Willow Glen Children's Theatre is a wonderful program. This is the second time my kids (one in…read moreelementary school and one in middle school) have participated, and they absolutely love it! They were hesitant about theater at first, but we were able to sit in for part of a class, and they had a blast. The program starts with lots of games to help kids come out of their shells and lets the instructors get to know each child's personality. From there, the leaders write an original play with characters tailored specifically to the kids. Many families have been involved for years, and the parent-and-kid community is incredibly welcoming.

Willow Glen Children's Theatre (WGCT) has been around for over 20 years and still provides some of…read morethe best theatre workshops and performances for kids and families. The director and staff really take the time to get to know the kids. Each workshop culminates in a final performances, and the end result is always fantastic!

Playful People Productions are a welcoming, inclusive organization, managed by a passionate group…read moreof artists. The Productions Playful People show are high quality, fun, and presented with energy and joy. I highly recommend going to see a show with this company at the Historic Hoover Theatre in San Jose.

My 6 year old attended the one week winter camp with Playful Productions in Dec 2023. I am very…read moreglad we signed up. He looked SO happy at drop off and pick up every day!. The teachers were kind, energetic and really bonded well with the kids. The families and kids attending were also fantastic The kids did a variety of activities all day, that included arts, crafts, acting, reading and playing outside. My son was having a hard time adjusting to his elementary school, and this experience was a much needed breath of fresh air for us . At the end of the camp, kids put up a short play which parents could come to see in the theater. All in all it was a positive and fun learning environment for all of us! We can't wait to be back!

Acting had always been something I wanted to try but never got the chance to. Last year I made the…read moredecision to finally try it out and joined First Take. Since joining First Take I've booked multiple projects around the Bay Area and built connections with other actors. Through these classes, I've learned that acting is so much more empowering than what I thought it would be. First Take really helped me learn how to accept myself and develop areas of empathy that I did not have before. These skills are great for acting but I've also found them extremely helpful in personal and career development. Additionally, the entertainment industry can be very competitive with many rejections. In these times, I have found it really encouraging to have a strong support system like the other students and teachers at First Take. In summary, I highly recommend the First Take Acting School to anyone who's ever considered trying it out. You might just learn something about yourself you never knew before. Also, if you are near the San Jose area - I HIGHLY RECOMMEND taking Susan's class. She is a phenomenal teacher who really looks out for the best interests of her students!

Update to my previous review. Persistence and training pay off!…read more I just attended my first world premiere of Thirsty at the Newport Beach Film Festival starring Jamie Neuman (The Deuce, Sunday Water), Sung Kang (Fast & the Furious, Obi-Wan Kenobi), Thora Birch (American Beauty, The Walking Dead, Hocus Pocus) & Kyra Sedgewick (The Closer, Phenomenon). I had a short scene with star Jamie Neuman and David Herd. Coincidentally two other First Take actors were cast in the film! Eugene Kremleff (my student) and instructor E. Ambriz Decolosio, a fellow instructor. Attaching pics here

I had no idea there was a children's theater here in Palo Alto…read more I came here with a large group and everything ran smoothly from arriving. We were guided to how to sit adults on the edge if possible so the kids can see. No flash photography. Exits and emergency exits. Once we were seated the play began. This is my first time watching a kids play and it was very fun. The play moved along had a clear plot and was enjoyable by the kids and adults alike (measuring this by how loud the laughter was). The costumes were beautiful and the stage props were colorful. The orchestra was also really cool to experience. The length of time of the play was also good at just an hour. A great way to enjoy art and get the kiddos ready for lunch or other local activities. From reading other reviews it looks like this theatre offers other activities and also performers outside of the building so that's really neat. The actors came out to take pictures at the end so that's was really neat. This is such a neat experience for kids and adults alike. Definitely a fun addition to the toddler and kids activities list!

We came to watch a Hansel and Gretal show put on by the Palo Alto Children's Theatre and it was a…read morefun/cute experience. The children shows are held in the Secret Garden. Space is limited, so definitely get there early. You bring your own picnic blankets and food items, but they also sell some drinks and food at the concession stand, with all proceeds going directly back to the children's theatre. The play is held by a group of child actors of different ages and they all did a great job with their lines and making their whimsical jokes. The script of the play was changed to incorporate characters from other children fairytales such as red riding hood, and other new characters that I didn't recognize, but they tied it all into the main storyline of Hansel and Gretal. The play runs only for about 40 minutes with no intermission. There are porta potties conveniently located across from the garden but their actual bathroom facilities are only a 1-2 minute walk down the corridor. There is plenty of street parking in the surrounding neighborhood.

Daughter joined start of this year at 2.5 years old and was shy, but after regular attendance for…read morethe Preschool Arts program and dance participation she has grown in motor skills, potty training, and vocabulary. Small class sizes and caring instructors have helped her learn days of the week and gain creativity. Highly recommend the program.

My 9-year-old daughter attended Dance Affair Studio and performed in their Winter Recital of 2025,…read moreand I couldn't have been more impressed. From the moment we walked in, it was clear how supportive, organized, and professional the staff and instructors are. The instructors do an incredible job of balancing discipline with encouragement, helping the kids build confidence while genuinely enjoying what they're doing. Watching my daughter perform, I could clearly see how much growth she's had--not just in technique, but in confidence and stage presence--and that credit absolutely goes to the training and care she receives here. The recital itself was well run, thoughtfully choreographed, and showcased each dancer in a way that made them feel proud of their hard work. As a parent, it means a lot to see a studio that truly invests in its students. I'm very grateful to the entire Dance Affair team for creating such a positive environment and for helping my daughter shine on stage. Highly recommend to any parent looking for quality dance instruction and a supportive community.

We love LAYT! My daughter has done 3 shows with them and is about to do a fourth this fall…read more For the audience - a small theatre (100 seats or so) so you are close to the action and can see everything from every seat. The shows with intermission have concessions that are cute and inexpensive. It's right by downtown Los Altos so convenient to reach. The shows are fun to watch! We've seen several that didn't have my daughter in them and we've enjoyed every one. For the kids - LAYT is small enough that kids get a chance to be on stage a lot. They have consistently used fun directors who know how to work with children. It's a small enough theatre that the kids are very independent - they cue themselves, move stage pieces, etc. They are a great group of kids that never seemed clique-y or exclusionary. For the parents - did I mention kids get to be on stage a lot? And that the kids are independent so there aren't a lot of jobs for parents to do other than working concessions or ushering or similar? The team that runs the theatre is wonderful to work with. So, whether you want your kid to be in a show or just watch some local youth theatre, hit up the LAYT website and see what's playing.

What's not to love about the Los Altos Youth Theatre? My daughter is finishing up her third…read moreproduction with them and has loved every minute of all 3. Their staff is high quality and always very welcoming. They perform at the Bus Barn Theater which is a lovely venue without a bad seat in the house. The costumes are always AMAZING and provided by them. It's fun for the kids and easy for the parents with very minimal parent volunteer requirements which is appreciated by this working parent. I can't say enough good things about LAYT. We'll be back again and again!

I grew up attending the theater and I consider myself very lucky. Community Little Theater in…read moreAuburn, Maine is still around today. I had two brothers who both performed in the theater and one of them is still teaching theater arts now. I usually attend the Broadway musicals at the San Jose Performing Arts Center a couple of times every year and I go alone. John is not a fan of musicals. But he agreed to go to a play last year in SF with me and he enjoyed it. So, when we saw the synopsis of "Running After Shadows," we decided to check it out. The second I walked inside, City Lights Theater reminded me of those wonderful memories I had as a teenager at Community Little Theater. City Lights is smaller than I'm used to but I loved its compact, intimate space. Every seat seems to be a good one and comfortable as well! I loved that the manager spoke to the audience before the show and that they pick a non-profit to donate to that matches with the theme of the play. They also have a little get together after every performance. They have refreshments and you have the chance to talk to the actors. We didn't stay afterwards but maybe next time. John surprised me by wanting to get tickets for the next show. Maybe I can get him to try musicals one day...

It's All an Act…read more Foreword: So, it turns out I kind of like plays. I mean, I recall enjoying watching theater friends perform at school and college back in the day, but I've never actually gone out to see a real live play with professional actors. Anyway, if you're on the fence about coming to see one, then you should definitely do it once. And if you really dig it, do it twice. :) OK, onto the review... The City Lights Theater Company has been supporting local actors and theater makers for forty-five years (ca. 1982) now, and have been in this space since 1991--despite a looming threat from developers... The Good: *Very small intimate venue of ±100 seat theater. There is no bad seat in the house, as even in the back row you still feel like you're practically front row. *Tickets are fairly inexpensive at ±$50-80/ea with season passes available. There's also afternoon matinee shows available for us old farts. *Staff was very friendly *They have a small snack bar and even serve wine *A chance to interact with the performers at the end of the show. *We watched "Running After Shadows" by Vincent Terrell Durham and it was excellent. Great story telling, fantastic acting, and it takes the crowd on a wild range of emotions. The Meh: *Street Parking only but it's free on the weekends. The Ugly: *They must start cutting onions in there at some point, cuz I swear my eyes started watering for no reason. That's right. No reason whatsoever. Conclusion: Intimate venue with great storytelling means a great time out by all. Good spot for a date nite or afternoon (see aforementioned "old farts" mention above).

Edit: Just learned that the 2026 seniors were allowed to…read morevote on who *they* wanted to dance with instead of promoting dancers that should have earned that spot by the audition process. Also amazing is the placement of dancers who pay for private lessons always seem to be much more prominently showcased. One particular teacher is quite bipolar, yelling one week and 'i brought donuts' the next, our kids are downright frighted by A. While most of the instructors here are very professional, supportive, and put the best dancers in the front, sometimes you can really tell who the 'golden child' is (sometimes as obvious as the offspring of a faculty) by how they will always be featured and front and center. New for 2025 is their SPOTLIGHT Award, which will be handed out by staff to the most Above and Beyond, and who do you think those will go to? Betting right now the same set of insiders that already get the best spots. There are also many extra fees and costs that are just added to your account without asking: including a year end 'pizza party celebration' that didn't include any actual pizza, 'team bonding' events like going to a movie, or 60second Holiday performance AND a season end show that require more makeup, shoes & costume purchases. I guess kids had a great time but no thought by staff on costs parents have to pay for these add-on. Updated to add: make sure your kid keeps an eye on their things... I've heard recently that several things have gone missing, wallets & phones gone through, cash & clothing stolen. Given the size of the number of studios I suppose there's no way to do a locker system but the casualness of the staff response to the thefts was a little troubling. I had to hear about it from the dancers as nothing was ever mentioned to the parents. Youd be better off at a smaller, more caring studio, IMO.

More than a dance class, West Valley Dance Co is a dance community! My daughter has been attending…read morefor 4 years now. We love the teachers and staff (yay Rebecca) My 8 year old dancer says, "Ms Julianna and Ms Vanessa are the nicest teachers who push our whole team to be better and stronger! They are the best!"