East Bay Children's Theatre (EBCT) is the oldest continuously performing theatre group in the San Francisco Bay Area. EBCT is a non-profitorganization supported by over 45 active volunteers. Since 1933, EBCT's main purpose has been to bring the heritage of traditional folk tales in the form of musical theatre free of charge to economically disadvantaged elementary schools in Oakland and surrounding areas. Through our productions we strive to highlight important moral lessons that promote positive values and strengthen self-esteem of children. Approximately 9,000 elementary school children (pre-K through grade 5) each year will be inspired and entertained during our visits to their schools.

Our mission is fourfold:

• provide children an opportunity to experience musical theatre;
• promote academic achievement in literacy to low and moderate income students;
• expose students to new ideas that ignite their interest and their imaginations; and
• support a multi-dimensional learning and teaching environment in the classroom.

Educational Packets

In addition to exposing children to the many benefits of music and theatrical performances, EBCT also provides valuable assistance by sending educational packets (with a focus on the "Open Court" program) to the schools well in advance of our performances. This educational packet contains story synopsis, vocabulary words (from the play), and lesson ideas (critical thinking activities, writing, math, science, social studies, language arts activities, and art). Lastly, the educational packets also provide a bibliography that details different versions of the story from other cultures and eras.

Our Volunteers

The secret of our longevity and consistent quality is the enthusiasm and talent of our volunteers, supported by high-caliber hired professionals. Our volunteers help with costumes and sets, handle the lighting, sound equipment and sets as well as perform the age-old musical folk tales under the direction of a professional director and music director. We also hire professional set and costume designers. 

2009 Season

Last spring we took the original musical "That's Our Snow White," free of charge, to 15 elementary schools in Oakland and Richmond. We carried and set up our sets, lighting, and sound equipment at each school. Several paid performances were also given to help finance our free performances in the East Bay schools. We presented our production at the Oakland Museum of California, Town Hall Theatre of Lafayette, and at Club Sport in both Walnut Creek and Fremont. We were also delighted to be able to give a special benefit performance in support of the music program at Martinez Unified School District.

2010 Season

This year we will be presenting "Pinocchio." Visit our Current Production page to learn more!

Commendations

• In 2000 we received a Family 2 Family award from Oakland's KTVU Channel 2.
• In 1999 EBCT received an Oakland Business and Arts Award from the Oakland Chamber of Commerce and also a San Francisco Bay Area Critics Award.
• In 1995 the San Francisco Bay Girl Scout Council nominated EBCT for the Daisy Award recognizing Distinguished Achievement in Inspiring or Serving Youth.
• In 1979 EBCT was formally awarded a commendation by the California State Legislature for our "devotion to and concern for enhancing the lives of the youth of the Bay Area with live theater performances."
• The Oakland Unified School District has cited East Bay Children's Theatre for the quality and variety of their school performances.

Comments from our Audience

Often teachers will have their students write us thank you letters which include pictures and narratives about their favorite part or character of the performance. Following are a couple of letters and drawings from our 2000 performance of "Sleeping Beauty."

And from Kaiser Elementary school we heard:

EBCT Troup, On behalf of the students, faculty, and parents at Henry J. Kaiser Elementary School, I want to extend our sincerest gratitude and compliments for your visit to our school this past April. The performance was absolutely delightful in every way. The content, costuming, characters, and sets made it clear the effort you put into your production and it was not lost on this audience! Everybody I spoke with loved the performance and said they were quite pleasantly surprised. Most rewarding was looking into the eyes of our children as you passed the "magic" of the theater along to them. I have read your mission statement and I must say, "Mission accomplished!" Thanks to each and every one of you for sharing your special talents with our children. Sincerely, Cindy Hobbs - PTA Program, 06/07