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 youths from 28 local high schools. Approximately 50% have no formal drama program at their schools, 75% are economically disadvantaged, and 90% are minorities. 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.

“I’ve already seen three shows at the playhouse and loved all of them… Our whole class quoted it nonstop at school for about two weeks!”Isabel S. 17

“I believe I have gotten a lot out of participating in Rising Stars this year because I am now very interested in theater.”Lola O. 16

“Seeing the plays at the SF Playhouse has helped me grow. I now think that seeing theatre is not just important but almost vital for everybody. Please keep up the Rising Stars Program so students like me can have the chance to grow and be inspired, just like I did. Once again, thank you.”Sachie W. 17

 

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.

Ideation

• Thurs Oct 2, Wed Oct 8, Thurs Oct 9, Thurs Oct 16, Wed Oct 22, Thurs Oct 23, Wed Oct 29, 2014

Promises, Promises

• Tues Dec 2, Wed Dec 3, Wed Dec 10, Thurs Dec 11, 2014

Tree

• Wed Feb 4, Thurs Feb 5, Web Feb 11, Tues Feb 17, Wed Feb 18, Tues Feb 24, Thurs Feb 26, 2015

Stupid F##king Bird

• Tues Mar 24, Thurs Mar 26, Tues Apr 7, Wed Apr 8, Wed Apr 15, Thurs Apr 16, Tues Apr 21, 2015

Trouble Cometh

• Tues May 19, Wed May 20, Thurs May 21, 2015

Participating Schools

Our Rising Star Program began in 2009 with 84  students and two schools. The program has grown and served over 2000 students in 28 different schools across the Bay Area.

Sixth Year Program Participant:

Impact Academy of Arts & Technology – Hayward
Jefferson High School – Daly City

Fifth Year Program Participant:

Abraham Lincoln High School – San Francisco
Aspire Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy – Oakland

Fourth Year Program Participant:

Balboa High School – San Francisco
Galileo Academy of Science & Technology – San Francisco

Third Year Program Participant:

Castro Valley High School – Castro Valley
Metwest High School – Oakland
Raoul Wallenberg High School – San Francisco
Skyline High School – Oakland

Second Year Program Participant:

Castlemont High School – Oakland
Ragged Wing Ensemble-Oakland

First Year Program Participant:

Gritty City Repertory-Oakland
Emery High School-Emeryville
Hercules High School – Hercules