Young Performers Theatre359

My family and I went to the Farmer's Market at Fort Mason on Sunday and we discovered Young Performers Theatre. We were surprised to learn that this place has been in business for almost 29 years! We went to see a puppet show and my kids (twin girls, 4) had a blast. The puppets were funny and very artistically made. The live actress was charming, engaging and made the audience feel included. One of the voices was occasionally muffled, but my kids didn't even notice. We can't wait to see the next show which is mainly performed by their students Beauty and the Beast. Who knows, maybe one or both of my daughters will start taking classes and be in the plays one day! All in all it was a joyful and different way to spend our Sunday afternoon.

Excellent staff and kids! My son went to a birthday party that included cake, juice and fruit and then theater games on the stage. The play was fun, the games and hostess were fantastic. I'm signing my very active 6 year old up for a class.

Honestly i'm shocked to read what "very shocked parent" had to say about YPT. I have sent my kids to classes on multiple occasions and thought the teacher was amazing. I certainly didn't see any cause for concern around safety or structure. The kids were kept engaged, and the end result was a fabulous performance. I would definitely recommend this to parents for a really unique and confidence-building experience for your kids!

To Concerned Parents,

Please be assured that YPT takes safety incredibly seriously. In fact, YPT was founded in 1982 by theatre educator Matilda Kunin, in honor of her son Anthony who was killed in a freak accident. Ms Kunin is very particular about the teachers she hires. Every instructor is aware of the dangers of being in a public building and being in a theatre with set pieces and props. All of the YPT teachers are trained and experienced professionals who know how to maintain a safe and controlled classroom

Kids are NEVER left in the theatre without an adult to supervise. Ever. Classes with children 7 and younger take regular bathroom and water breaks where the entire class, with their instructor, goes to the bathroom/fountain area (which is located just to the right of the theatre door) and if during these classes a child needs to get a drink or use the restroom, the whole class goes. During the summer camp, children between the ages of 8-11 are required to go to the bathroom with a buddy. Children older are encouraged to go with a buddy, but are not required to, unless a parent requests it.

Our policies and procedures are handed out to every student and reviewed with the classes at the start of every session. They are also listed on our website. http://ypt.org/about.htm

My daughter took a summer camp at YPT and had a wonderful time. My daughter learned the fundamentals of acting and really got into it. She loved learning her lines and enjoyed every minute of the two week session. The play at the end was a testament to her hard work. My daughter has signed up for a fall class and can't wait.

PARENTS BEWARE, THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT BECAUSE YOU'VE NEVER STAYED FOR THE CLASS (5-7 YEAR OLDS) In order for one child to go to the bathroom, the teacher must leave the classroom (in that public building) thus leaving all the other students alone. He/She can take the kids to the bathroom, but most 5 year olds won't be able to lock/unlock themselves in and the teacher has a choice. Either leave the child in the bathroom (that anyone could get into) alone or leave the whole class alone. It actually happened while I was there and the teacher didn't ask me to watch the kids so clearly she felt it was normal to leave 12 plus kids alone, by themselves in a theater room. The teacher for the class had no children and it gave her no pause because she isn't a parent. Also, the room itself was unsafe for kids. There was debris on the stage floor and just behind he curtain were all sorts of items that the kids kept bumping into or pushing through by leaning on the curtain. She was unable to maintain control of the class and she had no classroom management skills. The class itself was not a class at all.

My 3 1/2-year old took a class and it was a complete disaster. The class lacked structure and focus. The teacher seemed overwhelmed and unqualified to teach young children. I discourage others from YPT.

We just held a party for our three year old daughter at YPT and everyone had a great time. The show was Cinderella and after the show we had a private party and then the party coordinator gave everyone a tour back stage and played games on stage. YPT made it fun, easy and everyone had a great time.

I found this class with my 4 year old to be a waste of time and money. Class was overfilled, unstructured, and age inappopriate. I found the teacher to be overwhelmed and completley uninspired.