1963    ●  The Columbus Junior Theatre of the Arts (CJT) is founded
CJT is founded by Mrs. Howard (Sis) Bloom to offer classes in theatre and production experiences for children throughout central Ohio. With the help of Mrs. Michael Herrel, classes were first taught in a space on West Broad Street and later moved to Trinity Episcopal Church.

1966    ●  CJT purchases a building on Main Street to house all aspects of the operation

1967    ●  CJT hires its first full-time Executive Director
With support from the Columbus Foundation, the Joseph A. Jeffrey Fund, Junior League and the Ohio Arts Council

            ●  Curtain Callers, CJT’s first volunteer group, is organized

1970    ●  The first Adult Trouping Company is created
Performances are presented in area public and private schools.  During the first years of trouping, two shows were offered and both performed by volunteers. 

1977    ●  The Curtain Callers begins a program called Cultural Arts Day
This program brings professional theatre companies from New York to perform at the Ohio Theatre. The activity drew an audience of over 7,000 young people each year.

1983    ●  The first Professional Touring Company is hired
The repertory was expanded to four shows.

●  The Child Writing Project is started in cooperation with the Columbus Public Schools
Students throughout the school system are encouraged to write scripts, songs, or poems and submit them to CJT.  Hundreds of entries are received each year. Approximately 20 pieces are selected then professionally mounted for the stage and toured throughout Ohio as part of the CJT Professional Touring Company.

1984    ●  Summer classes add week-long "camps" and enrollment doubles
Classes year-round at CJT are now regularly filled to the building's capacity and waiting lists are common.

1985    ●  CJT sells their building on Main Street and moves to 504 Park Street

1989    ●  The CJT hires William Goldsmith as Executive Director
An extensive expansion begins of all activities in Central Ohio.

●  The Professional Touring Company completes season with 190 performances
The Company toured 20 counties and reached over 50,000 students.

1990    ●  CJT introduces the Children's Theatre Series
The first Children’s Theatre Series consists of four plays for children performed by area actors and offers subscriptions.

            ●  The CJT Academy offers satellite classes in several communities surrounding Columbus

1991    ●  CJT receives a one year $10,000 grant from The Columbus Foundation

●  CJT contracts their first Education Director
CJT began an expansion of Academy curriculum and Satellite Programs. CJT is removed from the General Operating Support Program of the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC), which sets a new policy not to support educational arts organizations.

1992    ●  Children Theatre Series increases number of performances in productions to 21
Performances include an “in-house” performance by CJT's Professional Touring Company.

1993    ●  Columbus Junior Theatre celebrates its 30th anniversary 
CJT's Children's Theatre Series increases from 4 to 6 productions annually.

●  CJT's Young Adult Production Company participates in an International Youth Theatre Exchange
The Company performs in Leicester, England and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.  The Leicester Company made the final leg of the exchange by journeying to Columbus in November and performing in Columbus.

●  CJT purchases new lighting system for the theatre
Lighting system is funding by a $10,000 grant from the Leo Yassenoff Foundation.

●  CJT remodels theatre lobby
Ten seats are to the theatre. New carpeting, tract lighting and a new box office increases the public image of the theatre.

1994    ●  CJT’s Young Adult Production Company performs Sweeney Todd at the Avignon Festival in France

●  CJT installs a state-of-the-art lighting system in the theatre
This replaces an antiquated system and increases production values of productions

●  CJT opens the 1994-95 Season with Annie which breaks all previous box office records

●  The Professional Touring Company sets a new record of 275 performances for the 1993-94 Season
Touring all over Ohio, the Company reaches an audience of over 80,000 school children. 

1995    ●  CJT Young Adult Production Company performs Pippin at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland
The company also participates in their 2^nd "International Youth Theatre Exchange" hosting a British Youth Company in Ohio.

●  CJT opens the 1995-96 Season with The Sound of Music and sets new Box Office record
The show sold-out, was extended, and sold out again. CJT turned away over 500 people to the production, stimulating serious discussions by the Board of Trustees to locate a new, and larger facility. A facility search was begun in June of 1995. 

1996    ●  CJT opens the 1996-97 Season with Oliver! and breaks all previous Box Office records
Oliver! plays for a record four weeks. Box office attendance for the entire season sets records. Classes and workshop registrations fill to maximum, and the Professional Touring Company is virtually booked solid. It is the best year on record for CJT for earned income. 

1997    ●  CJT hires a full time Managing Director

●  CJT leases the former CATCO theatre space at at 512 Park Street
Moving to the 175 seat theatre (next door to CJT's previous home) allows for the potential of an increase of 60% in audience for the 1998-89 Season. A second building nearby, called the Dublin Avenue Studio, houses offices, rehearsal/classroom space, costume/scene/prop shops, and storage. 

1998    ●  Columbus Junior Theatre changes its name to Columbus Children's Theatre (CCT)
CJT Board of Trustees approves several changes as part of a 3 yr. strategic plan. CJT is in a "Transition to Professional" with the move to the new facility and the changing of its name. Beginning with the 1998 season, CCT begins to pay all adult actors (18+) who perform on their Mainstage (the Theatre Series.)  

1999    ●  In its new theatre, attendance for the Children’s Theatre Series increases 40%
Classes fill to capacity, and the touring company sets all time records for bookings. A second full time Administrative Assistant is added and plans to hire a full time Education Director are approved for the next fiscal year. CCT is accepted into the “General Operating Support” program of the Greater Columbus Arts Council. 

2000    ●  CCT’s budget exceeds $500,000
The theatre is recognized as a “Major Institution” in Columbus by the Ohio Arts Council, the Greater Columbus Arts Council, and the Columbus Foundation.  

●  CCT purchases their Park Street Theatre
At their annual retreat, the CCT Board of Trustees votes to purchase their theatre facility at 512 Park Street and in July become one of the few arts organizations in Central Ohio to own its own performance facility.

●  CCT hires its first full time Education Director
Academy classes and enrollment increased by 50%.

●  Subscriptions to the Children’s Theatre Series increases by over 50%
Overall attendance was at 85% capacity.

●  Touring actors are provided full benefits
For the first time in 30 years, the touring actors receive health and dental insurance and a 401K 

2001    ●  CCT’s budget climbs to $695,000
The Children’s Theatre Series increased from 7 to 8 productions to provide additional growth in ticket sales.

●  CCT commissions it’s first full musical, The Druid Tree
The musical is written specifically for CCT’s Young Adult Production Company and taken to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland for the official “world premiere.”  

2002    ●  CCT moves its production of The Wizard of Oz to the Shedd Theatre
With CCT’s growth, it was determined that the organization needed a larger theatre in order to accommodate demand.  For the first time in 12 years, CCT rented a theatre space outside its own theatre to perform their spring musical. The Shedd Theatre, a 330 seat proscenium located in the Davis Discovery Center, was rented for four weeks, to accommodate a 3 week run of the show. A huge success, it played to 92% capacity, nearly double the tickets that would have been available at the 170 seat theatre. It will becomes a tradition to perform the spring musical at this larger facility. 

2003    ●  CCT celebrates its 40^th Anniversary with the World Premiere of Green Gables
In collaboration with composers Mark Friedman and Janet Yates Vogt, CCT opens its anniversary season with a sophisticated new musical version of “Anne of Green Gables.”  

2004    ●  CCT hosts its first Gala and fundraiser for its 40^th Anniversary
Held on April 24^th 2004, the largest such event in CCT history, the event attracts previous child actors and the Mayor of Columbus.

●  CCT produces the World Premiere of Ebenezer!
Utilizing the talents of composers Mark Friedman and Janet Yates Vogt – and the book by CCT Artistic Director, William Goldsmith – CCT produces this new musical based upon the Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol.”   

2005    ●  CCT Alumni, Josh Radnor, stars in his first television production, How I Met Your Mother

●  CCT hires its first full time Education Director

2006    ●  CCT commissions the stage adaptation of the Newbery Award Winning book,
Surviving the Applewhites.
The World Premiere is performed at CCT in November.  

2007    ●  CCT moves their office to 177 E. Naghten St.
The move is required to make room for the city’s new baseball stadium for the Columbus Clippers. 

2008    ●  CCT sets a record with 60 sold out performances for the 2007-08 Season