This is a great organization. My kids really enjoyed the summer camp and main stage productions. People are super nice and friendly.
Bay Area eTc has been rock for my family for years. My child learned stage skills and confidence, and we all made friends we still see today. The summer camp is wonderful and a great value. My child and myself both continue to volunteer with the organization now that they no longer perform. You'll even occasionally see me on stage, too.
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What a great experience for the whole family. Theater is so great for growing minds, and e.T.c welcomes kids as well as adults in all aspects of the production experience. My daughter and I learned so much on stage and off.
We have been involved with Bay Area eTc for 5 years now. My oldest son (10 years old) has done 10 plays and my youngest son (7 years old) has done 4. It's a great family environment and is run by dedicated volunteers who truly have a love for theater.
My boys have built their confidence to do public speaking, singing, and dancing in front of a large audience. These skills will last them a lifetime.
I would highly recommend Bay Area eTc to anyone interested in teaching their children about the joys of theater.
I have been involved with Bay Area ETC for the last 5 years. First as a parent volunteer starting to get more involved with the build and painting of the sets and learned I really love to paint. Then backstage I learned to crew and moved to ASM on stage right. Next was sound board...and here I am now still learning with every show. Not only does ETC help develop the cast but help develop the family members as well. Best part Is I get to do all this with my daughter! Thank you Bay Area eTc!
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My daughter started with Bayarea ETC in Summer Camp when she was in 1st grade, she loved it so much, she convinced me she wanted to do Mainstage productions when she was in 4th grade and now she is in her 7th Mainstage production this Fall and still doing summer. My daughter loves the stage and has been able to develop her voice and dance, grow emotionally in her character development for her roles with ETC. The staff have helped her become a very confident and independent person while making her understand the importance of working together to develop an amazing show. ETC believes everyone is important from an ensemble role to a lead role, everyone can be on stage and everyone should have fun! The most rewarding part of being involved with ETC are the friendships both she and I have made with the amazing Board members, staff, cast members and their families. I have watched her grow from a child to becoming a mentor to others with this wonderful program.
I've been volunteering as a costumer for eTc for some time. I've been so impressed with the working environment where alumni families, parents, grandparents, and siblings come to work together to build the magic of theater. I've been touched, lately, by the commitment of young people to helping their peers and siblings by giving of their time and talents. It makes me proud to be a part of this organization!
We've been involved with Bay Area eTc for the past 5 years and it just keeps getting more and more fun. It's a great chance to be involved with your kids and perform on stage!
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This organization truly cares about the kids and gives them a phenomenal experience in performing arts. And not just that, my kids are growing and learning in so many ways. They are committed and focused for weeks and weeks and enjoy the fruition of everyone's contribution at each performance. It's awe inspiring to see their motivation and confidence and having fun too!
The costumes and sets are also amazing.
Great org with an unbelievably committed staff. Kids are the number one priority and they do a great job with theater/music education.
The fact that they put on shows with great costumes, sets and production value is just a bonus.
We found Bay Area eTc four years ago when looking for an activity for our 8 year old daughter. Little did we know that while our daughter was falling in love with theater, the rest of our family (including my mother-in-law) would be, too! Having never been involved in theater, we had no idea what goes into putting on a mainstage show. Yes, there's the acting, dancing and singing parts. But there's also the costume making (my favorite), set building, painting (my mother-in-law's choice), publicity, photography (my husband is the official eTc photographer), the list goes on and on. There's much to do to put on a successful show - and everyone jumps on board creating this amazing sense of community. It's an incredible experience for the whole family. And eTc's shows are amazing, you should see one if you haven't already!
This is a great theater company for the whole family! Our girls love acting, singing and dancing, while our son is a techy guy and we love to build sets and make costumes! Thank you for a great experience!
What a wonderful experience for the whole family! We finished our first main stage show last fall, and immediately signed up for the spring show! Our two children love being on stage and also hanging out with their friends during practices. Beautiful choreography, great costuming, a wonderful chance to meet people in the community.
My daughter just started and is having a great experience! What a welcoming organization to help children gain confidence and have lots of fun!
My family has done shows with e.T.c. for years. Aside from being a great learning experience for our daughter, it is a community that has been a big part of her life. Fun and a bonding experience for the entire family.
My daughter voiced interest in acting / theater 2 years ago. Since then, she has been in 3 productions and currently enrolled in her 4th eTC production. She LOVES eTc. The staff / volunteers are amazing and have a gift working with children. Our daughter loves the teamwork, spirit, roles and the positive encouragement. My husband and I are very thankful for the organization!
This company has been a wonderful experience for our whole family. We have shared so many laughs, met wonderful other families with like interests, and then best part is that it was all together as a family. I would highly recommend this theater company to anyone who would like to grow there confidence, wanting to be a part of a community, or who wants to have fun with a community show on top of connecting with your family in new and challenging ways.
This non-profit theatre company really emphasizes learning about all aspects of theatre in a nurturing environment. Kids are coached through auditions (and don't worry - everyone gets a part), learn about acting/singing/dancing and the whole family can participate in set making, costumes, etc. The company is very well-run, with great communication, professionals volunteering their time and lots of help to learn the ropes.
My daughter is a fixture with Bay Area e.T.c. We think the world of this organization. The staff is very professional, enthusiastic, fun, and the feeling they create is one of a giant family. As a parent of a participant, I volunteer regularly with a variety of tasks. Every member of the family has learned something about set-building, marketing, costume-making, lighting, load-in, strike, and oh- yes, TEAMWORK. This small, family-like non-profit is highly professional, dedicated, focused, and strongly committed to their goal. It is a pleasure to be part of their amazing energy and effort and to participate in the mission of providing outstanding theater experiences to the actors and high-quality shows to the public.
I have worked with this company for years and they have been wonderful. The program is unique in that it focuses on the educational side of theater while keeping things light and fun. I've seen shy children come into their own and go from chorus to lead within a year or two.
It's a great program and I recommend it to any family interested in theater.
We have two daughters involved with Bay area eTc. Our older daughter started in the summer camp program and knew theater was her passion right off. eTc has helped foster her love of theater, and she grows with every new experience that is offered, its been amazing to watch. Our younger daughter was painfully shy and her eTc experience has helped her grow into a more confident young person, ready to speak in front of her class or even school, I never thought we would get there, but eTc helped her get there. Can't say enough good things about our experiences with eTc the organization has become a second family for us.
Our family has been a part of the Bay Area eTc family since we came to see a show over 18 years ago. My son began at age 8, and my daughter even younger. Together they performed in over 25 productions, and our entire family has been involved ever since. Through the kindness and caring we experienced from the onset, we were hooked! This is a fabulous organization, and it is an honor to be a part of it. The education, nurturing, support, teamwork and values it provides is amazing. Our family grew up together within this theater "family", and both kids continue to volunteer with eTc now as young adults. To be inspired on their own to give back to this wonderful group has been heartwarming to see as a mom over the years, and I couldn't be more proud of Bay Area eTc - or my children who learned and gained so much from the organization. For the many long lasting friendships and relationships, valuable life lessons, growth and support, thank you eTc! You are truly one of a kind!
My daughter and I have been involved for 3 years and love e.T.c. I love that we can share such an amazing experience together on stage. We love all the people that are involved and have made so many great friendships. e.T.c is our FAVORITE!!!!
Bay Area eTc is a special organization, which has given so much to our family. Both of our children (now ages 9 and 12) have grown through their theater experiences with eTc. The mainstage productions are professional and well organized, while at the same time creating a learning environment for the participants. An audition is required, but everyone who auditions is offered a role in the show, regardless of past experience with acting, singing or dancing. I have been thoroughly impressed by the talent of the artistic staff and the dedication of the volunteers. I hope you will give eTc a try!
I am the parent of a child who has enjoyed every single minute he has spent with this group! He has participated in many main stage and summer productions and just cannot seem to get enough! It is a fantastic group of families working side by side to put together a community theater program that we are proud to be a part of!
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My son has been involved with eTc for 4 years now and he would tell you that they've been the best 4 years of his life. While he's always been a "character", the tools that he's learned have only helped him continue to learn and grow. I've enjoyed watching him go from audition to performance and am always amazed ad the personal transformation & growth that takes place 'in between'. It's a wonderful, nurturing environment where kids & adults can be themselves and learn about the wonderful world that is the 'performing arts'.
Bay Area eTc has been a great community for our family. Our daughter has been in 3 main stage shows and 1 summer camp and has learned so much. We consider eTc our family now and I am grateful for their mission and their commitment to our community.
As a parent and volunteer - we found the programs with Bay Area Educational Theater Company to be outstanding. My daughter has grown as a person, a performer, and a leader because of the skills and confidence she gained participating in this wonderful, nurturing program. Also, there are lots of opportunities for parents to volunteer so it becomes a family activity, filled with music and art, and of course, kids having FUN!
I love local theater, we are blessed to have so many wonderful theater groups in San Mateo county.
Recently I was intro ducted to the Bay Area Educational Theater Company. I have been attending the productions where the actors are young, I'm guessing an age range 5 -young adults and on occasion a couple of adults. it is obvious the actors are very well trained, they all appear very natural in their roles.
It is apparent it is a very happy group. Highly recommended.
My daughter started performing with eTc when she was 8 and continued with them into high school. As a high school senior thinking about college, she auditioned for and was accepted into one of the top performing arts colleges in the country. She credits her success in the college audition process and with the rigors of a college-level theater program to the training and experience she received while performing at eTc.
eTc is a family theater company but the level of instruction and quality of the performances is top notch. Although it is a non-profit organization run by volunteers, the artistic staff are all working professionals with years of experience in their chosen fields. They really know their stuff and they know how to impart that experience to all cast members. Being a family theater organization they encourage everyone, not just kinds, to audition for their two big musical shows each year. There is no other place I know of where parents and kids can perform on the same stage together!
I began choreographing for eTc's summer programs 9 years ago, and it has been a force of positive growth in my life ever since. My leadership and direction skills are continually being fine tuned, and I can't say enough about the team and community that make these productions possible. I have seen many children gain confidence and oratory skills, not to mention vocal and dance prowess. And this special experience is shared with the whole family. It is heartwarming to see children onstage with their parents, or working together behind the scenes to make the show come to life. I am one of many people whose lives have been forever enhanced by this company.
Bay Area eTc has been an important part of my family's life since its inception in 1996. Over these past years, I have found it personally rewarding watching youngsters express themselves and grow through theater. The company provides quality programs at affordable prices and makes sure that all are welcome. It is this nurturing environment that makes eTc a second family to myself and so many others.
Bay Area eTc is a fabulous company. I started working as their Stage Manager 4 shows ago and cannot imagine leaving it. The families, the volunteers, and the kids make eTc who they are -- the best theatre company in the Bay Area. :)
My daughter has performed several shows, including the summer program with eTc. My husband and I both enjoy putting in our volunteer hours - everyone is so welcoming - it makes for a great family environment. Bay area eTc promotes confidence and responsibility in the kids, and the older kids who have been around for a while act as mentors to the younger kids. If you are going to participate in activities outside of school, this is wonderful since the whole family can be included.
Both my daughter and husband have performed in several shows for eTc. It has been a wonderful experience, and is great for kids and adults alike. As for my daughter, it is a warm friendly environment that encourages new friendships, and brings on confidence and skills of responsibility. It's a wonderful place for families to be able to participate together through acting and volunteering. I highly recommend Bay Area eTc.
The eTc staff and volunteers work just as hard on making sure each child has a great experience as they do on making sure each show is a great production. My son is always eager to participate in the rehearsals and shows. What 13-year-old boy would eagerly put time into memorizing lines and dance steps rather than into memorizing sports stats and video game rules unless the theater experience was exceptional? The amount of technical skills and social values that eTc staff convey to the kids in the short time they have allotted for each production is truly amazing. Kids ages 6 to 14 learn to get along, work together and care for one another while learning dance patterns, harmonizing and many other skills. I think my son said it best when he told me that he believes the eTc theater represents the ultimate form of teamwork in that they have roughly 60 kids all working toward a common goal and supporting one another to reach that goal.
My son has been involved with e.T.c. for two years. He has tried a number of different theater companies for children over the last 7 years and has loved some and liked others. e.T.c. is his biggest love of all children's theater companies in which he has been a part.
From a parent's perspective, I can appreciate the quality that goes into e.T.c. productions -- from working with the kids to creating the set design. In each Main Stage production a child will have training from the Director, Musical Director, Acting Coach, Dancing Coach and direction from the Stage Manager. And while they definitely aspire to the highest quality production, it also is done with a lot of positive reinforcement and encouragement. For my son, this aspect has been a real bonus for him as he says "they are always encouraging me to do my best -- and they help me to be my best!"
I appreciate how all this training has helped my son to prepare for the real world -- regardless of whether acting will be a part of his future. I have consistently received feedback from his teachers over the years that his class presentations are always the most enjoyable and best put together. I believe it's the preparation that goes into theater productions that has helped him to be successful in these classroom presentations -- he knows how to convey thoughts through his words and delivery. So whether he ultimately uses this on stage or in the work world, it will serve him well.
I can't say enough good things about e.T.c. If you are looking for great opportunities for your child to explore theater or if your child is already a theater kid and wants to try something new, e.T.c. is a great choice. From our family's perspective, e.T.c. offers the very best experience and support for our child.
When eTc launched in 1996, I was 16 years old and a student participant. Over the course of the next 4 years I developed my leadership, problem solving, entreprenurial and creative skills in a way that was not available to me through my school. I created a new program for eTc when I was 17, drafted a proposal, pitched it to the board of directors and was approved! It was an amazing experience and empowered me with confidence and a belief in my abilities. Through the years I grew from a participant to a Choreographer to a Director and am now an advisor to the Board. I have seen so many children and their families touched by this company - providing a strong community bond and nurturing a safe environment for people of all ages to explore their creative sides.
As a parent and volunteer - we found the programs with Bay Area Educational Theater Company to be outstanding. My daughter has grown as a person, a performer, and a leader because of the skills and confidence she gained participating in this wonderful, nurturing program. Also, there are lots of opportunities for parents to volunteer so it becomes a family activity, filled with music and art, and of course, kids having FUN!
My son performed with ETC for several years. He credits his success in high school performing arts to the directors and the staff at ETC. As parents we feel that ETC does exactly what they say their goal is. They educate, they increase self-esteem and they create a warm and safe environment for children of all ages. I feel this is a great organization to have your children get involved with.