The city needs to cut $58 million from its 2005-06 budget, which could include the elimination of $92,696 in costs to cover the theater's two- person staff.

The community center program sits on the Willow Glen/Cambrian border. The program serves nearly 500 participants annually through its stage productions and summer theater camps. It has been a fixture in the Willow Glen area for 22 years.

Willow Glen resident and program parent Rosemary Marks has been fighting to save the program since she enrolled her sons Christopher, 10, and Andrew, 8, three years ago. It's been threatened every year, she said.

To Marks, her efforts are more about preserving a community than supporting children's theater.

"It's the perfect place to nurture friendships," she said.

Marks attended all 19 performances of Peter Pan to collect 750 signatures from 12 different zip codes on a petition, hoping to save the program from budget cuts.

Marks submitted the petition to San Jose District 6 City Councilman Ken Yeager and District 9 Councilwoman Judy Chirco. Marks has also rallied a group of more than 35 parents to write letters to Yeager and Chirco and San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales.

The parents' efforts paid off.

Yeager and Chirco submitted a May 23 memorandum asking Gonzales to keep the program. The memorandum states that the program could recover all of its costs in 2005-06 if volunteers provide 3,333 hours of community service, increase the fees to participate in the youth theater program and add more fee-based summer camps. If the council members' proposal is approved in the final budget, Marks said the parents are prepared to volunteer their time to help continue the program. But increasing the cost of participation could reduce the number of participants.

A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for June 13 and the city council will discuss the city budget on June 14 and 21. The program's future will be decided on June 21, when the city council votes on the budget.

San Jose Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services deputy director Joan Carrico prefers the proposal to closure. If the city agrees with the proposal it would continue providing the facilities for free to the theater and pay for the utilities, upkeep and administrative support.

If the city decides to cut the program, Carrico said the parents could form a nonprofit organization and use sponsorships, donations and grants to run the program on their own.

However, Marks wants to see the youth theater continue under the management of program director Carole Ferris-Greer, who is employed through the city's parks, recreation and neighborhood services department.

"As long as I'm involved, the program will stay," Marks said.

Students are also working to save the theater program. Matt Berry, 13, wrote a letter to Chirco, a former neighbor.

"These are not just plays, they're my favorite things in life," Matt wrote. "All the kids love it here, and to lose it would be terrible."

The June 13 public hearing will be held at San Jose City Hall, 801 N. 1st Street, at 7 p.m. The June 14 and June 21 meetings will be held in City Hall Chambers at 1:30 p.m.