Diablo Theatre Company Will Provide First
Live Theatre Experience for Youth At-Risk

Twenty-five youth who have never experienced live theatre and are considered at-risk will be special guests at Diablo Theatre Company’s June 17 performance of the musical “Into the Woods” at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.

The company and the Diablo Regional Arts Association, its partner-sponsor, are providing free admission to the youths, who will be coming from San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

All are involved in Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY), a non-profit organization serving at-risk youth in the two counties.

The experience of live theater is part of the organization’s goal of exposing the young people to “fun activities that are drug and alcohol free, as we believe it will create a positive influence in their already troubled lives,” said Anjali Mehta, community resources director.

Mehta said FLY focuses on juvenile crime and incarceration in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The program helps youth build skills in empathy, anger management, and problem solving.

“Welcoming these young people to “Into the Woods” is part of Diablo Theatre Company’s ongoing efforts to introduce live theater to those who otherwise would not have an opportunity to attend,” said Deanna Anderson, the company’s managing director.

The company regularly invites—at no charge— students in the Walnut Creek area to the dress rehearsals of its shows.

About Diablo Theatre Company (formerly Diablo Light Opera Company)

Diablo Theatre Company’s enriches and entertains audiences by celebrating contemporary musical works and re-imagining musical classics. Founded in 1959 by a small group of Walnut Creek musical theater enthusiasts, Diablo Theatre Company has developed into a major force in the East Bay arts community. The company is an anchor tenant at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, which includes the Hofmann Theater, a 785-seat venue well suited for the production of Diablo Theatre Company’s large-scale Broadway musical productions. The company’s Performing Arts Academy also offers theater education programs for adults and youth, including the acclaimed STARS 2000 Teen Theater, as part of its mission to inspire new audiences and cultivate the next generation of theater artisans.