CSP serves North San Diego County, from Escondido to Oceanside, south to Poway/Scripps Ranch, bringing together youth since 2004. Each season, we have traditionally produced 3 professionally directed musicals accompanied by a live orchestra. Starting in 2022, a 4th musical has been added to the season which will focus on teen centered topics and material. Participants go through an audition and callback process, rehearse 2-3 times weekly over 3-4 months, learning choreography, music and scene work from professional artists, and perform at Escondido’s California Center for the Arts. We offer summer camps and workshops. In 2019, CSP reached nearly 5,000 audience members, 263 youth participants and employed 25 professional performing artists.

After a hiatus due to COVID-19, CSP returned to the live stage in Fall 2021 with The Lightning Thief, A Percy Jackson Musical. CSP partners with organizations whose missions are aligned with the spirit of the show, culminating in a service project. During the rehearsal period of The Lightning Thief, A Percy Jackson Musical, the students met the Artistic Director of TERI Inc, an organization that serves people with developmental disabilities, like Percy Jackson who has dyslexia and ADHD. CSP and TERI Inc. are collaborating on ongoing workshops to bring together CSP students and the performing arts troupe TERI Players, which is composed of individuals from the ages of 13-70 who have developmental disabilities and share a love of the theatre.

CSP has been recognized by the National Youth Arts Awards for programming excellence. Past awards include Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Music Direction, and youth participants were recognized in their individual roles and as Artists of the Year. We have been featured on KUSI and San Diego Theatre Connection. Parents have shared that these recognitions have boosted the children’s confidence.