Welcome

Dear Principals, Teachers, PAYS Reps and Parents, It is with deep regret that PAYS (Performing Arts for Youth Society) will be closing temporarily starting this summer.  The San Mateo Performing Arts Center, our home since 1971, will be unavailable because of a complete remodeling that will begin in August and will probably take a full school year and possibly longer.     PAYS turned 40 this past school year.  Since it's founding by two arts advocates, Marilyn Mindell and Henry Use, we have brought quality performances of symphony, opera, dance and theater to the students of San Mateo County.  We have had many performers in those years - the San Francisco Symphony, every major orchestra in the Bay Area, Western Opera, West Bay Opera, San Francisco Ballet, Western Ballet, ODC, California Shakespeare Theater and many performances by the California Theater Center. The mission of PAYS has been to bring the performing arts of professional groups and the San Mateo High School Performing Arts Department to students to learn how to be an audience, appreciate the players on the stage and to inspire our audience members to sing, act and dance.  Frankly, we have lost count of the number of performances and students who have attended in these 40 years. But we estimate that we have brought in just below 1,00,000 students. We wanted each of you to know of this decision and to know that we are hopeful of reviving our programs as soon as we have a venue. Unfortunately, there are no theaters large enough for our programs in this area.  To use a small theater would mean a much higher and unaffordable fee for the performances.  We are hopeful that the theater will be finished in a timely fashion or that one of the larger high school auditoriums will be available for us to use. We appreciate so very much your involvement through the years in helping your students experience these live performances.  We hope that they have been educated and inspired by fairy tales, Shakespeare, the "Carnival of the Animals", ethnic dance, and opera with its drama, costumes and music.  Please feel free to contact any of our board members if you have any questions about our decision. We intend to keep our telephone number and website available so that you can communicate with us over the next months. Sincerely, Cris Mangar, Board Chairman                     Pat Pepper, Interim Executive Director

Feedback

Here is what teachers and students have to say about three of our past acts, Most Valuable Player, Gizmo Guys and Peter Pan: "I thought the play, Most Valuable Player, was a great play. It showed a lot of courage of a black man, Jackie Robinson, who did his best even though it was hard." "As a second grade teacher, I found MVP a wonderful contribution to our life skills programs.” “If it weren't for PAYS, our children would never have the opportunity to see a live play." "Gizmo guys helped us learn more about balance and spaces." “I loved all the dancing in PETER PAN. They were great!"   So that PAYS can continue to provide teachers and students a smooth running and satisfying experience your feedback is needed. We would greatly appreciate you filling out a short form for this purpose.