Simi Valley’s New Theatre Is All About One Thing: Giving Kids a Place to Shine
Daniel Jordan 
Born to Perform Studio Brings the Magic of Live Theatre Home to Simi Valley
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — If you love live theatre — the lights, the applause, and the creativity that brings people together — there’s something new in Simi Valley you’ll want to see for yourself.
After years of dreaming, Born to Perform Studio founders Ryan Lefton and Brent Ramirez, Both lifelong Simi Valley residents have opened a brand-new theatre at Simi Town Center, joining a strong local tradition of performing arts.
“We grew up here,” the founders shared. “This community shaped us. We wanted to build a space where kids, teens, and families could experience the same joy and connection that theatre gave us.”
The result is something special — a modern, welcoming theatre adding a new stage to Simi Valley’s thriving arts community.
A Theatre Community
Born to Perform has been teaching acting, singing, and dancing for years, helping students find confidence and creativity through performance. But this new theatre takes things to another level.
It’s a place where kids get their first taste of stage lights, teens learn the power of collaboration, and adults rediscover the magic of live performance.
Parents often describe the studio as a family. One mother, Sommer, said, “They pour their heart and soul into each student. My child has grown so much — not just as a performer, but as a person.”
That’s the kind of environment Lefton and Ramirez set out to build — a place that feels like home, filled with laughter, learning, and a little bit of stage glitter.
Meet the Founders: From Students to Mentors
At the heart of Born to Perform Studio are two lifelong performers and educators whose paths have always been guided by creativity and community.
Brent Ramirez, the studio’s Owner and Executive Director, is known for his ability to turn nervous beginners into confident performers. With over two decades of experience in the arts, he has taught students who’ve gone on to universities like NYU and appeared on Nickelodeon, Netflix, and Disney.
A Simi Valley native himself, Brent discovered his love for the stage in high school before studying Theatre Arts at Moorpark College and California Lutheran University, where he graduated with honors. Today, he serves as Theatre Faculty at Moorpark College and Professor of Musical Theatre at CLU, directing productions across schools, universities, and community stages.
His approach is rooted in fun, freedom, and confidence. “The arts are about more than performance,” he says. “They’re about helping people see what they’re capable of.”
Ryan Lefton, the studio’s Co-Owner and Director, brings both local roots and world-class training to Born to Perform. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with honors in Acting, Ryan’s background includes training with Playwrights Horizons Theatre School and Stonestreet Studios. His experience spans theatre, film, and television, with credits on Netflix, Amazon, and several independent projects.
Ryan’s teaching style emphasizes collaboration and respect — a space where creativity thrives. “We’re not just teaching performance,” he said. “We’re helping students discover their voice and learn how to express it.”
Together, Ryan and Brent have built something that reflects their shared vision — a theatre where anyone, regardless of experience, can step into the spotlight.
A Stage for Every Age
Theatre at Born to Perform starts early through the studio’s “A Stage for Every Age” program.
- Mini Players (Ages 5–8) begin with playful ensemble songs and short performances.
- Jr Players (Ages 8–11) take on bigger roles, learning how to build characters and tell stories.
- Sr Players (Ages 11+) dive into full productions, complete with sets, choreography, and lights.
The next youth production — Lion King Jr. beginning January, 2026.
“It’s amazing to see how quickly confidence grows once kids step onto that stage,” Ramirez said. “They find their voice, and you can see it click — they belong there.”
New Programs, New Energy
Alongside its foundational classes, the Simi Valley location now hosts the studio’s first Simi Competition Team, an expansion of Born to Perform’s fastest-growing program from its Thousand Oaks studio. The team offers young performers the opportunity to challenge themselves, compete, and build lasting friendships along the way.
“Competition gives students a goal to work toward,” Lefton said. “It pushes them and builds confidence that extends far beyond the stage.”
A Stage in Constant Motion
Since opening in June, the Simi Valley theatre has been buzzing with energy. The space serves as both a rehearsal and performance venue, hosting a packed lineup of shows and partnerships with other local arts groups.
Last weekend, Born to Perform partnered with Treetop Productions for Heathers: The Musical. In early November, the theatre will feature The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, presented by students from California Lutheran University (CLU). Later in the month, Into the Woods will take the stage, produced by another local youth theatre group.
Then, in December, Born to Perform’s own students will take the stage for “The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition.”
Every show listed on the studio’s website will be performed at the new Simi Valley space — along with additional cabarets, showcases, and events designed to celebrate local talent.
Building the Dream — One Seat at a Time
Much of what makes the theatre possible has been built through community support. Born to Perform recently launched its Chair Dedication Fundraiser, giving residents the chance to sponsor a seat in the theatre and help fund upgrades, scholarships, and youth programming.
“This theatre was built through determination and community,” Lefton said. “Every contribution, big or small, helps keep live theatre alive and accessible in Simi Valley.”
Donations can be made directly at borntoperformstudio.com/chair-dedication.
A Local Stage With a Big Heart
For Lefton and Ramirez, Born to Perform Studio’s Simi Valley Theatre isn’t just a place to put on shows — it’s a way to give back.
“This is for the kids who sing in their bedrooms, the parents who cheer from the audience, and the community that believes in creativity,” Ramirez said.
From classes to competitions, from cabarets to full productions, Born to Perform is building more than a theatre — it’s building a community where art, confidence, and connection thrive.
Born to Perform Studio – Simi Valley Theatre
1555 Simi Town Center Way, Suite 545, Simi Valley, CA 93065
(805) 678-8905
borntoperformstudio.com
From the very first time our daughter walked in to tour the BTP, she got into the car and yelled, “Mom! I found my people!” And honestly… she was right. From that day on, Born to Perform has been her second home. The joy, confidence, and friendships she’s found there have completely changed her life. Brent, Ryan, Lexi, and everyone who pours their hearts into these kids are truly the real deal. They don’t just teach theatre… they build these kids up from the inside out. I still get teary just thinking about how much love this place holds. So yeah, I’ll proudly be the cringey mom shouting it from the rooftops… we love Born to Perform!
I will always be excited for more theatre in any town, but I gotta say that the wording here is a bit odd. To say “give Simi Valley a stage of its own,” as if it doesn’t have stages of any kind already, is quite odd. Simi has always been a community that nurtures artists. I grew up in Simi Valley, and I performed in plays with Simi Arts Conservatory with Irene Silbert way back in the 1990s. I went on to get a theatre credential and I teach theatre now in the San Fernando Valley. My 19-year-old son is a performing arts major in a conservatory program on the East Coast, and he grew up in Simi Valley, performing on Simi Valley stages. As a child, he got his first taste of lead roles when he was in Ragtime in 2016 at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, and as a teen he dove into more complex words with the Arts in Action program at the blackbox theatre, when he was in The Laramie Project. Simi Valley deserves applause for always championing the arts, but to say “its about time” seems strange. Simi has a pretty long history of theatre. But hey, the more the merrier, really. I’m thrilled for them.
I applaud these folks but this article is factually misleading. The Simi Valley Cultural Association has been putting on regular plays and events for decades at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, not to mention workshops and other resources for young people. The fact that you ignore their work and claim “it’s about time” as if this is a new phenomenon in Simi is not just bad reporting, it’s an insult and a slap in the face to the dozens of hard working volunteers who have given of themselves to put on performances and mentor young actors in SV for literally years. Aren’t journalists supposed to do their due diligence before reporting the “facts”?