Theatre 360

My son had a really good time and Ms. Quinn was patient and really encouraging to all the kids. They really seemed to enjoy themselves, and that’s the point ain’t it?

They do a fine job of mixing dancing, singing and acting. My children enjoyed it thoroughly. We would go back again.

My daughter has been in 3 classes and two productions with Theatre 360.
Here’s my feedback:
My daughter has enjoyed the experience and working with staff and cast. That’s the most important factor to me — did she like it and did I get value from the $$ paid. I can answer yes confidently to both of those questions!
Both of the productions were excellent and the final product shows the skill and dedication of the teachers (Devon). The rehearsal schedule is intense, time consuming and guess what! It pays off. There are students at varying levels of proficiency in the group and that’s a plus for newer actors.
I’m not crazy about the fact that they require actors to enroll in a class if they are auditioning for a play (and you cannot withdraw if you are not cast); The classes are costly but pretty much on par with other young actors classes.
a note about the review on the building safety issues: The building is not owned by Theatre 360, it is a church facility that they share space in — Safety is important at all times and should be a number one priority; however, repair to the condition of the building is not this group’s responsibility.
This year’s play «Spring Awakening» has mature themes, that may make some parent’s squirm (child abuse, suicide, sex, language — The F word is included in one song’s title) but even though this play is set about 100 years ago, those issues are still issues that kids today deal with; so while one may find the subject matter inappropriate for youth, this subject matter is relevant in their world today and everything was handled tastefully in the context of the play. I do not think the subject matter was inappropriate for any of the kids that were cast in the play — they’re all High School and College aged.
Is Theatre360 perfect? no Is everyone going to be happy about their experience? no. I just thought in fairness that as a satisfied parent, in the absence of any other positive reviews, that I would shed some light on the other side of a satisfied customer’s experience.

This group has to be one of the most disorganized theatre centers I have ever encountered. My children had attended their theatre camp for a number of years with mixed feelings. We both loved and hated them. They were never ever to provide a schedule of the classes in advance and sometimes we were disappointed with the teachers. We were able to put up with these quirks as part and parcel of the the show biz mentality. This year, my daughter made an unfortunate choice — auditioning for a production. Apparently, they contantly change their productions without prior notice on an ongoing basis. My daughter thought she was auditoning for one play, but when they posted the casting, it had been changed to another. One that I was unfamiliar with and later found to be inappopropriate for PG audiences (I noticed 360 seemed to have some difficulties with taking it to school). They handed out scripts and had the kids censor curse words and suggestive language (some of which they kept in the play). The kids carried heavy scenery — my daughter hurt her back and then was admonished for missing the subsequent rehearsal. My daughter found that the whole rehearsal a draconian experience. I saw her self-​esteem diminish under the constant battering. The director Devon was totally unable to give constructive criticism. At any rate, we pulled her out. We were never refunded the $ 150 we paid to help support the production. Although the camp director agreed to refund the tuition, Devon later reversed it., claiming they had lost money on costumes and rehearsals and recasting my daughter? (what about the $ 150 — Devon kept cutting my daughter out of things — no need to recast). In my susbsequent contact with this group about the refund, I have been amazed. Devon claims she spent time working on solos with my daughter (my daughter had one line); lost money on costumes (my daughter was basically in one scene?). The other problem we found was that it is an elite group which seems to be a poor fit a town like Pasadena which tries to include people from all economic strata (grant organizations like Pasadena Educational Foundation take note). At this point, I am really surprised that anyone pays for this abuse. I would not recommend this group to anyone, My kids do participate in a more pleasant kids theater out of town so I know you can put on quality children theater productions without abusing kids.

They won’t allow parents to observe the classes-​no exceptions! I wanted to meet the instructor the first day of class but he ignored me and the staff member guided me out of the classroom. Also, there is a natural gas leak in the building that the staff and other parents said had existed for some time but that the building owner had it checked out and it was «safe.» (How can a gas leak be safe?) When I suggested that I report this hazard to the city since the building owner had done nothing to correct it, the staff member told me that they might lose their space in the building if I did that.
I took my child out of this program immediately and the only good thing was that they gave me a refund, but no apology.