Foundations Support Expands Community Theatre’s MovieMaker Program

Schloss Family Foundation and Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation help make immersive summer filmmaking program possible

Key Highlights

• The Sacred Heart University Community Theatre’s 2026 MovieMaker program received philanthropic support from the Schloss Family Foundation and the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation
• Contributions from the foundations, theatre members, and individual donors expanded access to the program and strengthened its immersive filmmaking experience
• MovieMaker is a three-week summer program for students ages 12–18 that guides participants through creating an original short film

The Sacred Heart University Community Theatre’s 2026 MovieMaker summer program is inspiring the next generation of filmmakers thanks to the generous support of the Schloss Family Foundation and the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation. Together, with contributions from theatre members and individual donors, this philanthropic support is helping expand access to the program while strengthening the immersive educational experience for young filmmakers.

MovieMaker is a three-week immersive summer filmmaking program for students ages 12–18 that guides participants through every stage of creating an original short film, from story development and scriptwriting to directing, cinematography, editing, and post-production. Working alongside professional teaching artists and filmmakers, students gain technical filmmaking skills while building creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.

Support from the Schloss Family Foundation supplemented by contributions from theatre members and individual donors, enabled the theatre to provide need-based scholarships that helped make MovieMaker accessible to young filmmakers this summer who otherwise may not have been able to participate. This year’s program generated unprecedented demand for scholarship assistance, underscoring the growing need for philanthropic support to ensure cost is never a barrier to participation.

The Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation also provided grant support for the 2026 MovieMaker program, helping ensure students benefit from professional teaching artists, hands-on filmmaking experiences, and access to industry-standard equipment throughout the three-week program.

“Supporting the arts is a meaningful way for a small foundation like ours to invest in the future, particularly through opportunities for young people,” said Stephanie Scott of the Schloss Family Foundation. “Arts programs create a sense of belonging, foster empathy, and connect youth from diverse backgrounds through shared creative experiences. Participation in the arts nurtures creativity, confidence, critical thinking, and self-expression while helping young people develop skills that benefit them throughout their lives. SHU Community Theatre does a great job supporting youth, and we are proud to help sponsor one of its amazing programs!”

The program continues to grow in popularity. Both 2026 sessions reached full enrollment, welcoming 34 students this summer and exceeding the theatre's enrollment goals. Led by teaching artist Jason Cicci, students work with state-of-the-art equipment at both the SHU Community Theatre and SHU’s School of Communication, Media & the Arts. Faculty from SHU’s film & television master's program, as well as professionals from A2V Media, provide mentorship, and guidance to students.

“This year’s response confirmed both the extraordinary interest in MovieMaker and the growing need for scholarship support,” said Sara DeRose, director of development for the SHU Community Theatre. “We're deeply grateful to the Schloss Family Foundation, the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, our theatre members, and our individual donors for investing in these young artists. Together, their support helps ensure more young people have the opportunity to discover their creative voice through filmmaking.”

MovieMaker reflects the SHU Community Theatre’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality arts education for young people across Fairfield County and beyond. Through partnerships with local schools, community organizations, and philanthropic support, the theatre continues to inspire the next generation of artists and storytellers.

“You can experience everything about making a movie, from acting to writing your own script,” said a participant in the MovieMaker program. “I didn't know how to write my own script before I did this. Taking this program helped me learn the step-by-step process for creating a short film.”

The community is invited to celebrate the students’ accomplishments at the MovieMaker Red Carpet Premiere on Sunday, September 20, at 11 a.m. at the SHU Community Theatre. The free event will feature screenings of the original short films created during the summer program, followed by a celebration with the student filmmakers. Families, friends, supporters of the arts, and community members are encouraged to attend.

Photo courtesy of Joseph Gray