Vision
Imagination Stage envisions a future where theatre experiences are a fundamental aspect of children’s lives, nourishing their creative spirit, inspiring them to embrace the complexity and diversity of their world and helping them overcome their challenges with hope, courage and, above all, creativity.

Imagination Stage is a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit, tax-exempt, cultural and educational organization which does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national group, gender or disability.

History
Imagination Stage was founded as BAPA (Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts) in 1979 in response to the urgent need for arts education for young people. The company was renamed Imagination Stage in 2001 in anticipation of its move to its downtown Bethesda theatre arts center in 2003. Imagination Stage has grown from a handful of children in a single classroom to a full-spectrum theatre arts organization, with nationally-acclaimed programs for children who are deaf (Deaf Access) and children with physical or cognitive disabilities (AccessAbility Theatre).


2005
Imagination Stage receives two Helen Hayes Award nominations, including a nomination for Charles Way, writer of Merlin and the Cave of Dreams for the prestigious "Charles MacArthur Award for Best New Play or Musical".

Imagination Stage Founder and Executive Director, Bonnie Fogel, is named a "Montgomery College Arts Star".

U.S. Department of Education awards the Deaf Access Program a third consecutive grant, this one in the amount of $330,000.

2004
Imagination Stage Founder and Executive Director, Bonnie Fogel, is named a "Washingtonian of the Year" by the Washingtonian magazine.

AccessAbility Theatre Program is awarded a $278,000 grant by the U.S. Department of Education.

Imagination Stage receives its first-ever Helen Hayes Award nomination when Toni Rae Brotons is nominated for her performance in Junie B. Jones & a Little Monkey Business.

2002
The Deaf Access program is awarded the 2001 VSA Arts/MetLife Cultural Access Award and is featured in Best Practices for Innovation in the Arts published in spring 2002.

The U.S. Department of Education commissions a paper on the IQ professional development initiative for teachers.

Construction begins on Imagination Stage in downtown Bethesda.

Strange Intelligence, the third play in the biotechnology series, is piloted in area high schools.

Working Wings!, an advocacy play focusing on issues faced by the employable disabled, is presented on Capitol Hill by the Wings Company of the AccessAbility Theatre program.

Dreams to Sign, a book chronicling the development of the Deaf Access Company, published and available in a book/video package.

1997
The Maryland State Department of Education awards a contract to provide professional development training in Maryland schools and to keynote MSDE's Summer Institute of ASrts Integration Practices.

Biotech initiative is started and BAPA commissions The Cutting Edge, a play which focuses on the issues surrounding genetic testing, The Cutting Edge begins touring regional high schools and other community venues.

BAPA awarded the Lockheed Martin Award for Excellence in Arts Education.

1995
Deaf Access Company featured on CNN "Headline News" and in The Washington Post.

1993
Woodbine House Press publishes Wings to fly: Bringing Theatre Arts to Children with Special Needs, a book written by BAPA staff.

1992
Imagination Stage professional children’s theatre opens at White Flint Mall.

1989
Deaf Access Program is started for children who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

1987
Arts Access program (now known as AccessAbility Theatre) is started for children with physical and/or cognitive disabilities.

1985

BAPA begins offering summer programs at American University, Washington, DC.

1979
Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts (BAPA) is founded and 17 children enroll in the first class.