From S.O.T.A. to The Pillars: A New Chapter Begins
For over ten years, our youth program at The Seeing Place has been known as S.O.T.A. (School of the Arts). We’ve welcomed students from all backgrounds and experience levels, teaching them to act, sing, move, speak, and grow not just as performers but as fellow travelers on this road called life.
And over the years, the students who passed through our doors have shaped this place in beautiful ways. They’ve learned how to listen. How to lead. How to trust each other. How to tell the truth on stage and sometimes off of it. The work we’ve done together has never been about applause or perfection. It’s been about transformation.
But like any living thing, our program has grown, and with that growth has come the need for change.
Why We Changed
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a shift not just in our theater, but in our culture. While more families signed up and more students entered our doors, not everyone fully understood what we were about, or arrived with the support they needed to thrive.
At the same time, something remarkable was happening. Students who had been part of our program for years weren’t just learning how to perform; they were stepping up to lead, support one another, and shape the culture from within.
As we watched that growth take root, it became clear: our structure needed to reflect the heart of who we had become.
So we listened.
We prayed.
And we followed where the work was already leading.
The result is a new model that better supports student ownership, deeper engagement, and artistic excellence—not just for now, but for the future.
Introducing The Pillars Youth Theater
Beginning Summer 2025, our youth program officially becomes The Pillars Youth Theater at The Seeing Place. This is not just a name change. It’s a structural and cultural shift.
The Pillars is a production-based youth theater company for students ages 13–18. Instead of ongoing classes, students now audition to be part of each session, whether onstage or in a leadership capacity. We rehearse and perform with purpose and excellence, but we also build something deeper.
The program is founded on seven core values—our pillars—that shape how we work and how we grow:
Commitment & Ownership
Leadership & Mentorship
Growth in Character & Craft
Artistic Excellence
Flexibility with Purpose
Service to Something Greater
Community Rooted in Faith
Every production is a chance not just to perform, but to practice responsibility, collaboration, and humility.
What It Looks Like
Students audition to join a new production each season (fall, winter, spring, and summer). Some will perform. Others will take on leadership roles like assistant directing, tech, stage management, or front-of-house coordination. Everyone has a place. Everyone has a purpose.
Rehearsals take place on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 4–6 p.m.
Tuition varies by session, and scholarships, payment plans, and pay-what-you-can are still available.
Students are expected to attend consistently, commit wholeheartedly, and show respect for their ensemble and their craft.
We are more than an extracurricular.
We are not a drop-in activity or a place to pass the time.
The Pillars Youth Theater is a committed creative community rooted in purpose, guided by vision, and built for students who are ready to grow as singers, performers, and actors, as well as in leadership skills for life.
To Our Families—
Past, Present, and Future
We are deeply grateful for the many students and families who have made S.O.T.A. what it was. And we know this change may feel unfamiliar. But we want you to know: this is not a rejection of the past. It’s a fulfillment of what’s already been growing.
The students themselves inspired this shift.
Their courage, creativity, and commitment showed us what was possible.
They helped name it.
They helped build it.
And now, we invite others to join what they’ve started.
If you're a student ready to grow or a parent looking for a program that offers excellence and integrity, we’d love to meet you.
How to Get Involved
Visit our new Pillars page here: https://www.seeingplace.org/pillars
Join our email list for upcoming audition announcements: https://www.seeingplace.org/contact
Questions? Reach out directly to our Artistic Director, Erika Bain at: contact@seeingplace.org