Our Purpose
as written in 1970 by the
Founding Mother
Dot Moore

The purpose of the Whole Backstage is really contained in a play on words of our title. We are a stage. People look at us. We are also a stage in the sense that the whole world is a stage, with each of us watching and learning from others. We are a backstage because (1) we aren't really legitimate theatre, we do lots of other things; (2) our building looks like a backstage all over; (3) most of our real learning takes place backstage, or at least, not in view of a paying audience. We are a whole because we hope we not only appeal to the whole person but also because we hope to grow more whole people, and we hope to grow more whole as a group. Some people also use the word "whole" to mean "hole" because our building really is like one and that seems to be how we are comfortable with it.

We are, all put together, a "whole backstage" because we are a unit of individuals working together enjoying most times together, learning at all times together; yet we are not pushy about what we are learning. We share it with those who will participate in it, but we do not display even 1/10th of what we are in our plays. We allow participation through hard work, but we do not shove it on people or upon the paying audience. Thus, our organization is loose - it accepts and wants everyone's contribution, whether it is big or small, inept or excellent, because we know the bumbling amateur this year, the child, will be the important, highly contributing member at some time in the future. We allow a place for failure where falling will not hurt too much. And we reward attempts to succeed almost more highly than success.