About Us

What We Do

In the fall of 2016, a group of friends decided to put on a musical in their rent-controlled backyard. Inspired by world events at the time, we made it a fundraiser for a charitable cause.

Since that first show, we've been putting on backyard musicals twice a year (except for a little break from 2020-2022) and have raised tens of thousands of dollars for local charities such as The Women's Building and SF Women's Centers, the SF LGBT Center, and the San Francisco Education Fund. 

Our People

Aaron A. cannot remember whether he was raised by wolves or if his parents were just dirty. He plays the drums often and tries to incorporate Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" fill into every song he plays. He has a dog and a baby and can only tell them apart by the amount of hair on them (the tell: the baby has more hair). Aaron also enjoys other aspects of life, e.g. flowers and backrubs.

Aimee Z. taught Michael Jackson, Chris Brown, and Shakira how to dance and choreographed stage shows for Beyonce, Pink, and NSYNC amongst many other noteworthy artists and dancers. Despite her remarkable resume, Aimee decided to work with BYT to prove to herself that she is so talented that she can make anyone a star and any show great. Enjoy!

Andrea H. began her career early as a toddler-prodigy, performing timeless renditions of “Salsa Beat #7” and “Demo Instrument” on her handheld Casio synthesizer while screaming at the top of her lungs and running circles through the house. Pianist, aspiring bassist, composer, arranger, imagineer, and winner of six RAFFI BANANAPHONES, Andrea would like to remind you that everyone poops and that’s okay.

Aowyn S. needs no introduction.

Brandon W. was homeschooled, and it shows.

Chris C. has been a recreational wizard ever since he (temporarily) turned his brother into a frog at age 8, but he's happy to finally go Pro Wizard for this production! (He continues to endanger just as many children with magic though!)

Clara M. did not try out for her middle school's play because she was "too old to try something new" and "really needed to focus on her career." She is now on stage to show everyone that it's ok to learn new things after you turn 13. In fact, in many cases, it's highly encouraged.

Desmond S. heard a great buildup in 2019 and is still waiting for the beat to drop. He can be found at parties drinking watery beer discussing how to market his upcoming Hard Techno album “Home Music” to evangelical megachurches, and what impact this would have on society.

Emily M. started her illustrious stage career as the sun baby in Teletubbies and went on to star in productions such as Miley Cyrus's "We Can't Stop" music video where she played Teddy Bear Backup Dancer. No, you may not borrow either costume. 

Jonathan P. was once told, "You're just doing that for attention." He was and still is. He was last seen in Daddy Dia!, the touching musical about Father's Day featuring the music of ABBA.

Kylie P. got 3rd place in the 4th grade Idaho state spelling bee and has spent the rest of her life trying to prove she has big-league potential. She's available if you need a consult on 'onomatopoeia'. This is her third backyard performance. 

Laura D. did not get into her high school's musical because, as the director put it bluntly, "[she] can't act." Lacking a growth mindset, Laura came up with an alternative plan for success in life -- privilege and connections. Backyard theater is no exception; she was grandfathered into the group in the pre-audition era by living with 2 cast members. A true hypocrite, her day job is to preach the meritocracy myth to local high school students.

Meg R. got her start in showbiz as "giggling baby" in a well-known Stevie Wonder Isn’t She Lovely cover band. When she’s not eulogizing her 20s, Meg enjoys bland foods and feminism.

Quay dislikes being perceived but, alas, such is the nature of theater. Don't look her in the eye.

Reena B. was looking for some drama in her life and instead of picking a fight with her friends, decided to place her talents in theater drama instead. She's well known for changing what key she sings in and ad libbing because she didn't memorize her lines.

Riya A. turned to acting as a refuge after getting kicked out of her motorcycle gang, the Yahama Mamas, for smiling too much. Traces of her cheerfully formidable former alter-ego, Harley Rae Jepsen, can still be seen whenever she takes the stage.

Rory B. was both conceived and born in the Ruth Nagel Jones Theater at Wellesley College. He has stayed true to his roots, spending his time bringing actors to greatness (or, in the case of Backyard Theater, to something) both on the screen and on the stage. He is also known for creating The Missoula Marching Cams, a performance art piece featuring a marching band in which members carry only video cameras to film the backs of each other's heads.

Ryder M. is engaged in his eighth Backyard Theater production. He would like to thank Albert H. Munsell for teaching the world the difference between greenish-grey and greyish-green.

Sam T. is not his real name. When it came time to stop being the citizen of no nation and become a citizen of the US of A, he was allowed to pick a new cooler sounding name. Samuel Beckett seemed like a classy and mysterious name. And so Samuel it was, forevermore. And this was the only connection to theater he had until being chosen out of a cattle call for the BYT Lion Queen pit bass chair.

Ty A. dug a big hole in his backyard in middle school. There was a lot of clay in the dirt and he didn't find any buried treasure. But maybe the clay had more potential than he realized.

Will S. would like you to know that despite his no doubt very convincing acting, he is in fact not a fascist.

Previous Participants

Aileen K. (Actor)

Akwasi A. (Instrumentalist)

Alyssa N. (Actor)

Andrea L. (Instrumentalist)

Aseem S. (Actor, Assistant Stage Director, Head Writer)

Ashur B. (Actor)

Cole A. (Vocalist)

Divya R. (Actor, Head Writer, Instrumentalist, Vocalist)

Elena V. (Vocalist)

Ellen H. (Actor)

Emma S. (Choreographer) 

Hadley B. (Instrumentalist)

Hannah T. (Actor)

Isaac S. (Instrumentalist)

Jesse R. (Actor, Instrumentalist)

Jordan E. (Actor)

Leo W. d B. (Actor)

Kyle M. (Actor, Set Designer)

Matt P. (Actor)

Nick D. (Vocalist)

Patty S. (Actor, Executive Director) 

Pramod T. (Actor)

Sam L. (Actor)

Sarah W. (Actor)

Seth W. (Actor) 

Sonja D. (Choreographer)

Stephanie W. (Choreographer)

Willa Z. (Choreographer)