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East Valley Children's Theatre
4.4(117)4.4 out of 5 stars, 117 reviews Phoenix, AZ
About East Valley Children's Theatre
East Valley Children's Theatre offers a comprehensive theatre arts program for children, excelling in both high-quality live stage productions starring young actors (e.g., Elf Jr.) and a wide array of classes, workshops, and camps. It's particularly strong in developing children's confidence, communication, reading intonation, and improv skills, alongside specific acting, dancing, and singing abilities. The organization fosters a strong community and provides significant performance opportunities, including at the professional Mesa Arts Center, for aspiring young actors.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families seeking high-quality, entertaining children's theatre productions, especially during holiday seasons.Children who want to build confidence, improve communication skills, and explore improv or public speaking in a fun, theatrical context.Aspiring young actors, particularly ages 11+, looking for diverse, comprehensive theatre training and performance opportunities in a supportive community.Parents desiring a structured extracurricular activity that fosters a wide range of life skills in addition to performing arts.Summer acting camps.
Why families love it
- High-Quality Children's Productions: Presents "top-notch" shows like "Elf Jr." with "outstanding performances" from child actors who bring stories to life with "their own fun twist."
- Extensive Skill Development: Classes teach valuable skills such as "reading skills like intonation, confidence, improv, theatre skills, communication skills." An 11-year-old significantly improved acting, dancing, and singing skills, time management, memory, and resilience.
- Diverse Program Offerings: Provides a wide range of activities including "Audition Workshops, Main Stage productions, Junior Main Stage production, camps, Master classes, and regular classes," catering to various levels of commitment and interest.
- Nurturing & Enthusiastic Staff (General): Many staff members are described as "competent, highly enthusiastic," "nurturing," "super on top of stuff," and "kind" (e.g., Brenda).
- Strong Community & Safe Space: Cultivates a "very strong overall sense of community" and is praised for being a "safe, welcoming, and encouraging space for children who want to try theatre."
- Professional Performance Venue: Main Stage productions offer children the experience of acting in front of "~200 people at the fantastic Mesa Arts Center theatre."
Insider tips
- Vet Specific Teachers for Classes: If signing up for classes, especially for children with varying energy levels or behavioral needs, inquire about the specific teacher's classroom management style and experience, particularly concerning the manager named "Bre."
- Observe Before Committing (If Possible): If concerns exist, consider if there's an opportunity to observe a class briefly, as one parent did from a window, to gauge the classroom environment and teacher interaction.
- Prepare for a Commute for Regular Sessions: If you live 30+ minutes away, be mindful of the travel commitment for ongoing classes or productions.
- For Aspiring Actors, Embrace the Full Program: The most significant developmental benefits, including confidence and stage experience, seem to come from engaging in multiple program types (workshops, main stage, classes).
- Expect High-Quality Child Performances for Shows: Families attending performances should expect talented child actors delivering "fantastic" and "top-notch" shows.
Good to know before you go
- If your child requires teachers who are highly skilled in managing diverse child behaviors with consistent patience and never resort to yelling, you might want to consider alternative options or ensure you avoid classes taught by the manager named "Bre."
- If you are uncomfortable with the possibility of inconsistent staff accountability for all children's behaviors in a classroom setting, especially if it leads to a child feeling unsafe or targeted.
- Inconsistent Staff Conduct/Classroom Management: A specific manager/teacher (named "Bre") was reported to have yelled at a child "to the point he'd cry," allegedly accusing him of being hyper while other children were "throwing chairs at each other and wrestling on the floor" without accountability.
- Potential for Unsafe Environment with Specific Staff: One parent described their son as being in an "unsafe position" due to a manager's harsh behavior and a perceived lack of appropriate classroom control for other students.
- Handling of Challenging Child Behavior: There is a reported instance where a child's behavior (perceived as hyper) was mishandled, leading to emotional distress for the child, which starkly contrasts with initial positive experiences with a different teacher.
- Crowds
- Main Stage productions at Mesa Arts Center can draw audiences of approximately 200 people, indicating potentially crowded showtimes.
- Value
- While specific prices are not mentioned, the reviews strongly suggest high value for money, given the "top-notch" productions, the significant skill development in classes ("learned sooo much"), and the "magnificent experience" reported for comprehensive programs. The offer of a prorated refund for a negative class experience suggests some willingness to address value concerns.
- Accessibility
- No specific accommodations for special needs are mentioned.
- Safety
- Positive: Described as a "safe, welcoming, and encouraging space" by one long-term customer.
What parents say
"I had the pleasure of seeing Elf Jr. before Xmas with my son, and we absolutely loved it! The show was fantastic, with an outstanding performance from the kids – they truly brought the magic of the story to life with their own fun twist. The entire production was top-notch, and it was clear that the staff genuinely care about the theater and how they run it. Their passion for what they do really shone through. Highly recommend for families looking for a fun and festive show!"
3 months ago
"EVCT is great! We have loved taking classes there and my kids have learned sooo much! They have learned reading skills like intonation, confidence, improv, theatre skills, communication skills, etc etc all through theatre. Such a fun way to learn! Also, the staff is super on top of stuff. Brenda specifically is on top of things and so kind. Definitely recommend EVCT!"
a month ago
"I've been on the fence about writing my review - but decided to get it done. My son started there in October, he really liked it and had a teacher who was great with him. So we decided to sign him up again for two most classes after the holidays. He had two new teachers, one being the manager of the theatre. They had some issues with my son in their class, they said he was so hyper he made the other kids feel uncomfortable. Which is odd cause the last teacher never mentioned any of that. The manager, I believe her name is Bre, ended up getting so frustrated with my son she would yell at him to"
11 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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