Our family is relatively new to the Patio family (1year - 3 shows, 1 camp, and most recently weekly improv) but we keep finding more to keep us involved. As a mother, I love that Patio is a safe place for my kids to explore their talents and make good friends. As a woman/ individual, I love that there is also a place for ME to grow my talents and make good friends both with my kids and separate from them. I am impressed with the people that have been with Patio for 20, 30, even 40 years. I have met several people that started with Patio as youth and are now board members, directors, producers, behind the scenes volunteers and still getting on stage as adults. This theatre is a very special place in our community and I feel blessed to have found it.
Last year, my daughter went through a tough time at school. It was heartbreaking to see how the bullying started to affect her, dimming her usual spark. She tried to stay strong, but I could tell it was weighing on her.
But at Patio Playhouse, it was a different story. There, she found her safe haven. Miss Jenn and the cast and crew who treated her like family, always lifting her up. They gave her extra encouragement, reminding her how special she was, and the other kids in the cast made sure she felt included and valued. They’d cheer her on during rehearsals, send her kind messages, and make her feel like she belonged.
That sense of belonging, of being part of a supportive community, helped her get through one of the hardest times in her young life. The love and acceptance she found at Patio Playhouse gave her the strength to stand tall, knowing she had a family there who always had her back.