From Belief to Action: The Phoenix Playhouse’s Journey of Growth 

Submitted by: GiGi’s Inc.

Belief is a powerful thing. But at GiGi’s Playhouse, belief isn’t an abstract concept; belief leads to concrete action. Our Phoenix Playhouse exemplifies this idea. 

Earlier this month, GiGi’s Playhouse Phoenix hosted its “Oh, The Places We’ll Go” Gala. It was a night that celebrated the impact of the Phoenix Playhouse. The night raised over $600,000 for the Playhouse and its free programs, showcasing just how far they’ve come and the places they’ll continue to go.  

At the gala, Nancy Gianni, founder of GiGi’s Playhouse, presented Jennifer Gage, founder of the Phoenix Playhouse, with the Legacy Award, honoring her leadership and dedication. But the award was about more than recognition; it was about celebrating the Phoenix Playhouse and the incredible growth that Jennifer has helped make possible. 

Jennifer’s connection to GiGi’s Playhouse began in 2013. Her daughter Kaitlyn, who has Down syndrome, was 15 at the time, and like many parents, Jennifer was thinking about what opportunities would be available for her as she grew older. Around that time, a friend—another mom of a child with Down syndrome—mentioned GiGi’s Playhouse. Jennifer had never heard of it before and initially thought it was a theater troupe. 

But at her friend’s encouragement, she decided to look it up. What she found captivated her instantly. 

“I was completely compelled by Nancy’s story,” Jennifer remembers. “She’s a mother who wanted to make an impact on the community, and I was definitely feeling there weren’t a lot of services for my daughter.”  That spark planted the seed for the Phoenix Playhouse. Jennifer didn’t just believe that Phoenix needed a GiGi’s Playhouse; she took action. A startup team, consisting of Jennifer and other dedicated parents and community members, formed later that year. By February 2015, the Phoenix Playhouse officially opened its doors as the 21st GiGi’s Playhouse. At the time, the Phoenix Playhouse opened with just $35,000. 

Though opening the Playhouse may have seemed like a leap of faith, Jennifer and the rest of the startup team’s belief never wavered. 

“The one thing that I really learned from Nancy is to believe,” Jennifer said. “Believe the people will come. Believe the money will come.” 

And they both did. 

In the years since opening, the Phoenix Playhouse has grown tremendously in both size and impact. What began as a single suite has expanded… twice. 

In 2018, they took over the space next door, launching GiGi University to better serve adults in the community who were in need of continued education and purposeful programming. That same expansion made room for GiGi’s Kitchen, affectionately known as Kaitlyn’s Kitchen, named after Jennifer’s daughter. 

Then in 2021, when another neighboring space became available, the Playhouse grew again. This time, it became home to the GiGiFIT Studio, giving participants a dedicated space for wellness, strength-building, and confidence through movement. 

Growth didn’t stop at the Playhouse walls. With the launch of GiGi’s on the Go, a mobile outreach van, the Phoenix team quite literally put the mission in motion. The GiGi’s-branded van enables the Playhouse to bring GiGi’s resources and signature programs into underserved communities, expanding access to support. 

But GiGi’s on the Go isn’t just about reaching new neighborhoods. It’s also about giving adult participants opportunities to experience the broader community—through outings, field trips, and real-world engagement that build confidence and independence. 

Looking ahead, the Phoenix Playhouse is continuing to explore ways to expand employment opportunities for adult participants and looking to partner with community organizations and local businesses to identify meaningful roles aligned with participants’ interests and strengths.  

At GiGi’s Playhouse, action follows belief. The Phoenix Playhouse is proof of that. From expanding its physical space to launching new programs, Phoenix’s growth has been intentional and impactful. 

And that belief extends to Phoenix Playhouse participants themselves. Whether they’re stepping into a GiGi’s program or stepping out into the world itself, every time individuals with Down syndrome show what they are capable of, they help others believe, too.  

As the final moments of the “Oh, The Places We’ll Go” Gala came to a close, it was clear that the Phoenix Playhouse isn’t slowing down. If the past eleven years are any indication, the places they’ll go next will be defined not just by belief, but by bold, continued action.