Our Goal
Impact the lives of children, youth, & families
through the power of live theater
About Saltworks
Our Mission Statement
Saltworks Theatre Company is a non-profit, professional arts organization which uses drama to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of children, youth, and families.
Our History
Since 1983, Saltworks has offered educational dramas, young actor training, church plays, family theater, and more!
Originally founded by Gillette Elvgren, theater professor at the University of Pittsburgh, Saltworks has stood as an enduring source of hope for the families of Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. The name “Saltworks” was chosen with the belief that theater can improve and change lives. Just as salt seasons and preserves food, Saltworks endeavors to flavor and foster experiences that can improve the quality of life.
We believe that presenting social issue dramas in the schools, as well as our Young Actors Studio, is integral to introducing children to the arts and inspiring them to use their talents to be healthy contributors to their community.
Educate. Challenge. Inspire.
In 1982, after observing chemically addicted teens and in collaboration with St. Francis Medical Center’s Adolescent Chemical Dependency Treatment Center, Elvgren wrote I Am the Brother of Dragons. This play addressed high school audiences about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse with a message of prevention and hope. Since that time, more than 25 different social issue educational dramas have been produced for audiences ranging from Kindergarten through Grade 12.
Since 1994, professional training of young people has been an integral part of Saltworks’ programming. The Young Actors Studio program has stressed process over product to allow attention to the craft of acting without the pressure of preparing a production. One of the goals of the program is to build character and confidence in each student as well as a sense of community where peers encourage each other to succeed.