Imagine the smiles, delight, and enthusiasm of more than 500,000 Twin Cities’ school children as they experience the magic of musical theater, drama, music, and dance at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts.

Ordway Circle of Stars (OCOS), the volunteer arm of Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, proudly makes those smiles a reality. Since its inception in 1995, OCOS has donated almost $3 million to Ordway Center's programs and activities, including both planet Ordway^® and educational programs, both of which reflect the cultural diversity of our community.

Thank you to all OCOS contributors and volunteers who helped OCOS reach this milestone! 

It is with the help of OCOS that Ordway Center is able to offer school children low-cost tickets and bus subsidies to experience live performing arts classrooms - keeping Ordway Center the most popular cultural destination for Minneapolis and Saint Paul public schools!

If you are interested in learning more about OCOS, please call our office at 651-282-3006.

When We Believe

Why support Arts Education?

Do you know what the arts do for Twin Cities’ school children? Studies have shown the following dramatic results:

• A 27% to 73% increase on standardized reading test scores
• A 26% decline in absenteeism
• A 43% increase over a two-year period, on the average number of credits earned
• A more positive attitude toward learning
• Reading ability increase from 54% to 88%