YoHo: Island Theatre at Your House
Three times a year, we gather in someone's home for a potluck meal and a play reading. No experience necessary—just bring a dish and your curiosity.
Share a Meal. Read a Play.
Island Theatre at Your House (YoHo) brings theatre into private homes for an evening of community, food, and live performance. Three times a year, theatre lovers gather in someone's living room to share a potluck meal and read a play out loud together.
It's intimate. It's informal. It's the purest form of theatre—words brought to life by voices, imagination, and good company.
How It Works
6:00 PM — Arrive & Potluck
Bring a dish to share. Mingle with fellow theatre lovers. Catch up on what everyone's been reading, watching, or working on.
7:00 PM — The Play Reading
Someone reads the stage directions. The rest of us take roles and read them aloud—no memorization, no costumes, just the script and your voice. First-timers welcome. Professional actors and curious beginners sit side by side.
~9:00 PM — Discussion & Dessert
Talk about the play. What worked? What surprised you? What would you have done differently? Then linger over dessert, coffee, and conversation.
Past YoHo Plays
YoHo plays run the gamut:
- Classic classics: A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen
- Contemporary classics: Angels in America by Tony Kushner, Sisters Rosenzweig by Wendy Wasserstein
- Hidden gems: Indian Arm by Hiro Kanagawa
The food is ample. The company is fun. The plays are moving, funny, thought-provoking—everything you expect from theatre.
Want to Host a YoHo?
Hosting a YoHo is easier than you think:
- Your house (or apartment, or backyard): We're flexible. If you have space for 10-15 people to sit comfortably, you're good.
- Choose a play (or let us choose for you): Have a favorite you've always wanted to hear read aloud? We'll help you pick. Or we can suggest one based on the season, mood, or group.
- Coordinate the date: We'll help you find a date that works and promote it to our mailing list.
- Provide the space: We bring the scripts, the enthusiasm, and potluck contributions. You bring the living room.
Interested in hosting? Contact Kristi Helgeson at (650) 731-5547 (text or voice) or email [email protected].
Join Our Mailing List
Want to know when the next YoHo is happening? Sign up for our mailing list and we'll send you details about upcoming readings—including location, play selection, and what to bring.
Email us to join or fill out the form on our contact page.
"Can we rehearse at YOUR house?" has been Island Theatre's motto since 1994. YoHo is that spirit in action—theatre that happens wherever people gather to share stories.