For almost 20 years, the Fulton's Youtheatre has been helping kids fight the challenges in their lives by getting them involved in a theatrical production.
Over two summers, they write it, design it, produce it and perform it.
And in that process, lives change, promises are fulfilled and voices are heard.
Today in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, First Lady Laura Bush honored the Youtheatre program and 18 other arts organizations dedicated to working with kids.
The Coming Up Taller Award is an initiative of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in partnership with the Institute of Museums and Library Services, the National Endowment of the Arts and the National Endowment of the Humanities.
"It's a really nice honor for the Fulton and the community," says Barry Kornhauser, playwright-in-residence at the Fulton, who along with Adele Ulrich co-directs Youtheatre.
He attended today's ceremony with Youtheatre member Kyle Harris, 18.
"The president's Committee on the Arts and Humanities is giving us one of the highest honors in the country, telling us we have one of the best arts programs in the nation," Kornhauser said before leaving for Washington.
More than 350 organizations applied for the national and international honor. Most of the winners come from cities far larger than Lancaster, such as New York, Boston, Atlanta and even Cairo, Egypt.
The awards were begun in 1998 by then First Lady Hillary Clinton after a report commissioned by the White House called "Coming Up Taller: Arts and Humanities Programs for Children and Youth at Risk," which explored the benefits of the arts in children's lives.
In addition to the White House ceremony, award recipients receive $10,000 each, an individualized plaque, and an invitation to attend the annual Coming Up Taller Leadership Enhancement Conference.
Kornhauser said one of the best aspects of winning the award is that it will make Youtheatre nationally known and might make funding — always a challenge — somewhat easier.
"This could bring national attention," he said. "I don't think anyone knows much about us since we are in a small town."
The National Endowment of the Arts does, having awarded the Fulton's Youtheatre a number of grants in the past several years. It was members of that organization who encouraged Kornhauser to apply for the Coming Up Taller Award.
"We are one of (only a few) youth programs the National Endowment has chosen to support," Kornhauser said. "They see the unique qualities in the program."
While there are numerous youtheatre programs across the country, the Fulton's is different.
There are no auditions, the kids get paid for their work and instead of presenting a well-known show, the company writes its own based on a social justice issue, such as homeless teens, modern slavery and the foster care system, which is the subject of the show they started working on this past summer and will continue next summer.
About 40 kids participate each year. Some stay throughout their teens.
"It's transformative for so many kids who don't thrive in typical situations," Kornhauser said.
The program has included homeless kids, deaf kids, severely autistic kids, gang members, kids with anger and mental health issues, kids who've been in the juvenile system, kids with drug problems.
"Twenty social agencies refer kids to us," Kornhauser said.
Not all members are referred by social agencies or are economically deprived. Kids from Country Day School, for example, have participated in the program.
"One of the strengths of the program is that kids meet kids they wouldn't normally pal around with," Kornhauser said.
Harris, 18, who was chosen at random to attend the White House ceremony, has been with Youtheatre for two years.
It's a particularly good fit for him.
"I love to act and perform," said the 2008 McCaskey High School graduate. "And Youtheatre gives people like me a refuge, where we can do something where we can let off steam."
Harris had to face living on the streets last summer when he got into fights with his family and was kicked out.
"I'm responding to things a whole lot differently now," he said. "I've learned how to respond, to see things in other people's shoes."
Harris is back at home and planning to attend college in Minnesota, where he'll major in music.
But Youtheatre's success is more than anecdotal.
"We do assessments to make sure the program is doing what it's supposed to be doing," Kornhauser said. "Do kids grow artistically? Do they gain theater skills? Does it affect their personal and social growth? They have shown statistically significant growth in all those areas."
Youtheatre fits into Harris' philosophy of life.
"I always say, life is a big play and there's a part for everyone."
Staff writer Jane Holahan can be reached at jholahan@LNPnews.com or 481-6016. 
