OYES’ Youth Musical Theatre program functions much like advanced music, dance, or athletic training: students participate in weekly rehearsals that build toward a culminating weekend of performances. Rehearsals combine ensemble work, technique development, and focused rehearsal time for music, staging, and choreography. Throughout the process, students strengthen confidence, communication, and organizational skills while engaging deeply in the collaborative craft of theatrical storytelling. Participation in the Youth Musical Theater program is by registration. Auditions held for placement.

Young Actors Ensemble (YAE) builds on the foundation of OYES’ youth theatre program by inviting older students to take on more complex material and performance challenges. Material ranges from straight plays, to Shakespeare, to musicals. Rehearsals combine ensemble work, technique development, and focused staging while encouraging deeper character exploration, musical storytelling, and collaborative artistry within a fully staged production.

Participation in the YAE program is by registration. Auditions held for placement.

Performance Company (PC) is an advanced production program for actors ages 13–19.

Participation is by audition, and casting is determined through a formal audition process. Roles are offered based on demonstrated preparedness, commitment, and artistic merit.

This program maintains an educational component. Tuition fees apply, and registration is required.

Theater for Young Audiences

Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) is an audition-based production program where young adult actors are cast in full-length theatrical productions created specifically for young audiences. Casting is determined through an audition process, with roles offered based on artistic merit, preparedness, and commitment to the rehearsal process.

These productions are designed to introduce younger audiences to the magic of live theatre through engaging storytelling and high-quality performance. Participation in Theatre for Young Audiences is by audition, and there are no registration fees for actors selected to participate.

Ojai Youth Entertainers Studio (OYES) is expanding its youth training programs to include a Technical Theater & Lighting Design Apprenticeship — a hands-on pathway for students interested in the art and science behind live performance.

Launched in July 2025 as a free training opportunity, the program introduces young people to lighting design, console programming, cue building, and live board operation during real productions. Under the mentorship of professional designers and technicians, students gain practical experience in safe equipment handling, problem solving, collaboration, and live show execution.

While many youth programs focus on acting, OYES is intentionally building access to backstage careers — creating opportunities for students who thrive in technical, engineering, and design environments.

As the only year-round K–12 arts organization in the Ojai Valley, OYES is committed to developing the next generation of creative technicians and industry professionals.

In addition to lighting and technical theatre training, OYES is expanding opportunities for students interested in stage management and sound design. These roles introduce young artists to the organizational and technical leadership that keeps a production running smoothly. Student stage managers learn how to track rehearsals, coordinate communication between departments, and assist with calling cues during performances, while sound design students explore microphone setup, mixing, cue playback, and the technical support of live music and voice.

Through mentorship and hands-on experience during real productions, students gain insight into the collaborative systems that support live theatre while developing skills in problem solving, leadership, and production management.