Our Mission

San Francisco Youth Theatre transforms youth and communities through accessible opportunities in theatre arts creation, education, and performance. With focused outreach to youth from historically underserved communities, SFYT programs are designed to foster personal growth and create lasting social impact.

Our History

SFYT is a community arts organization founded in 2014 by Director Emily Klion. We offer year-round skill-building classes, performance ensembles, and internships for youth ages 4-24 who act, dance, sing, direct, write, paint, make friends, and form an inclusive community of young creatives.

From preschool storytelling to professional touring productions, SFYT creates high quality theatre that speaks to the unique sensibilities of youth. Join our creative journey!

Diversity & Equity
SFYT is dedicated to being an agent of equity and justice, offering the community an accessible arts space where diversity is embraced and celebrated. We acknowledge that racism has been and continues to be a barrier to BIPOC students, families, and staff. SFYT recognizes the urgent need to elevate our efforts in dismantling systemic oppression by holding itself accountable and supporting the ongoing journey for racial justice and social equity. Fully accessible arts opportunities provide a path to healing and repair, empowering all youth to tell their stories and demand change.

To support our mission, SFYT commits to:

  • Provide fully-accessible programming with focused outreach to historically marginalized communities with limited access to high quality arts education.

  • Develop and sustain anti-racist curriculum designed to amplify the voices and arts practices of BIPOC youth, offered in students' home languages, including ASL.

  • Strengthen inclusive hiring and compensation practices to increase leadership, staff and artists from BIPOC communities.

  • Listen to the voices of the community and respond decisively to racism and anti-Blackness, being mindful of the large and small decisions we make every day.

All SFYT programs are accessible to any student--regardless of their ability to pay. If you know of a student who could benefit from an SFYT experience please connect them to us or direct them to our Class Page.

The area now known as San Francisco is the unceded Ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples of the San Francisco Peninsula. As the original peoples of this land, the Ramaytush Ohlone have never ceded, lost, nor forgotten their responsibilities as the caretakers of this place. We recognize that we benefit from living, working and learning on their traditional homeland. As uninvited guests, we affirm their sovereign rights as First Peoples and wish to pay our respects to the Ancestors, Elders and Relatives of the Ramaytush Community.