take our responsibility to maintain a welcoming and supportive space seriously. We welcome any feedback from our community, so that we can honor our commitments and continue to improve.
OUR HISTORY:
The Company OnStage Theater (COS) was founded in 1977 by Joyce Randall McNally, a former Alley Theatre Associate Director, and Hank McNally, her husband. It all started when Joyce began offering acting classes for children and adults in the Westbury area of Southwest Houston. Later, a small space in Westbury Square was rented, and in spring 1978, COS presented its first season of two children’s shows, The Wizard of Oz and Aladdin and His Magic Lamp. At that time, The Company OnStage was composed of Joyce McNally as its artistic director, Hank McNally as technical director, and students from the first acting classes, along with recruited volunteers in the community.
In 1986, The Company OnStage was organized as a Texas Non-Profit Corporation, and a Board of Directors was formed. Since then, the theatre has remained a fixture of the Westbury area throughout several moves and a substantial rebuild after damage from Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Over the years, COS has presented a theatrical season containing 5-7 Evening Series Productions and 5-7 Young Audience Series productions. Auditions have occurred six times each season and have remained open to all members of the public regardless of experience. At the end of 2017, COS added a Local Authors Series to its production season to highlight the amazing local authors in the Greater Houston Area.
The Company OnStage operates solely through the efforts of volunteers under the guidance of its Board of Directors. The theatre is funded by ticket sales, season ticket purchases, donations from corporations, gifts from private individuals, and through special fundraising events. COS is currently operating without a permanent location, while actively working on plans to return to a new home in Southwest Houston soon. During this transitional period, we remain dedicated to keeping live theater accessible and affordable.