Oddfellows Playhouse - In Support of Artists

11/9/2025 | Heidi Kirchofer

Category: circus, thrive movement studio, performance, lifestyle, movement, health, fitness, wellness

This past summer, Oddfellows Playhouse in Middletown celebrated an incredible milestone — 50 years of making art, building community, and championing a more socially just world. For half a century, they’ve not only been a youth theater, but also a powerful model of how to truly support artists.

Their approach to artist support is multifaceted — offering meaningful work at competitive wages, mentoring opportunities, professional development, and access to rehearsal space. While every arts organization has its own philosophy, Oddfellows’ policy seems to start from a place of generosity first. It’s a wise and compassionate way to move in the world. When the artists and staff of an organization are nurtured, that care naturally extends outward to the broader community.

Many young artists who grew up in the program have gone on to work with the Children’s Circus of Middletown, serve as teaching assistants for plays, or find mentoring through the Connecticut Arts Council programs hosted at Oddfellows. For an emerging artist, that kind of support can be life-changing — proof that there is a future in the arts, and that doing what you love, in fact, is possible.

Before founding Thrive, I worked in Oddfellows’ Neighborhood Troupes program — a vibrant initiative that builds deep relationships within Middletown’s neighborhoods. Residents know Oddfellows as a reliable source of creative and personal support. Often realizing that literacy, language, or paperwork barriers were preventing families from enrolling, we would knock on doors to sign kids up for circus camp. Helping with something as simple as a form could make a huge difference for a family with several kids, keeping them engaged through the summer.  In turn, I was happy to support the community, began to better understand their needs and ultimately found more meaningful work in the arts. 

Oddfellows also has a generous space use policy for its teaching artists — allowing artists to use their space for creation & rehearsals. It may sound simple, but finding affordable, accessible space to move, dance, or juggle can be really difficult. Having an open space to create within was an invaluable gift. When aerial work became my focus, we eventually had to find other options, but I’ll always be grateful for those early days of support.

Now, as Thrive begins its 12th year, we are beginning to see the seeds that Thrive has planted. Did you know “Matica,” our performance duo counterpart, means “little plant”? It’s a fitting metaphor for how we see our work — as a living, growing organism, soaking up light and leaving seeds behind. After 25 years in the circus industry, it’s incredible to see those seeds — our students, collaborators, and artistic partners — growing into something vibrant and strong.

Here’s to Oddfellows, to artists helping artists, and to the next generation of little plants taking root.

Share this: