HELP A CHILD GROW

Join our Mission.

YES! I want to help a child reach their creative potential by supporting Ojai Youth Entertainers Studio (OYES), a 501c3 non-profit.

What your donation means to OYES

Your donation helps a child receive quality theater education and enrichment and scholarships. 100% of every donation goes directly to enrichment programming.  

OYES is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.

Theater 150 DBA Ojai Youth Entertainers Studio

TAX ID 77-0554664

Mail to: P.O. Box 925, Ojai, CA 93024 

Reaching our Community

"This community youth theater is essential to the health of our community, our youth, and the continued development of theater in Ojai.  As our youth face increasing pressures within school and their peer groups and the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, it is important that they find safe havens where they can feel accepted, a place where they can build a positive self-esteem, a place where they are a part of something bigger than themselves. In fact, research has shown that students involved in programs outside of school are much less likely to succumb to peer pressure and are much more able to resist drugs and alcohol.  Ojai has many sports-related youth programs which address these needs for our young athletes. OYES is indispensable as it provides a supportive place for those who are not athletes. OYES provides an outlet for creative expression, where each person has something valuable to offer whether it be performing on stage or working backstage. It teaches the value of hard work and community in creative pursuits. And OYES provides a family-friendly invitation to experience live musical theater."

- LeighAnn McDonald (Ojai, CA)

"The experience of being part of a production at OYES is similar to that of being part of a sports team. Children learn that each role is important, no matter how small. Each person has to do their best to support the show...  For my high-energy son, OYES has given him a place where his high energy is valued and encouraged, not stymied, building his confidence. I have witnessed the value OYES provides other families. I’ve seen children with speech issues get leading roles, and while onstage, they transform from a shy hesitant kid to a princess or to the king of the sea. I’ve seen OYES provide a place for children with physical challenges, such as cerebral palsy, to use their bodies and voices to transport an audience to other lands full of magic and love. When I watch the productions at OYES, my eyes fill with tears of pride for not only my children, but for others’ children, knowing the hard work and courage that is behind each performance, big or small, and how that child’s life will never be the same. At OYES, children from all walks of life are brought together."

- Debora Kirkland (Ojai, CA)

"My daughter has learned so much from this program. She's now confident speaking in front of a huge room of strangers, she can memorize a long monologue and speak it with ease, she's built community with kids of all ages and all walks of life. She's learned patience and the pay off of hard work. Daena and the rest of the staff give so much of themselves, their free time and their love to the children.

OYES has been an essential part of the Ojai Community and offers a wonderful alternative to the Art Center Programs for families who cannot dedicate every evening for rehearsals and multiple weekends for performances. We are so blessed that our children have the opportunity to participate in such a world class program while not giving up their time for homework, play and other activities."

- Liesel Rigsby (Ojai, CA)

"OYES is a wonderful part of the performing arts tradition of this community. The professionalism of their productions is always astounding to me. My daughter has been performing with them for several years and watching her growth has been a real treat. They are not only teaching her indispensable skills with regard to performance and public speaking, but they are providing a venue where she can be surrounded by other children performing a wholesome extracurricular activity."

Matthew Auric (Ojai, CA)

"Without OYES, my son would have had very little or no exposure to acting and music at his age. I have been enrolling my son in the program continually for 6 years now and he absolutely loves it. The people who run the program really care about the children involved and work to nurture each child’s individual talents. They work incredibly hard to make the theater experience as educational and positive as possible for the children, while inspiring creativity and a love for theater arts. I have not encountered an after-school program as wonderful, caring, and beneficial as the program at OYES." 

- Pamela Fetter (Ojai, CA)