Berkeley Playhouse YouthStage

Berkeley Playhouse YouthStage offers fully produced musicals for students. Young actors are admitted by audition, and if admitted, they become members of the company. The program also includes Stagecraft, Musical Theatre Revue, and Showcase Cabarets, with activities such as hands-on work in lighting, costuming, scenic, sound, props, make-up, and stage management, plus creating, writing, choreographing, designing, rehearsing, and performing solo and small group repertoire.

Programs

• YouthStage — Grades 5-12; summer opportunities are offered during the summer; KidStage grades 5-8; TeenStage grades 8-12 · Fully produced musicals for students. Young actors are admitted by audition. If admitted, students become members of the company.
• KidStage — Grades 5-8 · YouthStage opportunity for grades 5-8.
• TeenStage — Grades 8-12 · YouthStage opportunity for grades 8-12.
• Stagecraft — Grades 6-12 · Explore behind the scenes elements and receive hands-on experience in lighting, costuming, scenic, sound, props, make-up, and stage management.
• Musical Theatre Revue — Grades 6-12 · Students spend 10 weeks creating, writing, choreographing, designing, and rehearsing their own production.
• Showcase Cabarets — Grades 6-12 · One-week-long sessions focusing on solo and small group repertoire.
• Classes & Camps — Grades K-7 · Year-round after-school musical theater classes for grades K-7 and summer camps for grades K-7.
• Musical Theater Camps — Grades K-7 · Held during Thanksgiving, Winter, and Summer breaks on weekdays from 9am-3pm · Fun, interactive, and imaginative musical theater camps. Camps consist of games, crafts, and staging a mini musical. Extended care is available before and after camp for an additional cost.
• Musical Theater Classes — Grades K-7 · Afterschool during the Fall and Winter/Spring semesters; each class meets once or twice per week over 10 weeks for 1.5-2 hours · Story-based and skill-building musical theater classes. All classes get an invited final showing on the last day of the semester.
• Counselor-in-Training Program — Offers young people the opportunity to gain practical training and develop leadership skills while participating in summer musical theater camp activities.

At a glance

• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Current session: Opening This September! Legally Blonde The Musical (Sep 11–Oct 11, 2026)
• General schedule: YouthStage opportunities are offered during the summer. KidStage and TeenStage opportunities are offered during the Fall and Winter/Spring. Classes and camps are year-round after-school classes and summer camps, with camps held during Thanksgiving, Winter, and Summer breaks and classes meeting during the Fall and Winter/Spring semesters.

About the provider

Berkeley Playhouse says it believes in the importance and power of the youth voice and believes that theater has the unique ability to develop confident, compassionate, and empowered young people to have a voice in the community. The leadership team includes Melissa Rivera Simpson, Producing Director; Megan McGrath, Youth Productions Manager; and Jesus Pedroza-Moreno, Classes & Camps Manager.

Young actors are admitted to YouthStage by audition. If admitted, they become a member of the company and do not have to audition for future productions provided they remain in good standing. Berkeley Playhouse states it practices non-traditional, identity-affirming casting in all education programs. All students are eligible to play any role, regardless of gender or background. Financial aid applications are available upon registration. Camps are intensive, daytime programs held during school breaks.

Last updated August 18, 2026.