ABOUT
Who We Are
Since 2014,
First Act Youth Company has been offering industry-leading musical theatre training for young artists.
Our comprehensive training sets us apart from other educational institutions. We offer one-of-a-kind programming along with foundational training in singing, acting and dance as musical theatre is our core focus. We hire industry professionals who inspire and mentor students, with an emphasis on experiential learning and development in every discipline.
HISTORY
It all started with a tiny budget and a big dream. It’s amazing what a local church basement and extremely talented youth educators can do for young artists in the community!
After our inaugural youth production of 13 The Musical in 2014, we began running classes and programming a three-show season of fully-staged youth musicals. After two short years, we moved into our first space in Scarborough, ON. We quickly outgrew it and decided to expand to Whitby, ON in a new home on Palace Street. The studio was triple in size and fully customized to our needs, including a state-of-the-art blackbox studio theatre.
Fast forward to 2020 when it all happened – an essential black-out of our entire industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The April 2020 FAYC NYC trip was cancelled, class sizes diminished as we pivoted to virtual learning, and ultimately, even after a successful fundraising campaign to “Save The Studio”, we made the difficult decision to close our doors in June of 2021.
We knew it wasn’t over for FAYC, but we needed to find new ways to exist. A lengthy hiatus provided us the opportunity to think, plan, and dream of what the future could look like for First Act. This resulted in a shift for the business, now operating as a not-for-profit organization, serving youth throughout the Township of Brock and the Durham Region.
We are grateful for past memories, experiences, and opportunities, and are equally as excited about what the future holds.
MISSION STATEMENT
At First Act Youth Company, our mission is to empower young artists by providing a dynamic and inclusive platform for creative expression. Through mentorship, collaboration, and hands-on experience, we inspire youth to develop their skills, take artistic risks, and explore the transformative power of musical theatre. We are dedicated to fostering a new generation of storytellers who will use their voices to challenge, inspire, and connect with their communities.
-
By welcoming diverse unique voices and providing a safe space for our young artists to learn, we commit to embracing unbiased and inclusive standards to build a community where diversity thrives and aligns with our core values.
-
We empower young artists to not only find their authentic voices and share their ideas, but to celebrate and implement them into their learning. Through meaningful conversations in an open, safe, and welcoming environment, students build their self-confidence, sense of self-worth, problem-solving abilities, and social/communication skills both individually and collectively.
-
Innovative programming is crucial to the continuing success of our organization. We are committed to providing original and unique opportunities for our young artists to thrive and grow by offering one-of-a-kind experiences that remain relevant with contemporary practices.
-
While our FAYCompany students are held to the highest professional standards, we aim to infuse this value in each and every one of our programs. Our teaching artists lead with responsibility, integrity, accountability, and excellence, therefore instilling these same principles in each of our students.
-
We aim to bring positive, measurable change to our community through live entertainment and youth education. By staying connected and involved in our community, we raise awareness around the positive impact and benefits that musical theatre has on the world around us.
OUR CORE VALUES
OUR COMMITMENT TO
Accessibility, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
FAYC believes in equal opportunities and celebrates people of all races, socio-economic status, colour, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and education level. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment that brings together diverse perspectives from our students, staff, faculty, and members of the community.