Gritty City Repertory Youth Theatre (Gritty City Rep, or GCR) is the only full-fledged youth theatre company in Oakland! We produce edgy, relevant, professional work with young performers, most of whom attend or are recent graduates of Oakland public schools. We work with 14-22 year olds who are all untrained; most begin with no theatre experience; many have never seen a play. We start with physical theatre techniques to build skills and community, and our ensemble becomes very tight-knit. GCR is rigorous, provides at least a year of theatre training and performance for each participant, and is completely free for youth and their families. Additional program benefits include two yearly retreats to the redwoods of Butano State Park, free tickets to a wide range of professional theatre, optional weekly tutoring with our Academic Coach, training with numerous guest artists in areas such as acrobatics and stage combat, and a free two-week summer program. GCR Ensemble performers gain confidence, public speaking, leadership, and collaborative skills, and the ability to meet long-term goals. Each develops close relationships with diverse youth and adults, takes risks, and engages with challenging materials. The rehearsal process (6 hours per week in downtown Oakland) has a deep and lasting impact on performers' focus, study habits, sense of social responsibility, and self-image as positive community members. Ensemble offers young people opportunities to connect to each other, to their communities, and to themselves through theatre. Youth who perform with GCR transform, developing an entirely different view of their capacity for teamwork, endurance, and the ability to move audiences. GCR performs 2 shows yearly, with a 2-week run of each show. We focus on modern professional productions and vivid Shakespeare themed to engage our urban audiences. One of our main goals is to increase the theatre attendance of young people in Oakland, as we believe that theatre is a natural and exciting community building experience that develops empathy and connection amongst the players AND the audience members.