PCPA Youth & Community Arts

PCPA Youth & Community Arts is part of PCPA Pacific Conservatory, a professional conservatory theatre that works with a resident company of theatre professionals. The program is connected to PCPA’s broader work presenting theatre and training aspiring actors and theatre technicians through a fully accredited vocational training program at Allan Hancock College.

For over 58 years, since its beginnings in the fall of 1964 and first summer season in 1965, PCPA has been presenting theatre and providing training with a resident company of theatre professionals. The leadership team includes Mark Booher, Artistic Director/Dean; Jennifer Schwartz, Managing Director; Marilet Martinez, Director of Youth & Community Arts; and Jill Price, Youth & Community Arts Coordinator. PCPA states that it is a professional conservatory theatre committed to reflecting and transforming its diverse community with the art of live theatre, serving its current audience, cultivating its future audience, and training the next generation of theatre professionals, while aspiring to adhere to established theatrical traditions and set new standards of artistry, ethics, and professional practice. PCPA Pacific Conservatory supports a fully accredited vocational training program at Allan Hancock College for aspiring actors and theatre technicians, and it is described as the only training program in the country that combines an Equity theatre company with fully integrated community college Career and Technical Education programs. The organization acknowledges that its theaters, studios, shops, and offices are on the ancestral home of the Chumash people, particularly the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and notes ongoing gratitude to the Chumash Tribe for longstanding support and community leadership.

Last updated June 26, 2026.