As a former student of the Young Actors Theatre Workshop (YATW) at Cubberley K-8, I have experienced firsthand the incredible impact this  after-school program has on 3rd, 4th, 5th graders and middle school students’ lives. It provides an essential outlet for creative expression, developmental learning, and socialization, especially for grade school students from Long Beach families who would not be able to afford the exorbitant prices of other theatre experiences of the same caliber. But this vital program is being threatened by the introduction of a facility usage fee at the Cubberley School auditorium.

For 16 years, the YATW has been a beacon of artistic instruction for LBUSD students. Director Marie Romero teaches students not only techniques in professional acting, prop creation, and theater operation, but also vital personal and social confidence through socialization and artistic expression. She has created a community of the kind that we could all use more of; one that fosters lifelong friendships and connections between people of all backgrounds.

The program is a for profit small business operating on a shoe-string budget, with every effort to keep costs low and affordable for families from all socioeconomic backgrounds. With the incredibly small budget, they can't even afford nonprofit status without passing the cost onto families.

Therefore, after a decade and a half of being required to pay for the usage of the auditorium only during final performances, this new fee has made it impossible to keep the workshop affordable by demanding payment for every hour of rehearsal on Cubberley grounds. To accommodate this, the rates required would be so high that many families could no longer participate. Students before were able to walk a short distance to the auditorium after school, staying within school grounds and not necessitating transportation from a parent or guardian until rehearsals ended in the evening. If this usage fee was implemented and rehearsals had to be moved to a separate location to keep costs down, this would no longer be the case.

The Young Actors Theatre Workshop has had a profound and positive impact on the community in Long Beach and at Cubberley. It offers a place where middle school students can safely express themselves. It inspires other Cubberley students to aspire to their peers’ bravery, diligence, and creativity through performances. I attribute a huge amount of my personal confidence and social capabilities to attending this program in middle school, and I have seen students of all backgrounds, including neurodivergent and disabled students, go on to exhibit improved academic performance, heightened self-esteem, and greater social involvement due to their participation. 

Therefore, we urge the Long Beach Unified School District to continue to waive the facility usage fee for YATW during regular rehearsals. By doing so, they would be reaffirming their commitment to excellence and equity through supporting youth arts education and empowering future generations through access to creative opportunities. All students deserve to have access to programs such as these regardless of their financial situation.

We call upon community members, families, educators, and supporters of the arts to join us in this cause. By signing this petition, you are advocating not just the survival of the Young Actors Theatre Workshop but the continued enrichment of our youth and strengthening of our community culture. Please, add your signature today to help keep this invaluable program alive and thriving for LBUSD students.