Great place to start the kids in Threater , weekly meeting 2x a week some times 3 , all ages united to perform a show , similar to a broadway show. Weeks and months spent to save the best for last to go on stage and perform k. Front of an audience located in the middle of white plains , parking in a garage or street parking.. the stage is small and tiny . My 1st , and enjoy it. read more

The Play Group Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - White Plains, New York

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My daughter has the best time ever at PGT! She loves the experience and I love watching the shows!!! Overall, 5 stars all around!!!!!!!!!!! They are very professional and productive, and they aren't abbreviated children productions but they are full length lovely productions. We even got our sports loving boy to try it and he loved it! Our family loves PGT and highly recommends!!!!!! Thanks PGT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

My son is very unhappy, which makes me unhappy. Management is terrible and unprofessional. Classes do not teach much. Some of the staff are great, but I'd rather take my child to them individually. Now I will enroll him in Broadway Training Center, which is wonderful for my best friend's child. Polar opposites. BTC is welcoming, supportive, and inviting. PGT is disgusting, sad, and my child regrets every second he spent there. I honestly just feel bad for him. He was excited for this ALL SUMMER, and now he's bummed out. I don't think he's ever felt more lonely in a giant group of kids in his whole life. read more

Unfortunately I had the worst experience ever. Super hot and sweaty through the whole show. Most uncomfortable experience ever. Couldn't wait to leave. A/C at it's worse read more

The most "professional" children's theater program around. Jill and Stephen work tirelessly to be inclusive and nurturing to all the children. My daughter has done may theater programs in Westchester and this blows them all away - 1) The shows are full length - not some abbreviated kid production which really doesn't give kids the opportunity to feel what a real show is like 2) The rehearsals ARE a big commitment - but the kids don't mind because they love being there so much. 3) The facility is great - the shows are done in there own private theater so you don't have to travel to a community theater for the shows. 4) The staff is like family Cant say enough - its been the best part of my daughters childhood. read more

PGT has been the most amazing experience for my daughter. She considers it her home away from home and the place were she can be her true self. It is amazing to me that every time she walks out of a rehearsal she is in the best mood. She has learned a tremendous amount about theater (and more importantly about herself and the world around her) and each show blows me away (these kids are so talented!) I am shocked by some of the negative reviews - what I love about PGT is how the students all come from different schools and different towns and yet welcome everyone into their group and support each other. It is my daughter's favorite place to be - school year and summer - and I can't thank J and S and the whole staff for how they have changed my daughter's life for the better by being part of this incredible arts program! read more

I read some of the reviews and I am shocked. My son has done PGT camp for the past 2 years. He has never enjoyed a camp so much!!! Couldn't wait to wake up and go. Can't wait to tell me all the fun things they do when I pick him up. All the staff are wonderfull!!! I was so I iStaff runs to the car to open door. You can't help but smile from the minute you get there. Jill could not be kinder, more supportive, or more accommodating. Most important, the camp did so much to raise his self esteem ! Please don't believe negative reviews, go see it for yourself! read more

This program is great for kids of all genders and ages! Kids are treated like family and everyone is so kind!

My daughter has been doing shows at The Play Group Theatre (PGT) for six years. From the first time she walked in the doors to audition (and a veteran PGTer walked right up to her and welcomed her!), she has loved it. As other reviewers have said, it's definitely a second home for my daughter. It's difficult to explain what happens to kids who experience PGT -- they learn more than just theater, they mature in the most wonderful ways, they develop lifelong friendships, and so much more. This is a truly special place, where kids can be themselves, learn and think and grow, laugh and cry and love, and so on. Every theater-loving child deserves to go to PGT! read more

The MOST AMAZING theater program. It is a second home for my daughter where she feels supported and encouraged to be her best self! I can't say enough great things about PGT. read more

This program is not for you if you are a boy. We tried out this place and they treated the girls like royalty, but the boys like they were totally useless and non-existent. For the girls this is a great camp and I highly recommend it, especially if you love theatre. Unfortunately, many of the boys were following directions and trying to participate, but for some reason or another they didn't get called on. In my opinion, boys should be urged to participate, especially in theatre and performing arts because most boys don't like/want to participate. This is not sexist because if you go to many junior theatre camps you will find that most of the campers are girls. The staff apologized 4 days into the week and they did do a good job about fixing their wrongs. This is the one reason that this place has one star out of five. Unfortunately, they try too hard to make things fun, for example making songs or rhymes for everything. This gets really repetitive, boring, and tiring. If you like this, then this place is for you; if you don't, then this is really boring and a waste of time and money. Some of the counselors are really rude and act like they don't want to be there. Thankfully, some counselors were empathetic and understood what you were feeling. The shows were fun to watch, but the overall attitude is not what I expected from a place with such a good reputation as the Play Group Theatre. On the whole, this place is not for you if you get bored easily of if you are a boy who likes to follow the directions. read more

This camp stinks. They don't let kids get any time on stage. It's always based around the same kids. The counselors are sexist, and biased towards the girls. For example, there was 20 parts in our play. The girls got 13 parts and the boys got 7. There was a majority boys. When asked why they were favoring the girls, they replied that most theatre is biased towards boys, so we give the girls a chance. Such, bs. The majority of people who do these programs are girls. I didn't like this camp at all, and if there was an option to give 0/5 I would click it. They won't let kids call home, also if they want to leave early. The pickup takes 30 minutes extra every day. Don't go to this clown camp, and save the world. Join our fight! BTW, we made up a fake address and name, so they can't track us. read more

Where do I begin....The rudeness of the staff is beyond unacceptable, especially by the directors of the program. Not to mention it only took about a week and a half for a response from the woman in charge when originally finding out more info about the program. I felt sort of hesitant to sign up my daughter up, but I did and I regret it. She enjoyed being able to be in a show, (and I will say PGT shows are GOOD) But the negativity of the program sucks. The director picks favorites, and it very obvious. Look I totally get it when it comes to casting but at the end of the day we're paying just as much and everyone deserves the same theatrical education. Additionally there are many many friend cliques, and staff does NOTHING about it. So unless you are a "regular-favorite" you are a outcast. I just feel un-eased by everything that went on there. read more

I see a lot of parents reviewing on here. Take it from someone who went to PGT for years of their life. The first word that comes to mind is toxic. When I began going there, I was too young to realize what a horrific place I was in. The friends weren't the problem, I always chose to go back there. It wasn't as if my parents were pushing me to go back to such a toxic place. But after "growing up" and looking back, I realize how much this institute has negatively affected me. While I did have friends there, there was always the notorious "clique". Mostly made up of the daughters of the owners and those who went to her school. (That was my experience during their yearly programs). No matter how much talent you had, PGT always used the same formula. If you are new, you get a substantial part, but that's only to draw you back for next year. By that time next year other things would make you want to stay, like a couple of good friends. The same people would get the leads each time, and there was no way they weren't, unless they were going to give it to a new person. Going to PGT for as long as I did made me see their true colors pretty quickly, but I was eight years old, what was I going to do? To see the same people sing FULL songs in what was supposed to be an "ensemble experience" was clear no matter what age you were. By the end of my reign, there was no part of me that wanted to go back. The staff's behavior was obvious and unprofessional. This is a place where everyone acts fake and "hunky dory", when in reality they are stripping away any type of confidence a young kid could develop. I truly think if I did not attend this horrid place, I might have more confidence than I do. The "warm and kindness" face they show is only a facade and I don't mind being the person shouting out their true colors. So in conclusion, if you went on yelp to see if your child should go and join this "amazing experience", I suggest you find a different place. I've heard such wonderful things about other programs in Westchester that are much kinder, respectful and CHEAPER. read more

The productions put on by PGT are, amazing. HOWEVER....There are so many things the matter with this program. My daughter entered the program during the summer camp not knowing anyone, she had a great time and met a few friends she is still in touch with today. Her director and other teachers overall were nice and cared for her and everyone else. After this rather good experience we decided to sign up her for the Fall program. The difference between their summer camp and school year program is like night and day. From such a fun place in the summer, you go to a haunted mansion after school. The director was constantly rude and honestly, tried to hard to make up for the fact of her rudeness. Additionally, the students involved in the school year programs are....super SUPER cliquey. They clearly do not want to welcome newer kids and the staff does NOTHING about it. Their excuse: Those students have been friends for such a long time and their are other kids you're daughter can be friends with. No........you should be including everyone, and making them feel welcome, whether they don't clique well with the group or they do. Finally.....please don't get me started on PGT's scholarship program. I receive their newsletters with quotes like "Arts education is for all!" and "We thank you for donating to help us raise $100,000+" I agree thats arts educations should be for everyone, and 100k is a nice amount of money! But should why I show you my tax returns, mortgage info, vacation spending etc. This is just....not needed especially for those that just may need a little financial help. read more

PGT is the most transformative experience you can have as a young person. For a child to be invested in as if they were truly an artist, not just a child, is so incredibly powerful for their confidence, sense of self and motivation. The community is soulful, diverse, and nourishing -- a far cry from the often stressful, competitive, and mean-girl culture of the middle and high school experience. The mentorship and role models you are exposed to as an adolescent at PGT (both in the form of the older students and unbelievably talented and dedicated staff) became a powerful touchstone for me as I was figuring out who I wanted to be. The bond that is formed with these people is so authentic and powerful, it is the stuff of lifelong friendships. PGT is truly the kind of experience that strengthens you as an artist, an innovator and a person, giving you a foundation that stays with you for years to come. read more

PGT changed my life. I auditioned for my first show when I was 7 years old, and continued doing the fall and spring shows (and every summer show at camp!) every year until I graduated high school. I am now 26 years old, and when I look back on my adolescence, I feel so incredibly grateful to have been a part of this magical community. I made the best friends, learned from the most giving and powerful teachers and directors, and became a part of a family that I still lean on today. Jill and Steven are like my second parents, and I know most every PGT kid feels that way. They are brilliant, kind artists who have created a community filled with love and creativity. PGT is special because it's both a fun-loving after-school activity, and also a conservatory for kids who are serious about acting/singing/dancing. At PGT, kids will learn how to become better actors, but more importantly-- they'll become better people. Join PGT! You won't regret it. read more

i really wanted to like this place, but we were disappointed. have you ever seen mean girls? that's what this place is. also notice the 4 positive reviews all sounds alike and were given around the same time. hmmm.. The group does play favorites, and favor groups they consider historically underrepresented in theatre in their opinion (girls) which is fine, but that also means they discriminate against boys. the weight of history. two wrongs don't make a right. how about just treating everyone equally and giving every one a fair chance rather than trying to right wrongs of a prior generation. these are kids. equality should rule, not preference, however well meaning. but this doesn't seem likely to change, so if you're not a preferred group, don't bother coming here b/c you'll be making up for the wrongs of a prior generation. save your money and go to someplace that believes in equal opportunity rather than righting past wrongs. at the very least, they should charge less for boys b/c you will just get less stage time and attention. read more