A super Nova
YPT’s first fully staged production since the pandemic, Nova Goes Below, written and adapted by alum Emily Cronan, marked a departure from classic children’s stories and demanded much from a cast comprised almost entirely of a new generation of YPT players. They took on a sophisticated original work, with complex language and idiosyncratic characters, and made it their own. Emily revised her original script, written for an adult audience, in close collaboration with the actors, considering their interpretations of their roles and even inventing a new character for the adaptation. Behind the scenes, a seasoned group of YPT alumni reunited and drove the production, handling almost all aspects of tech, design and stage management. “It just seemed like everything fell into place so perfectly,” said YPT Executive Director Stephanie Holmes, who directed Nova with assistance from YPT veteran John Michael Mulcahy, who also played the role of Alfie.
Check out photos here, and read about Emily and the production on our blog.
A scene from YPT’s March 2025 production of Nova Goes Below
Photo by Graham Button
Cinderella, 2017
© Amal Bisharat Photography
Developing a lifelong love of the arts
Our mission is to provide every child in the Bay Area with the opportunity to tell their stories and participate in theatre, with the aim of instilling a lifelong appreciation of the arts; providing a welcoming, supportive space for social bonding; and fostering the skills necessary to succeed in life including self-confidence, empathy, focus, teamwork and creative thinking to solve problems.
Hansel and Gretel, 2017
© Amal Bisharat Photography
Making theatre-arts enrichment accessible
Young Performers Theatre offers kids the opportunity to participate in fully staged repertory productions free of charge and provides programming and outreach to schools and communities that lack access to theatre arts-based enrichment curricula. Using drama as a teaching tool motivates children to engage with stories and interact with each other in ways that helps them achieve success in school and beyond.
Fantastic Mr. Fox, 2018
© Amal Bisharat Photography
Classes and summer camps
YPT offers after-school classes for children from pre-K to high-school age, teaching the fundamentals of story structure, character development, dramatization and improvisation. In week-long summer camp sessions, students create their own characters and adventures, woven together by instructors into short, original plays staged for friends and families. YPT also collaborates with Blue Bear School of Music and San Francisco Children's Art Center to offer camps combining music, art and drama.
Madeline at the Circus, 2019
© Amal Bisharat Photography
Join us for a show!
Since 1983, children from elementary to high school age have performed plays for audiences at YPT, creating community and an abundance of delight. Having survived the pandemic, we're back mounting productions in our new space at Southside Theatre in Building D at Fort Mason — a more modern, versatile facility that offers expanded possibilities for performances, education and providing continuity for students who age out of children's theatre.
Winnie the Pooh, 2013
Support YPT
As a leader in providing engaging learning opportunities to youth from all socioeconomic backgrounds, YPT has acquired a distinct viewpoint on the interplay of the arts and cognitive abilities; on how storytelling, music, movement, pantomime and improvisation help young people form social networks and become attentive, supportive collaborators. Help us expand our educational programming and outreach, support the professional development of our staff and build awareness of our approach to theatre not just as a performance medium but as a rich toolkit for improving outcomes in childhood development.
