Founded in 2014, SFYT provides fully-accessible arts training and performance opportunities for youth ages 4-24 onsite at its Mission District location and through SFUSD schools and Community-based organizations. Primary beneficiaries are grades PreK–College low-income youth with limited access to theatre arts, including youth who are low income, LGBTQ+, youth with disabilities, newcomers, and English language learners. Transitional-aged youth (18-24) participate in SFYT’s Emerging Theatre Professional Program which provides a pathway to arts careers through internships and employment opportunities. SFYT serves ≈1200 students in year-round school day and after school programs.

SFYT offers a broad array of activities that include skill-building classes in acting, music, dance, movement, visual art, playwriting, and production. Fall skill-building classes evolve into spring performance ensembles for elementary through college-aged students. All onsite classes and ensembles are on a sliding scale, with no one turned away for lack of funds. School programs are offered at no fee to students.

SFYT’s ongoing creative programs, onsite and at SFUSD, include:
–Story Theatre (PreK-1): Creative exploration through literature for young children.
–Theatre and movement classes for children with disabilities.
–”Teatro en español”: Spanish bilingual programming for students PreK-12
–Madcap Players (Elementary): Theatre skill-building and performance using stories from around the world.
–415 Teen Ensemble (Middle & High School): Theatre skill-building classes leading to full-scale productions of plays with social justice themes.
–Queer Drama: A space for Queer youth to develop their creative voices.
–SFYT DREAM Ensemble: A professional touring ensemble for transitional-aged youth that performs original social justice theatre and leads workshops at schools throughout California, such as Gary Soto’s “The Afterlife” about teen violence and suicide, and Alma Flor Ada’s “Dancing Home” about child immigration. DREAM Ensemble members also work as teaching assistants in younger theatre classes.