December 2025 – June 2026 IMPACT & Accomplishments
Organizational Growth & Community Impact
- Served more than 156 young people through OYES programs during Spring 2026.
- Reduced the organization's waiting list by approximately 85%, significantly expanding access to arts education for local families.
- Expanded scholarship access, providing increased opportunities for children and teens who might not otherwise be able to participate.
- Continued to serve youth from both the Ojai Valley and greater Ventura County through a conservatory-style after-school theater program.
Creation of the OYES Theater at Chaparral Auditorium
One of the most significant accomplishments of the season was the creation of a fully realized theater installation inside Chaparral Auditorium.
- Designed and built a three-quarter-round, arena-style theater environment.
- Constructed audience seating, stage platforms, lighting systems, backstage infrastructure, and production support spaces.
- Successfully operated the venue throughout the Spring 2026 season.
- Demonstrated OYES' ability to transform a nontraditional space into a functioning performing arts venue for youth productions.
This installation provided a creative home for OYES following the loss of its previous facility and enabled multiple productions, classes, and special events to take place throughout the season.
Major Productions
Peter Pan Jr.
January–February 2026
- Produced OYES' largest production of the season.
- Featured more than 100 young performers across five casts.
- Included students ranging from elementary through teen performers.
- Introduced many students to performing in the round, expanding their theatrical skills and confidence.
- Successfully ran a multi-week performance schedule while operating a newly constructed venue.
Alice By Heart
April 2026
- Produced an ambitious teen Performance Company production.
- Presented challenging contemporary musical theater material exploring grief, resilience, imagination, and coming of age.
- Expanded advanced training opportunities for teen performers.
- Hosted Broadway veteran and original cast member Andrew Kober for a special talkback and educational workshop.
- Elevated OYES' reputation for producing artistically sophisticated youth theater.
Disney’s 101 Dalmatians KIDS
May 2026
- Provided performance opportunities for younger OYES ensembles.
- Featured large-scale participation across multiple casts.
- Incorporated creative interdisciplinary work, including original radio-play elements and student storytelling projects.
- Continued OYES' commitment to age-appropriate, high-quality youth theater experiences.
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
Spring into Summer 2026
- Launched OYES' first large-scale teen summer musical at Matilija Auditorium.
- Developed dual casts and expanded rehearsal opportunities.
- Created new performance opportunities for teen actors, singers, dancers, and technicians.
- Positioned OYES to attract broader regional audiences.
Educational Programming Expansion
New Programs Introduced
This season OYES expanded beyond traditional musical theater offerings. New opportunities included:
- Radio Play Program
- Camp Half-Blood Dance Ensemble
- Advanced Teen Performance Company experiences
- Professional master classes and workshops
- Expanded choreography and vocal training workshops
Professional Artist Engagement
Hosted specialized training opportunities with professional artists including:
- Advanced performance workshops with Broadway veteran Andrew Kober
- Meisner acting instruction with professional teaching artists Talia Schneiderman
These opportunities provided direct access to professional-level training that can sometimes be rarely available in small communities.
Community Partnerships
Ojai Unified School District
- Strengthened partnership with OUSD.
- Successfully operated programming and performances on district property.
- Demonstrated responsible stewardship of facilities while serving local youth.
Nordhoff High School Collaboration
- Coordinated facility usage and scheduling with NHS Drama.
- Continued building collaborative relationships that support arts opportunities for local students.
Community Engagement
- Increased community attendance at youth performances.
- Continued to position OYES as a major contributor to arts and cultural life in the Ojai Valley.
Grants and Sponsorships
Secured and acknowledged support from:
- City of Ojai Arts Commission Grant ($6,000)
- Otis and Bettina Chandler Foundation
- Individual donors and community supporters
Special Events
Roar and Pour, Hear us Roar
- Successfully conducted fundraising and community-building events including Sip & Support initiatives and donor engagement activities.
- Continued cultivation of the OYES Inner Circle and major donor community.
Operational Accomplishments
- Managed programming despite operating without a permanent theater facility.
- Coordinated multiple productions, classes, workshops, and performances across several venues.
- Built and later dismantled the Chaparral theater installation through support from significant community effort and hired labor.
- Expanded administrative systems and registration processes.
- Continued developing infrastructure to support future organizational growth.
Looking Ahead
As OYES concluded its spring season at Chaparral Auditorium, the organization successfully transitioned to Matilija Auditorium for its summer productions and programs, accommodating OUSD’s need to utilize Chaparral for district summer programming while ensuring continuity for OYES students and audiences.
The organization is entering its next phase with:
- The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
- Summer Musical Camp How to Train Your Dragon
- Improv Camps
- Educational Youth Shakespeare Program: As You Like It
- Continued expansion of scholarship access
- Ongoing efforts to secure a long-term home for OYES
This transition demonstrates OYES' adaptability and commitment to providing uninterrupted arts education and performance opportunities, even while operating without a permanent facility.
Last But Not Least: Impact
While productions, enrollment, and organizational milestones are important measures of success, the true impact of OYES is found in the experiences of the young people and families we serve. This season, we witnessed students develop confidence, discover their voices, build friendships, overcome challenges, and accomplish things they never thought possible. The stories below reflect the heart of our mission: preparing Ojai's youth for life's stage.
“Working with OYES for the first time on a new Teen Production was a very educational experience for me in terms of improving my performance. They taught me: you can always have faith that you have a skill to help the overall production such as in Alice By Heart. Ms. Daena is a very kind teacher and friend. Ms. Emma-Rose is very skilled at teaching students to dance. One would wonder how she does all of those difficult positions in dance, but she does! I was humbled to know a cast like the one on Alice By Heart, because they are a cast that is one of a kind.” - Julian O'Mara
Julian's experience is a powerful example of what can happen when young people are given the opportunity to contribute their unique talents, take creative risks, and be fully included as valued members of an artistic community.
“Watching my son Julian collaborate with the OYES Team for the first time was an amazing experience. As a mother and advocate, it was wonderful to see a theater company and team give Julian an opportunity at not one, but two featured roles in Alice By Heart, and to bring out the very best performance in him. They did not marginalize him because of his special needs; they celebrated him and channeled his super powers onto the stage. I cannot recommend OYES, and most particularly Ms. Daena, enough to other parents and families. She not only mentored and inspired my son to perform at his highest capability; she also served as an angel to our entire family for her empathy, compassion, and support.” — Colleen O'Mara, Writer, Mother, and Advocate
Throughout the season, we also received heartfelt messages from students, parents, grandparents, and audience members sharing how OYES has impacted their lives. Whether through a handwritten note, a video message, a student's reflection, or a grandparent's words of gratitude, the message is consistent: OYES provides more than theater training. It provides belonging, confidence, mentorship, creative expression, and a place where young people are seen, valued, and encouraged to thrive.
These stories remind us that every rehearsal, performance, scholarship, volunteer hour, and donor contribution ultimately serves a much larger purpose: helping young people discover who they are and who they can become.