ABOUT YAC

Mission: 
The Young Actors Company, YAC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching teens and young adults, through the discipline of theatre, self esteem, confidence, respect, cooperation, public speaking and other life tools necessary for them to thrive in today's environment.

History: 
Joshua Meltzer, a twenty-five year veteran and third generation member of the entertainment industry founded the YAC three years ago to benefit the young adults and teens of Los Angeles and the surrounding area. Heeding the national call to mentor today's youth, Meltzer aimed to develop a nonprofit theatre group that could fill the gap left from school budget cuts eliminating many of the city's theatre arts programs. Meltzer also recognized the absence of independent youth theatre programs in
LA that are open free of charge to the young talent throughout the city and strives to ensure that the YAC remain audition based. 

Program: 
The theatre program is the only one of its kind available in all of Los Angeles at no cost and open to all teens and young adults from 14-25 years of age. The YAC produces three musical shows per year and also performs for both private and public functions as invited. 

Once accepted to the program, youth members must sign an agreement and are expected to learn their lines, songs, and dances by the required dates as well as keep up on their assigned regular schoolwork. In addition to learning skills in relation to acting in a theatre setting, members are also
offered classes in auditioning, camera technique principals, and other acting/public speaking skills taught by professional leaders in the entertainment industry. Several alumni of the Young Actors Company have gone on to perform with the Los Angeles Opera, the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, at Disneyland and in various television and film projects.