Buena Park Youth Theater: Program Information

The “Friends of Buena Park Youth Theater” is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization in support of the City of Buena Park's youth theater program. BPYT was formed in 1980 in response to the public school systems in turmoil, cutting back funding on performing arts and other programs. By recycling old voter booths, donated and sewn costumes, paper maché / cardboard sets, BPYT was born. BPYT began so simply and expanded rapidly by giving the children of Orange County and surrounding counties a safe place to not only learn about performing on the stage and building self confidence, but to also learn theater from a technical standpoint as well. The City of Buena Park does MORE than just sponsor this amazing program! By providing funds, rehearsal space, storage space for props, sets and costumes it has an amazing and unique relationship with the “Friends of the Buena Park Youth Theater”, but by no means does that cover the expenses for two shows a year! The amount of funds needed to provide the quality of show that BPYT has become known for (depending upon rights and availability) cost anywhere from $15,000 to $25,000 and sometimes even more! One of the ways we accomplish this is with a Volunteer Deposit (For Main Cast). We ask for a minimum of 20 Volunteer hours from each family before the production goes to stage. We also ask each family to work at least 2 tech week rehearsals and 4 shows. Our productions rely solely on volunteers and everyone needs to help, whether you are selling a cookie, pulling the main curtain or running a spotlight…

 We perform two full scale Broadway productions a year that includes professional sound, lighting, and costuming. BPYT is one of the oldest youth theatres in California and is the standard of what all other programs aspire to be! All volunteers must be fingerprinted through the City of Buena Park specifically for this program. 2 Checks are required for volunteer deposits (per family, not per cast member). $200 check returned upon completion of 20 preshow hours $200 check returned upon completion of  2 tech nights and 4 shows You are responsible for tracking your volunteer hours and having each shift signed for by a member of the Production Team. We have supplied the required form. Please submit to the parent coordinator upon completion of each requirement. All fees must be paid in order for your child to continue in rehearsals unless prior arrangements have been made with production managers. If you have a child in the main cast and in juniors, you only need to turn in the first volunteer check as your show support will be taken care of by being with your junior as required.

Juniors Fees- For juniors, there is a $200.00 fee for the Junior Program payable to Friends of Buena Park Youth Theater. You must also register with the City of Buena Park for this program (no additional fee). You can register at the desk or online at https://apm.activecommunities.com/buenapark/ and type in BPYT. Volunteer deposit checks are not required, but we would love your help whenever possible. Each junior must be supervised by a fingerprinted adult during tech week and shows ALL parents/guardians shall sign a liability waiver

Friends of BPYT has a board of members from different backgrounds and specialties that come together voluntarily to help support the youth in the surrounding area. The board committee considers which shows would be a good fit for the theater. They go through a selection process and then the board votes on which shows will be produced. BPYT produces two shows annually with the support of volunteers.