Theatre as a service
Matilda Kunin founded Young Performers Theatre in 1983 to honor the memory of her young son Anthony, who died in an accident, and provide instruction for kids as well as entertainment the entire family could experience together. She envisioned a mission-driven project that would inspire a lifelong love of theatre and the performing arts in children from all economic backgrounds. Under her leadership, YPT evolved into a landmark San Francisco institution — offering participation in fully staged repertory productions free of charge; enrichment curricula to schools and preschools; and introductory acting classes to children as young as three years old.
Matilda was passionate about serving youth who lacked access to theatre arts-based enrichment opportunities. She approached theatre not just as a performance medium but as a means of improving outcomes in early childhood development through creative problem solving, teamwork, focus, empathy and self-confidence. Indeed, her goal was not to propel kids into performance careers but to provide them with skills to succeed in life. She also felt strongly that today’s participants are tomorrow’s patrons — not just of YPT but the broader arts community.
Over the years, YPT became a mainstay of the Bay Area performance arts scene. From its main stage at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, it has presented upwards of 150 productions including premieres by local playwrights such as The Adventures of Six Toes, written by San Francisco author Danny Martin, and The Baker Street Irregulars by Sean Owens.
YPT’s Theatre in Education (TIE) grew out of Matilda’s interest in schools and underserved communities that lacked access to theatre arts-based educational programming. She partnered with the Mimi and Peter Haas Fund, an innovative family foundation, to bring YPT instructors into a network of Haas-supported preschools serving low-income communities around San Francisco. The partnership has grown to include seven family centers and preschools that are part of the Haas Fund’s Model Centers Initiative.
Stephanie Holmes and her mentor, YPT Founder Matilda Kunin
© Amal Bisharat Photography
“Every person in the world has a story but not everybody is given a platform or the chance to find their voice to tell it. Those who don’t have that opportunity are exactly who need the opportunity.”
As a leader in providing innovative learning opportunities to children from all socioeconomic backgrounds, YPT has acquired a distinct viewpoint on the interplay of the arts and cognitive abilities; on how performative play and participatory storytelling help youth build core social-emotional skills necessary for becoming attentive audience members and supportive collaborators.
Transitioning to a new era
Following Matilda’s retirement in 2016 and passing in 2018 — after handing the reins to her protégé and longtime artistic director, Stephanie Holmes — YPT began transitioning from an organization run by its founder to era in which a new board of directors assumed responsibility for ensuring long-term sustainability. Initiatives have focused on:
• Energizing and expanding the network of supporters who recognize the value of what YPT brings to the community;
• Refurbishing YPT’s performance space at Ft. Mason and upgrading technical infrastructure;
• Strengthening financial reporting;
• Introducing a new brand identity;
• Outsourcing some administrative tasks so that Stephanie can focus more on programming, community outreach and partnerships;
• Implementing plans to modernize YPT’s internal systems and processes.
YPT’s larger mission-vision is to provide every child in the Bay Area with the opportunity to participate in theatrical arts, thereby building on the invaluable legacy that Matilda Kunin and her supportive friends bestowed on our community.