New Mexico Young Actors
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
New Mexico Young Actors (NMYA) is highly praised for its exceptional acting and theatre programs, which not only cultivate artistic talent but also significantly boost children's confidence, maturity, and social skills. It provides a supportive community for young actors, offering high-quality productions, including musicals with live music at the historic Kimo Theatre, and fills a vital gap for students seeking robust drama opportunities outside of school.
Key Highlights
- ✓Instructors like Lisa are described as 'amazing,' 'great with the kids,' able to 'hold their attention,' and effectively 'teach the concepts'.
- ✓Programs are specifically designed to 'develop young adults through art' and 'increase their self-confidence' and 'true confidence, maturity'.
- ✓Participants 'have fun' and form 'great friendships with the theatre community'.
- ✓Final performances are consistently 'high quality' and are described as 'quality theatre production'.
- ✓The organization is comprised of 'warm, supportive, impressive, and talented people'.
- ✓Students learn 'many aspects of the theatre and performance'.
- ✓Offers a robust schedule of 2 musicals and 2 straight plays per academic year.
- ✓Musicals are performed in the 'historic and beautiful Kimo Theatre downtown in Albuquerque' and are accompanied by 'live music'.
- ✓Serves as an essential resource for students whose high schools have eliminated drama programs.
Standout Features
- ⭐Highly effective and engaging instructors (e.g., Lisa) who excel at teaching concepts and holding children's attention.
- ⭐A strong focus on holistic child development, fostering confidence, maturity, and strong social bonds.
- ⭐Access to a dedicated and talented Executive Director, Paul Bower, who works well with students.
- ⭐Opportunities to participate in and experience professionally run theatre productions, including musicals and straight plays.
- ⭐Partnership with the historic Kimo Theatre for musical performances, adding a professional venue experience.
- ⭐Inclusion of live musical accompaniment for musicals, enhancing the production quality.
- ⭐Offers performances accessible to the public, as well as specific weekday shows for schools and homeschoolers.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Consider NMYA for children aged 9-19 who are passionate about participating in high-quality theatre productions.
- →If your child is younger but interested in drama, NMYA's classes, taught by instructors like Lisa, are highly recommended for skill development.
- →NMYA is an excellent alternative or supplement if your child's school lacks drama programs or sufficient theatrical opportunities.
- →Expect a long-term, enriching experience, as many families remain involved for 'several seasons' or even 'over ten years'.
- →The organization is highly supportive, making it a good choice for children who may need to build confidence or find a supportive community.
Price & Value
No specific pricing is mentioned in the reviews. However, the consistent high praise for the instructors, developmental benefits (confidence, maturity, friendships), and quality of productions (including performances at the Kimo Theatre with live music) strongly indicate that parents perceive a significant and worthwhile investment for the value received.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations were mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No information regarding food or drink policies was mentioned in the reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •No information regarding parking was mentioned in the reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •No information regarding crowd levels was mentioned in the reviews.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features were mentioned in the reviews.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Touring Performance - One Performance
$350Cost to bring one touring play performance to a school.
Touring Performance - Two Performances
$500Cost to bring two touring play performances to a school.
Touring Performance - Three Performances
$650Cost to bring three touring play performances to a school.
Tuition Fees
Covers instructional costs, production materials, costumes, and a production t-shirt.
Includes:
- •instructional costs
- •production materials
- •costumes
- •production t-shirt
Open Enrollment Theater Class
Prorated fee if joining lateDuration: 7-8 weeks
Classes concentrating on specific skill sets, allowing late enrollment with prorated fees.
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
The Three Bully Goats Griff (Public Performance)
Saturday, December 13th, 2025 (2:00 PM and 4:00 PM, doors open 1:30 PM)
$14 (Adult) / $12 (12 & Under)
A funny twist on the classic tale where three billy goats teach the mean trolls a lesson and become bully goats, until a group of concerned citizens teach them a valuable lesson. Features silly characters and slapstick comedy. Location: Menaul School, Donaldson Auditorium.
Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Touring Performance)
December 1st–5th, 2025
$350 (1 performance) / $500 (2 performances) / $650 (3 performances)
A touring play available for schools as part of the Fall 2025 season.
The Three Bully Goats Griff (Touring Performance)
December 11th–12th, 2025
$350 (1 performance) / $500 (2 performances) / $650 (3 performances)
A touring play available for schools as part of the Fall 2025 season.
NMYA Summer Shakespeare Fest
Summer 2025
The third annual Summer Shakespeare Fest.
Summer Costume and Prop Design Workshop
Workshop for training the next generation of textile designers, spearheaded by Aba Ortiz.
Summer Stars Camp
During June
Theater program for ages 5-8.
Storybook Theater
Play-based theater program for ages 5-8.
Young Players
Play-based theater program for ages 5-8.
📅Booking Policy
- • School tour reservations begin the second week of August for fall tours and the second week of January for spring tours. Email info@nmyoungactors.org or call 505.821.8055 to make a reservation.
- • All new students wishing to perform in a major production are required to complete Drama I to foster community and familiarity with directors and fellow actors.
- • A waitlist is available for full Drama I classes on the registration site; new students are added in order, but openings are rare once the semester begins.
- • Rehearsals and classes are generally closed to parents and guests, with an exception for parents attending alongside their child in 'Theater for Ages 5-8' classes (Storybook Theater and Young Players).
- • Children participating in a major production will miss two or three days of school for performances.
🚗Parking Information
- • Downtown Albuquerque: Paid open lots on Central and 6th Street.
- • Downtown Albuquerque: Paid garage at Copper and 5th Street.
- • KiMo Theatre (for bus drop-off/pickup): Pull up along the east side of the KiMo Theatre on 5th Street; KiMo staff will direct unloading.
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Bernadette King
a month agoI take my boys here for acting/theater classes and we all just love it! Lisa is an amazing instructor and is so great with the kids. Lisa really knows how to hold their attention and teach the concepts. We can't wait for them to be old enough to participate in the productions!
Aegean R.
9 months agoWe have been involved with NMYA for over ten years. The instructors are very kind and talented. Programs are designed to help develop young adults through art and increase their self confidence while also having fun. Final performances are always high quality. My child formed great friendships with the theatre community through NMYA. I highly recommend this organization.
Sarah Gallegos
9 months agoI am so grateful that I discovered NMYA, and enrolled my daughter. NMYA has provided her with the opportunity to develop true confidence, maturity, and friendships. NMYA is comprised of such warm, supportive, impressive, and talented people. I absolutely love, and adore NMYA!
Leigh Dean
9 months agoMy son has been a part of NMYA for several seasons. We couldn't be happier. His high school has gotten rid of drama so we are so glad we have NMYA to feed his thirst for drama!
Cheryl Sharps
6 years agoHaving seen how rehearsals run from the inside and knowing the executive director and talented actor/singer Paul Bower, I am very impressed. Paul and staff work well with the students to produce a quality theatre production for children 9-19. The students learn many aspects of the theatre and performance with 2 musicals and 2 straight plays per academic year being offered to the public as well as weekday performances for schools and homeschoolers. The musicals are performed in the historic and beautiful Kimo Theatre downtown in Albuquerque, and the students are accompanied by live music. I highly recommend this New Mexico Young Actors for both participation and community entertainment.
Contact Information
2701 San Pedro Dr NE #21st, Albuquerque, NM 87110, USA
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