Our Founding
World Stage Theatre is proud to be an arts, culture, and community-centered organization where imagination, exploration, creativity, and growth thrive in artists and audiences of all ages and abilities. With a focus on process and a holistic approach, our goal is to teach life skills through the exploration of the arts and help those who wish to pursue professional artistic endeavors hone their skills and confidence. We inspire youth and adults to explore their unlimited possibilities through exposure and experience and recognize the arts as a mirror that imitates life and uses it as a vehicle to educate, heal, unite, uplift, and celebrate our experiences.
Founded in 2006 by Shalanda Sims, World Stage Theatre was birthed out of a desire for change in storytelling, the narrative, accurate, and diverse representation in the arts, textbooks, and Portland Metropolitan community.
World Stage Theatre is resolute about being the change we wish to see in the world. We eliminate financial, exclusive, and elitist barriers that have kept generations of disenfranchised and underserved artists from fully participating in the arts. We offer a safe space and place for community members of all ages to learn and grow. For artists to be seen, heard, and celebrated. To be confident, leaders in any environment.
Our CEO & Founder
Shalanda Sims
Shalanda Sims is an arts practitioner with a focus in writing, acting, singing, and directing, and has more than twenty-five years of experience in arts education and advocating for youth. Her work centers around family, faith, social and environmental issues, womanhood, motherhood, sisterhood, and the human experience.
She is known for her commitment to excellence and her love of community. She exemplifies"Black Joy" through her interactions, work ethic, and conversations – creating a sense of belonging for youth and adults who may otherwise feel isolated and unsupported. Shalanda’s work includes advocacy, collaboration, and building partnerships. She creates artistic work that not only entertains but challenges, critiques, and celebrates history through culturally relevant storytelling and arts education. Her work as founder and executive director of World Stage Theatre offers space and opportunity for participants of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds to imagine, explore, create, and grow.
Shalanda is a vocalist who has had the privilege and honor of touring the country and abroad singing on stages small and grand. Her voice has afforded her local opportunities to sing with the Portland Opera, Oregon Symphony, and Portland Center Stage to name a few. As an actor, she has appeared in print ads, commercials, stage, and screenplays.
She is the author of one children's book, The Hooded Quilt, and seven plays including Church Girls which received an honorable mention in the Writer's Digest playwriting category. In 2022, her play Vanport was commissioned by the Vanport Mosaic Festival. The play ran for three consecutive soldout weeks at Northwest Children's Theater, receiving both local and national coverage.
Meet Our Board
We would like to say thank you to our Board Members and CEO for all they do for World Stage Theatre!
.jpg)
