WE LOVE BAAY!!! Lisa is such an incredible person and talented choreographer/director/dancer. She was there for my boys when they needed an outlet during quarantine, being able to make a movie of their play was such a unique and fun experience that if not for Lisa would not have even been possible! And then there’s Evan who gave my oldest boy (age 9) the opportunity to do Improv for the first time and it has changed his life! Juliette has also been so incredibly supportive and helpful with scholarships for my boys when we could not afford the classes. My oldest was diagnosed with Chrons Disease while participating in his first production with Lisa and the way they have all rallied around him and been encouraging is priceless. BAAY is so much more than just a place for kids to express themselves and have a creative outlet, it is a Family. We are so beyond grateful to be apart of the BAAY FAMILY 🎭

We love BAAY theater! The teachers and staff are great with kids and teens. My kids always love being a part of the show, from big to small rolls. Their efforts during the pandemic were incredible! From online classes, to theater at Larrabee park, they did such a creative, and fantastic job. My favorite thing about BAAY is their inclusion, they offer scholarships so all kids can participate. Thanks to Lisa, Evan, and Juliette, you are all changing kids (and parents) lives! We as a community are so grateful!

The BAAY theater has wonderful programs for kids. My kids have LOVED the movies and plays they have been a part of there. The instructors do a wonderful job of making sure every child gets a part in every performance, and has a chance for their voice to be heard. The positive and empowering teaching approach brings out confidence even in kids that tend to be shy. I love the encouraging feedback that is given to each child during every rehearsal, getting them excited for the performance. The movies and plays are very creative, unique and fun! I feel like they go above and beyond at BAAY to create wonderful opportunities for kids.

We love BAAY! Our daughter has been in 4 or 5 shows virtual and in person and loves it. She has learned how to work as a member of a team, and that means no matter what told she gets, she is just as important.I have loved all the directors she has had. They show kindness and support and a love for each and every kids individuality.I love that the shows are fun and unique and always a joy to watch.

BAAY was the place that shaped who I am now, the community that it built for me as a child was honestly a godsend in my developing years! The instructors brought a passionate and inclusive essence to the shows and I wouldn’t be the musician I am today if it weren’t for all my experience here. Every kid should be a part of it:)

Our family loves BAAY! Our boys have been in 7 different shows over the years and loved each one. Theyve learned to sing and dance, but also built their confidence both on and off stage. The teachers are super supportive, patient and fun!!

I cant say enough about how amazing BAAY is! The staff goes so far above and beyond for the kids to make it a welcome, supportive place for kids of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Highly highly recommend :)

Thank you BAAY, for providing such wonderful opportunities to keep my kiddos safe and engaged in the arts during these difficult times!! Every performance has been a joy and wonderful opportunity to instill a passion for the creative arts in my kids!!

BAAY has played a powerful, positive role in my girl’s lives for over ten years. BAAY has always been a place where everyone feels welcome and valued. Children are accepted as they are, recognized for their unique contributions, and gently guided to blossom in totally unexpected ways. They learn respect and discipline and how to work as a team, enjoying the process as they each contribute their part to produce an end product that they can all be proud of. The staff are dedicated to providing a high quality of acting, singing, and costume-making instruction and the dance choreography is exceptional! Over the years, I have observed the staff in ongoing collaboration to optimize their services with the resources available to them. I will be forever grateful for the skills and confidence my girls gained from BAAY and the wonderful memories and accomplishments for which they will always be proud.

BAAY and Lisa Markowitz are not only artistically brilliant, with their shows, dancing, summer camps etc..they have really given my daughter a voice, self confidence and a real love of theater.

We first were introduced to BAAY by going to see a show (Seussical) when my daughter was nearly 5. Soon after, she hit the stage in her first Pixie show, the Wizard of Oz and then in the BAAY choir in first grade at school. We never looked back after that. She did shows most of the year every year until she was in high school when she focused more on dance.BAAY gave her the opportunity to let herself try out different parts of herself and put it all out there. I saw her confidence grow play by play. To see her and other kids do this to me is one of the core gifts that BAAY provides.BAAY provided community, friendship, and so much fun. And gave her the opportunity to learn what it is to work with a team to produce something beautiful. As she got older, she also became a Pixie helper and loved her time working with the younger kids. She is a hard worker to this day and Im imagining that some of that work ethic was developed at a young age at BAAY.As a parent and a long-time volunteer in many of the shows my daughter performed in, I so appreciated the camaraderie and connection that came through those opportunities. From selling tickets to ushering to walking with the cast, staff and and parents to Mallards after the Saturday night shows holds a sweet place in my memory bank.As a parent, I am grateful for what BAAY provided my daughter who is now off to college. To me it is clear that BAAY is community and we are grateful for what that has provided well beyond the stage.

Yes, BAAY puts on some fun, and sometimes crazy, shows. But the real essence of BAAY is kids and community.My sons first part included 3 words. And, he was so far stage right that he didnt even make the video. But, he had a blast and WANTED to do more. His confidence grew. He started making friends, advocating for himself, and doing better in school. He asked his teacher at Happy Valley to let him wear costumes while delivering book reports in front of class. Suddenly, he wouldnt STOP reading and writing reviews. When struggling with life, he often channeled a character from a play, or used tips and tricks he learned at BAAY. Eventually, our shy, quirky kid put in the hard work and got a few lead parts. But it was never really about the play.Our daughter participated in a few plays, but really loved dance team. Then she started working with Lisa and the Pixies. She just loved those littles and watching how they learned. Shes now at college studying elementary education.Luckily, it wasnt JUST about the kids. As parents, we were invited to participate as volunteers and on the board. BAAY was our family and we all grew together. Honestly, I dont know what we would have done without BAAY in our lives. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

We love BAAY! My son started out doing the elementary EduArts program and has performed in several shows over the years at BAAY (most recently Fiddler On The Roof at Larrabee summer camp). He is now a senior and has the lead role in his high school play. He attributes his success to all of the skills he gained at BAAY and the wonderful staff. He also met his 2 best friends at BAAY. They all go to different schools, so wouldve never met otherwise. I have personally seen so many kids blossom and gain confidence over the years. BAAY is a wonderful addition to the Bellingham community and we are so thankful theyre here!

Money, money, money. They dont limit the cast capacity of the shows (because more kids = more money), so they invent random roles (which, for the shows theyve purchased the rights to, is a serious violation of the contract), insert a few words for each kid in a random role (sometimes adding in a whole scene for the leftover kids, also violating the contract), then stick them in the back of some line dance so they show up a few times on the miniscule stage and parents can take pictures. These line dances are often set to random 80s songs, inserted into an established show (imagine, say, sticking an REO Speedwagon song into Wicked), also a total violation of the rights agreement. (Apparently whatever Board of Directors they have is okay with this plan.) They actually tell parents not to video the performances because if they get caught in these violations, they could lose their rights to future shows. So why do they do it? Money! Creating more roles for kids, overenrolling the programs, and generating bank. Also, the directors will start every performance with a plea for donations for their “scholarship fund” and include a huge (tone deaf) brag about how many of your dollars they are giving to other kids annually, while you’re sitting there waiting to watch a) the same kids get the lead roles (they totally play favorites even though they claim they don’t) and b) your kid to come out on the tiny stage with 40 others for 2 minutes to deliver their one line of made-up dialogue, in a home-grown scene, illegally inserted into a legitimate show.The other thing is that they claim to be an educational program, but they don’t actually teach them anything. There is no one trained as an educator there, and they don’t coach the kids on acting, dancing, or singing skills (although they may give them a couple of completely wrong tips, like “sing from your stomach,” as my kid told me). It amounts to very expensive yet poorly supervised babysitting. There have been plenty of times the kids were running unsupervised in the space. Speaking of the space, it’s really dirty and has lots of nooks and alcoves to create many, many opportunities for kids to be out of adults’ view. Its sad, because they could build something of quality there if they limited the casts and developed some professionalism.

My daughter has been taking drama and singing classes at Baay for the past 3 years, including during the pandemic shut-down. Since she started I have seen her confidence grow, her love for the arts expand, and her creativity flourish! Additionally she has learned teamwork and that all roles are important. Classes conclude with sharing appreciations and positive feedback to others. Not only does my daughter love attending Baay but our family and friends have shared lots of laughs at the performances as well as watching the creative movie compilations that were made during the pandemic shut-down. My daughter is thrilled to now be attending Baay in-person again and is excited for the next performance. The staff are excellent with the kids and are responsive to questions. They are experienced and passionate about arts education. My family is so grateful for Baay and it is one of our favorite things in Bellingham. 5 stars highly recommend!!!

We love BAAY! We have been proud BAAY parents, supporters and audience members for years now. Our kids have benefited so much from the opportunity to participate in BAAYs programming, both at the theater downtown and also in their elementary schools through EduArts. BAAY is more than just a theater or an arts program, its a community of students and caring adults who help kids find their voices and express themselves in a welcoming, inclusive environment. Our kids have been encouraged to take risks, try new things, and be part of a collaborative team - and they feel a true sense of belonging at BAAY. We are so lucky to have a place like BAAY in our community!

BAAY is a bright light in our community! My kids lives are richer for the sense of community theyve experienced, the support theyve received from program and music directors, and the opportunities theyve had to create, collaborate, and perform. Thanks, BAAY, for giving Whatcom County kids a space to grow through the arts!

Just saw a woman that works there standing in the middle of the road screaming at my car as I drove by to work. Very unhinged. Not someplace I would take my child that is for sure. Shocked when I saw that she worked with children. Beware!

I met David Post when our girls were taking choir in an after school enrichment program. We learned about BAAY and enrolled them for 3 plays in which 2 were a part of a summer camp program. The amount of self confidence and enthusiasm is priceless. The girls now go every year as often as our schedule permits. We love BAAY. We also go to the performances by the older children, and their professionalism and talent is so unbelievable, that the girls cant wait till it is time to be in a course too. They hope to be as good one day. BAAY is all about community, support, and not about what kid gets the lead role, but how all kids work together, and people work together to make each others lives enriched and full of friendship and culture. I would encourage anyone to join BAAY or go to a show. You wont believe how amazing the performances are. I used to live on the east coast, so I consider going to BAAY performances a little piece of Broadway brought home.