Our Origin Story

The Randolph Kids program was founded in 1998 by Lauren Brett Randolph as an extension of Randolph School of the Arts (now the Randolph College for the Performing Arts). Established during Canada’s mega-musical revolution in the 1990s, the Randolph College for the Performing Arts was the country’s first post-secondary educational institution to offer multi-disciplinary “Triple Threat” training to aspiring professional performers.

The Randolph Kids Program began as a Triple Threat summer camp with eight students, and was the first camp of its kind to offer dance, vocal, and acting training to young students. The program expanded to include a full spectrum of dance and acting classes when the school moved to its current location at Bathurst and Bloor, in 2001. From 2006 to 2010, the Randolph Kids program produced full-scale musicals featuring kids aged 10-18 through Randolph Young Company (RYC) and RYC Jr. Productions included, The Wiz, Godspell, Disney’s High School Musical, West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, Footloose, Schoolhouse Rock, and Really Rosie.

Today, Randolph Kids has nearly 400 students enrolled in classes that run six days a week. Notable past students include actors Jake Goldsbie (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Shenae Grimes-Beech (90201, Degrassi: The Next Generation), Madison Cheeatow (Ruby Skye PI; Heartland); and Shakura Dickson (Dear Evan Hansen), as well as recording artist Kai, and activist Rachel Parent.

What We Stand For

Our Vision: We are a brave and inspiring community, nurturing the artist within.

Our Values:

Joy

Whether spontaneous or intentional, joy is at the heart of everything we do. We cultivate joy in our work, our craft, our relationships and our community. Admiration, celebration, inspiration – they’re all part of joy.

Excellence

We strive for excellence in our craft, our commitments and our collaborations. We dare to be remarkable, learning from our challenges and sharing our very best selves with the world in everything we do. We do our best to bring out the best in those around us, and we honour that journey.

Integrity

If joy is our heart, integrity is our backbone. We prize honesty, transparency, and clarity – striving to be impeccable with our word. We create environments where respect, inclusion, and accountability are baked right in. When we stumble, we learn and do better.

Innovation

Good enough is not enough – we challenge the conventional and are willing to take risks in our quest for the best. We’re open-minded, curious, adaptable, and vulnerable all at the same time – the future is ours!

Empowerment

We encourage and uphold the agency in us all, lifting others as we rise. We trust that each of us is capable and committed, and help every individual realize their unique goals, talents, and potential. We are all powerful, and we can change the world for the better.