THE MISSION of Santa Barbara Youth Theatre
is to inspire, educate, and empower today's Youth and tomorrow's Audience through top quality performing experiences.

HISTORY of Santa Barbara Youth Theatre

Youth theatre in Santa Barbara has a vibrant and accomplished history. In 1962, Jack Nakano, a drama teacher at La Cumbre Junior High School, working together with other area drama teachers, created a summer theatre program. This marked the beginning of a collaboration which came to be known as Youth Theatre Productions. Unfortunately, in 1979, for a myriad of reasons the final curtain was lowered on Youth Theatre Productions.

From 1979 to 1998, Santa Barbara County went without an organized, comprehensive and collaborative youth theatre program. But in 1998, recognizing the needs of local performing arts students for such a program and inspired by the legacy of Youth Theatre Productions, a group of performing arts educators, The City of Santa Barbara Park & Recreation Department, community volunteers and parents, lead by Connie Lambert, Deanne Anders, Pamela Herzog, and Gerrie Fausett (principal of Santa Barbara Junior High School) founded Santa Barbara Youth Theatre (SBYT).

>> read MORE about the Pillars of SBYT...

   Our funding is provided by local foundations and businesses, private donors, grants, ticket and concession sales and participant fees. Board advisers are community leaders. Our success is greatly dependent on the part-time and full time volunteers who offer administrative assistance. The artistic and technical staff are paid per show as independent contractors.

   We offer several Opportunities for you to become involved in this exciting community endeavor.

Santa Barbara Youth Theatre's Philosophy

It is the belief of Santa Barbara Youth Theatre that participation in and exposure to the many different aspects of the performing arts provides our youth with an invaluable opportunity to learn and develop talents, essential skills and traits for living.

Students are exposed to the socioeconomic and cultural diversity of their extended peer group. Our team-oriented process of mounting a production teaches students to appreciate and respect that diversity and allows students to experience the important sense of accomplishment that comes from working towards a common goal that is bigger than any individual.

It is the belief of Santa Barbara Youth Theatre that creative exploration through such activities as drama, music, writing, drawing and painting are fundamental to the development of a whole child. In light of future budget cuts in education funding for the arts, we feel it is essential to offer local students the opportunity to supplement their core analytical and language based curriculum with a comprehensive, education-based performing arts program.

Our Goals

1. To bring public and private entities together to provide comprehensive performing arts experiences for students
   
2. To provide students with a rewarding experience that can make a significant contribution to their productivity and opportunity in life
   
3. To offer mentor and apprentice programs in areas associated with performing arts which can help prepare students for careers in the arts and entertainment industry
   
4. To enable all students to participate regardless of economical and social backgrounds
   
5. To produce a youth musical and dramatic show equal to or better than the best of youth theatre in the country
   
6. To collaborate with all existing performing arts groups and organizations, public schools and community colleges to ensure that resources are being fully utilized
   

Would you like to be added to our Mailing List or to learn about Volunteering in this exciting program? Please visit the Opportunities page.

Read more information about our Program and specific Audition information on Auditions & Programs.