THIRTY years of giving young people the theatrical tools they need . . .
Gold Coast Performing Arts Association is an umbrella organization for its activities, Gold Coast Plays and Conservatory. It provides front office support, fundraising and marketing and other services to these and other organizations.
Founded in 1987, it has been very active since 1994 as a way for local companies to gain access to the theatres at the the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, and to provide a funding safety net for programming.
Since 1994 Gold Coast Theatre Conservatory has been giving young people a solid foundation in the basics of theatre. The fun and engaging training at Gold Coast Theatre Conservatory is designed so that children of grades 3-12 work together, as peers, providing a unique youth theater opportunity for all. The best education is a well-rounded one, so The Conservatory encourages students to explore every aspect of the theater. Students attend master classes in Playwriting, Directing, Audition Technique, Stage Combat, Theatre History, Scene Design, Movement, Voice, and Comedy as well as acting training with monologues, duologues, and exercises. Gold Coast Theatre Conservatory is a Not- for-profit organization and a division of Gold Coast Performing Arts Association tax ID 77-0031586.
In 1995, The Conservatory staged OUR TOWN: the very first production with young actors at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Since then, The Conservatory has staged dozens of productions for both schoolchildren and family audiences at the Civic Arts Plaza, and countless others in venues throughout Ventura County. Over 1,000 young people have trained at The Conservatory.
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Founding Artistic Director, Stephanie (Angelini) Wilson has taught theatre to people of all ages since 1980. She has produced and directed for The Olympic Arts Festival, Cabrillo Music Theatre and Young Artists Ensemble. Also a playwright, her original productions have been showcased at the Mark Taper Forum and Covent Garden in London.