My daughter has been with SingOut Theater throughout this entire year. She auditioned in to the…read morekids competition and performed 'Junglebook' with her team in Sacramento. An intense, exciting time! They won an award for choreography at JTF West! She also did Triple Threat and High school Musical this summer. So to say the least, We Are FANs! We feel so lucky to have Chelsea teaching our daughter! A lovely personality and mentor, a highly skilled dancer and choreographer, a patient and kind Director. The Music Director Kevin warmly and patiently builds the student's musical understanding and performances. His contribution keeps musical standards high and performances enjoyable. The Business Director/Producer Rachel adds the no nonsense behind the scenes taking care of business ballast for all this creativity. We are grateful for her expertise to keep SingOut thriving. My daughter is attending a performing arts school in the fall. We will still be attending Tue/Thurs Musical Theater at SingOut. It is top notch and she loves it!

There is something confusing about the discussions regarding the Diablo Light Opera Co & Diablo…read moreTheater Company. They were one and the same. Originally named DLOC in 1959 when they formed a company performing Gilbert & Sullivan Light Operas. Eventually they changed the name to Diablo Theater Co. They had a youth program called STARS 2000, which continues to this day to operate. Diablo Theater Co. that use to produce large scale Musicals & Light Opera productions at the Lesher Center For The Arts in Walnut Creek, is no longer in business. STARS 2000 continues as their own company. There is no other youth program that is under the auspices of the Diablo Theater Co. and in fact their studios were sold and are under the ownership of Performing Arts Academy.

I'm really surprised to see some of the negative reviews because my daughter and several of her…read morefriends have been in Standing Ovation productions for around 7 years. Throughout this time I have never seen or heard any negative responses from the children or their families. Sometimes I sit in on rehearsals and I've always been impressed with how the participants remain focused on the projects at hand. Seeing a large group of children concentrating on their work and not "messing around" while rehearsing is impressive to me. I really appreciate the work ethic of the participants, especially since this is a behavior that you don't see much of among modern children these days. For years my child has eagerly and regularly attended Standing Ovation productions. For the past couple of years she has also been an assistant, working with the younger people. This has been a valuable experience for her and she also continues to participate in productions with her peer group. There's a certain amount of self discipline that is necessary to pursue the performing arts. That self discipline is something my daughter developed largely through Standing Ovations. This troupe may not be right for every child and family, but I am extremely happy with the way I've seen Barrett work with my daughter and her friends. His rehearsals are always open to visitors and I give him 5 stars across the board.

I was surprised by the negative comments about Barrett/Standing Ovations on here. My daughter just…read moreentered elementary school this year, and we were interested in trying out drama. On that first day, although my daughter was a little hesitant, Barrett was funny, engaging, and inclusive of all the children in the class. At the same time, he had good control of the group (despite the varying ages from as young as 5 to 13 and large size of the group of maybe 15-20 kids). Because my daughter was so young, I was initially concerned about how well she would do in such a big mixed group of kids. But every week, she told me how much fun she had, all the things she learned, and the friends she made. Each encounter I have had with Barrett has been professional and warm. Yes, sometimes he's loud (but what drama teacher isn't, especially in a large group of gregarious, energetic kids?). Sometimes he has to be stern, but in my experience, he hasn't done it needlessly. Instead, I've observed that he emphasizes teamwork among the kids--letting them know if one person doesn't pull their weight, it affects the whole production. That's reality in life, and that's a skill I want my child to learn. My experience has been that he works with the kids to build their confidence and my daughter has definitely gained so much from Barrett and his group.

Came here with my six-year-old son and wife. We watched the Beauty and the Beast Jr play. It was a…read moregreat experience. The young people did very well. I was intrigued by the stage and how they managed to appeal to people no matter where they sat. I'd love to come see another production.

Just enjoyed a performance of The Little Mermaid here today! The staging was wonderful and everyone…read moreknew their lines and where to go. Most importantly the kids had an amazing time! Covid precautions were maintained. Well done!

Never been to this theater and I was very impressed by the building and the theater. There are…read moreseveral other theaters in the performing arts building.First off we parked in the garage parking it was $5.00 flat fee it just around the corner of the theater. Also, you can find parking on the street. We came here to see Alantiss Morsiette Jagged Little Pill Musical. You can immediately go in the building and ther is a nice lady welcoming you and directing you to go upstairs or use the elevator for the show. There are bathrooms on the first floor and a wonderful art gallery as well. Going up the stairs in a spiral and on the second floor there were 2 entrances. Make sure to ask where your seat is for the right door to go in. There is plenty of seating with a table outside the theater. While in the theater it was small, but intimate as well. There wasn't a bad seat in the theater. There are no flat seating on the floor just goes up so all can see the stage. You can see and hear the actors clearly. There was a 15 min intercession and you can use bathroom on 1st and 2nd floor. They had drinks soda, beer and cocktails, but not too much of a menu. They also had some candy as well. It wasnt much of a selection. Everything went well and best part you could meet the actors after the show as they were outside with any meet and greet or questions. Would come back again and see a musical. It's not big like broadway audience seating but definitely some great shoes here.

For those that were similarly highly disappointed in last year's Christmas Carol production, it…read morelooks like this year will be more of the same. After reading another review, I reached out to see if Lesher would be adjusting this year's production, and received the following: "Yes, this year's show will be the same version as preformed last year in 2025." If they're this insistent on maintaining such a badly created and reviewed production, I'll unfortunately be looking for another location to get my classic holiday entertainment fix. Sad to see, as the 2024 production was probably the best I'd attended.

[Title of Show] had me falling out of my seat laughing. All the actors were surprisingly good and…read morehad great voices. And I'll have to agree with Tara that Heidi stole the show. The story and songs were all incredibly witty and catchy. So fun and entertaining. A well spent evening.

Saw "Title of Show" last night and loved it. Very tongue in cheek and entertaining. The actors did…read morea great job. Everyone on the stage was talented, but Heidi stole the show with her wonderful voice and charismatic personality. I look forward to seeing more productions.

I have spent a long time debating whether to write this review because Starlight was once a place…read moremy child genuinely loved. Unfortunately, many of the issues that ultimately led us to leave were not isolated incidents, they were patterns that existed for years and appeared to worsen as the owner took on more stress. Constructive criticism is not an attack. Honest feedback is not disloyalty. The common denominator throughout the concerns many families raised was leadership. Communication problems were present long before the recent turmoil, but they became significantly more noticeable as the program grew. Important information was often delayed, incomplete, changed without explanation, or communicated differently to different groups of people. Parents frequently found themselves piecing together information from rumors, social media, group texts, and other families rather than receiving clear and consistent communication directly from leadership. The situation surrounding the temporary location (without heat/AC and wall) and construction delays was particularly frustrating. Families were repeatedly given timelines and explanations that changed over time, creating confusion and eroding trust. We were told at one point that construction was halted due to human remains being found, this was false. As a parent of a neurodivergent child, I was also disappointed by decisions that appeared to overlook the needs of many students in the program. Despite the owner stating that Starlight is "inclusive and welcoming to all". The owner even going as far as stating "LGBTQ and neurodivergent kids are my specialty". One example was the creation of a teen group chat used for communication while excluding parents from those conversations. Most of the students involved were freshman, many of whom are neurodivergent and rely on adult support to manage schedules, stay organized, and process information. Removing parents from those communications created unnecessary barriers and left families struggling to ensure their children had accurate information. I was further troubled by comments made about students and families. Hearing a neurodivergent child who was struggling emotionally described as "throwing a hissy fit" demonstrated a lack of understanding and compassion that I would expect from a youth program serving diverse learners. I watched as students were guilted into taking on more responsibilities/roles than they wanted despite their feelings being clearly communicated. Likewise, hearing concerned parents characterized as "entitled" was disheartening. Parents were not asking for special treatment,they were asking for transparency, consistency, and accountability after investing significant time, money, and trust into the organization. The saddest part is that the students were often caught in the middle of adult decisions and conflicts. The children showed up to learn, perform, build friendships, and pursue something they loved. They deserved stability, professionalism, and leadership that modeled healthy communication and accountability. The students deserve nothing less. One of the most frustrating aspects of this experience is that many of the concerns raised by families over the years have never seemed to be genuinely acknowledged. Instead, there appears to be a pattern where criticism is immediately dismissed, explained away, or attributed to misunderstandings rather than treated as an opportunity for reflection and growth. Even when families take the time to leave thoughtful feedback or reviews, the response often seems focused on defending decisions, challenging the person's account, or explaining why their experience wasn't valid rather than recognizing that multiple families may be raising similar concerns. When every concern is attributed to a misunderstanding, a disgruntled parent, or someone who simply doesn't know the full story, it becomes difficult to believe that meaningful accountability is taking place. At some point, when the same themes continue to emerge from multiple families over multiple years communication issues, lack of transparency, shifting narratives, exclusion of parents, and dismissive responses to concerns. It is worth considering whether those concerns deserve genuine reflection rather than another explanation for why they aren't true. Again, constructive criticism is not an attack. Honest feedback is not disloyalty. Families who speak up are often doing so because they care deeply about the students and want the organization to succeed. Unfortunately, too often it felt like those voices were viewed as a threat rather than an opportunity to improve.

My daughter has been part of this incredible program for nearly six years, beginning as a 1st…read moregrader in the "Minis" program. After a pause during COVID, she returned to participate in a couple of shows with the Kids program, then successfully auditioned for the Junior Competitive theater program in 4th grade. Now entering 7th grade, the growth we've seen in her has been nothing short of remarkable. Her singing, acting, and dancing have all improved exponentially--but even more importantly, the program has helped transform her natural confidence into real poise and presence. She's also built lasting friendships along the way. As part of the competitive theater program, she not only performs with a team but has also chosen to do solo competitions, which have helped her grow as an individual artist. These experiences have pushed her in the best way and have taught her discipline, collaboration, and how to shine on stage. I'm so grateful for the leadership of Chelsea and the entire team. The amount of care and effort they pour into the students and the productions is truly impressive. From "SpongeBob the Musical" to "Alice in Wonderland," the quality of these youth performances is extraordinary--complete with fantastic costumes, imaginative sets, and professional-caliber direction. The instructors are passionate, talented, and committed, and it's inspiring to see former students--many of whom have gone on to study theater in college--return to help with current productions. If she ever tires of theater, they have a solid dance program that offers competition opportunities as well! I'm so glad my daughter has the opportunity to grow within such a creative, supportive, and high-quality program for years to come.

When I checked my Cal Shakes review I was surprised to see I hadn't updated it in 12 years. I…read morecan't remember whether we subscribed the season following my initial review, but we have attended several productions over the years and liked them. Most recently, Nina and I attended "The Winter's Tale" last season. It was the first play we had attended anywhere since the start of the pandemic and we were thrilled. We took the shuttle bus up the hill and bought dinner from the concession stand. I remember it as being very good. Our seats in the amphitheatre were well placed w/ good sightlines. The acting was excellent, as it always is. "The Winter's Tale" is one we have seen many times and a play we love. We enjoyed the production a lot until the very end, which we both found disappointing. The play is about reconciliation, forgiveness and redemption and those qualities were given short shrift because of the cuts/edits that were made by the adapters, Eric Ting and Philippa Kelly. I have no issues w/ people editing Shakespeare's plays, reimagining the settings, etc, as long as that works in the service of the play's intent. Cutting out the heart of what the play is about doesn't do that. When the play was over we looked at each other in disbelief and disappointment because the rest of it had been so complex, colorful and well done. We will keep an eye out for future productions and will check the reviews, but like Berkeley Rep, we probably won't subscribe.

Sorry to see that this venue has gone out of business. We enjoyed it while it was there.read more

This is the place you want to have your next function at! My girl got married ladt weekend and…read moreeverything was a hit....a little crazy...but mostly fabulous. I wish I had taken more pics to highlight the facilities but let me tell you this one of the best community centers Ive been to. Ample parking, hugh kitchen with mulitple refridgerators, dining and dance floor areas, dressing rooms and restrooms. Best days to rent ..Fridays or Sundays.....check it out for yourself. Ciao for now....

My first time attending an event at this venue and what a beautiful venue! Located in Pleasant…read moreHill, next to a police station but also a near an outside area that has a gazebo. They have a pavilion area, dance floor, mirrors, tall ceilings and huge windows. I attended a 50th birthday, parking was easy, they had a kitchen, staff was super friendly and helped with the garbage when it got full. I bet it gets busy trying to rent out this venue for events but I enjoyed it and if you're looking for a venue in the East Bay/Concord area, this is a great spot!