Trustus Theatre and the Trustus Company endeavors to enrich the lives and deepen the experiences of our artists and patrons by producing works that examine humanity in the 21st Century. The theatre's goal is to select challenging scripts that will start and nurture dialogues that promote discussion within the community with productions that are brought to life through dynamic storytelling and inventive designs. Trustus embraces the creation of original works crafted by local and nationwide artists. Our success is measured by our commitment to collaboration and innovation, while our impact will be measured by the creation of a more diverse and vibrant Columbia. Our education programs begin with The Trustus Apprentice Company, an ensemble of high school students grades 9-12 who possess passion, curiosity, and dedication for the art of creating theatre. Apprentices receive free training in a diverse range of theatrical subjects while providing volunteer work to support the theatre's operations. Apprentices learn about a variety of possible subjects including: acting, improvisation, voice and speech, musical theatre, theatrical design for sets, costumes, and lighting, stage management, directing, playwriting, and so much more! This program is intended to produce well-rounded theatre artists who are familiar with all facets of creating a performance. Trustus programs talkbacks for many of its productions, in which community leaders and theatre artists discuss the social significance of the work and how it relates to the community at large. We also work to include everyone in our theatre regardless of their financial means by providing performances that are referred to as IPWIC, or I Pay What I Can. This way our friends can experience the artistic excellence of a performance and contribute to the theatre at the level they deem comfortable.