RISING STAR PROGRAM

The Rising Star Theatre Attendance Program inspires a new generation of theatregoers by providing Bay Area high school students with a four play season subscription. As part of the TAP, students receive a pre-show lesson plan that includes theatre games/warm-ups, scene teasers and comprehension questions; the post-show lesson provides further enrichment with activities that draw on their experience as audience members.  Rising Stars also participate in an immediate post-show discussion with the cast and director. They then write a letter to their adult subscriber-sponsor describing their reactions to the performances.

Our Rising Star Program has served over 2000 students from 28 local high schools. Approximately 50% have no formal drama program at their schools, 75% are economically disadvantaged, and 90% are youth of color. In our recent end-of-the-season survey, 25% of students reported that they hadn’t seen a single play prior to attending a San Francisco Playhouse production, and another 50% had only seen one to two shows before participating in the Rising Star Program.

About the Rising Star Program

Along with seeing the performances, Rising Stars get:

The Star Treatment

Rising Stars get some of the best arts exposure around, and at no cost to them or their schools:

• A pre-show lesson in the classroom
• A post-show talkback with the artists
• The chance to reflect in a letter to their sponsor

Join us at one of our Rising Star performances for a chance to meet your Rising Star and participate in a post-show talkback with the students and artists.

Rising Star Performances – 2026/27 Season

Peter Pan Goes Wrong

• October 13 – 2pm
• October 14 – 2pm
• October 14 – 7pm
• October 15 – 2pm

Rent

• January 12 – 2pm
• January 13 – 2pm
• January 13 – 7pm
• January 14 – 2pm

Lizard Boy

• March 2 – 2pm
• March 3 – 2pm
• March 3 – 7pm
• March 4 – 2pm

Life of Pi

• April 27 – 2pm
• April 28 – 2pm
• April 28 – 7pm
• April 29 – 2pm