STAGES

A publication of Christian Youth Theater Waco

Summer 2015

Volume I, Issue I

A great adventure
By Kat Largent
Teacher

In early May, Christian Youth

Theater Wacos second show,
Charlottes Web, concluded its
show weekend, but looking ahead
to the next fall show began long
before this. With the conclusion
of the spring show marking CYT
Wacos first successful school
year of classes and productions,
Artistic Director Stephanie
Gerath reflects on the previous
show while anticipating some of
the challenges and excitement
that comes with a show as big as
Peter Pan, set to open in the
fall of 2015.
Charlottes Web seemed like
a good fit for the spring session,
the theme of which was Back to
Basics. The classes consolidated,
focusing on the main three
aspects of musical theater:
acting, singing and dancing.
Naturally, this uncomplicated
but entertaining show seemed
like a perfect fit. More basic in
not only production value, but
in the sincerity and simplicity of

Photo by Stephanie Gerath

Madelyn Davis (left) and Anna Howard (right) pose as Fern and Wilbur (respectively) in the poster photo for Charlottes
Web, Christian Youth Theater Wacos spring mainstage production, which ran at the end of April and beginning of May.

the plot and themes as well, this

show reflected the organizations
regrouping and concentrating
efforts to move forward as a
cohesive unit.
Charlottes Web was one
of my favorite movies as a

Whats inside
Audition tips
and tricks
Upcoming dates
to remember!

child, Gerath said. I love the

all in feeling you get with Fern
and Charlotte. They are always
willing to do whatever it takes to
make sure Wilbur is safe.
The nostalgic authenticity
of such themes demonstrates

exactly the values CYT Waco is

reclaiming.
When given a
chance to do this
Rest
of story on
show, I jumped
page 3!
on it, Gerath
said.

Mission Statement

Goals

CYT is dedicated to developing

character in children and adults
through training in the arts and
by producing wholesome family
entertainment, all of which
reflect Judeo-Christian values.

Training children in the performing

arts.
Building leadership skills.
Developing a sense of
community and fellowship.
Providing positive, godly role
models for students.

STAGES
Photo by Jessica Steakley

Happy hearts on stage

Q &A
What was your favorite thing
about participating in
Youre a Good Man, Charlie
Brown?

Being on stage
and the people,
because being on
stage made me feel
like a different
person that Im
not, and I could
think like my
character.
--Elli Roach

Jaci Amborski portrays Snoopy in Youre a Good Man, Charlie Brown, CYT Wacos first production.

Were just getting started

CYT anticipates growth as planning
for the next season begins

other summer events around! We are busy

planning our best summer program yet.
It is especially exciting for me to see the
By Joy Howard
similar
growth in our classes and productions.
Managing Director
Our first camp, our first classes and our first
I have been privileged as the founder of production were limited to only a few people outside
Christian Youth Theater Waco, and now as the of circles of those working with CYT. But like our
second year of camp, we have begun
managing director, to watch the birth
to see our reputation grow and spread
and growth of this organization.
and are working very hard to increase
When four of us sat around my
our quality as well. People who have
kitchen table planning a three-day
known of CYT for a while have decided
workshop for summer 2013, we did so
to jump in after seeing the quality of
on a wing and a prayer.
our first show.
We were blessed with some great
People who have been hoping for a
doors being opened for us and had
year-round childrens theater program
a great time with the 50 kids who
in Waco are finally hearing about us.
showed up that year!
Our staff has found ways to better
Our second summer we saw that It is amazing to
integrate our faith into our classes
word of our summer program had look back and
spread, and we had a 36 percent realize what we and rehearsals.
What I cannot wait to see is how
increase in the number of kids have
our numbers grow this coming fall as
involved. We were able to expand to accomplished
CYT has its first full fall session. Even
a full five-day camp and add in some and then
better, we look forward to seeing how
fun, like dress-up days. However, my remember that
the growth in numbers and experience
personal favorite upgrade was leading we have only
allows us to increase our quality with
the kids in real discussions about what just begun.
the Bible teaches about important
--Joy Howard more class choices, more options as
we choose productions and more lives
character lessons related to each song
changed as we develop character one
they were learning.
For our third year of camp, we are stage at a time.
It is amazing to look back and
offering four different camp programs
on two separate weeks and have realize what we have accomplished and then
already heard that our camps are worth planning remember that we have only just begun.

My favorite part
about Charlie
Brown was that it
felt like we were all
one big family.
--Anna Howard

I liked getting to
be the main
character! It was
fun playing around
with the
character by
adding personality
into the lines.
--Josh Beck

My favorite scene
was the blanket
dance and getting
to dance with a
live blanket. You
dont get to do that
every day.
--Nate Beck

Summer 2015

3
Courtesy of Christian Youth Theater

Audition
Tips & Tricks
Practice, practice, practice!
Show up with a smile.
Your audition begins as soon
as you walk in the building.
Remember: the directors want
you to do well!
Confidence is key!
Stephanie Gerath (left) and Joy Howard (right) visit CYTs National Leadership Conference in Lafayette, La.

CYT gears up for Peter Pan

It truly shaped my childhood, and I
hoped it would shape the children who got to
perform it as well.
The regrouping efforts on the part of
the CYT Waco family are in an attempt to
conserve resources to really bring it all to
the stage with the fall show, Peter Pan.
This show will be on a scale
not reached by any previous CYT
Waco shows. It has reemerged in
popularity with the live broadcast of the
musical on NBC. The effects, songs, dance
numbers and costumes, just to name a
few aspects of the show, are much bigger
than the demands of Charlie Brown or
Charlottes Web.
Gerath is not shying away, instead
welcoming the challenge.

I am gearing up by already having most

of the technical stuff in motion, she said.
We are also going to try to get the word out
that we are doing such an amazing show
earlier than we ever had in CYT [national]
history. We really want to get a jump start
on all of it.
She hopes this show draws even more
families to CYT Waco, between the popularity
of the show selection and the spread of
reputation once the first school
year has ended for this fairly new
organization.
I just cant wait to share the love I have
for theater with many kids from around this
area, she said. They will be drawn to this
show, and once they are in they will fall in love
with CYT. I cant wait to see the wonder in the
audience members faces. It will be a great
adventure!

Fall class sessions begin

Opening of fall production

Continued from page 1

Dont Forget!
Summer camp session one
July 6-10
d
es an
Pirat sses,
e
Princ 5-10
ages

Te en Id
ages 1 ol,
0-18

Early August 2015

ter
Regis too
its
e
r
befo te!
la

Summer camp session two

July 20-24

September 2015
must
Auditioners
d in
re
te
is
g
re
be
ss
a
a cl

Auditions for fall production

Late August 2015

Do
to b nt for
g
uy
tick et
ets!

Want to learn
more about CYT?
Christian Youth Theater (CYT) is an after-school theater arts training
program for students ages 4 - 18.

Summer 2015

A Special Thanks To
Editors: Becca Ramos, Kat Largent
Managing Director/Founder: Joy
Howard
Artistic Director: Stephanie Gerath
Photographer: Jessica Steakley

Since its founding in 1981 in San Diego, CYT has grown to be the largest youth theater in the nation. There are affiliates across the country
training thousands of students a year.
CYT is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization funded
primarily through its tuition, ticket sales and outside contributions.
Because CYT does not own facilities for classes or productions, the
organization works through the local community, utilizing classrooms
and stages in churches, schools and local theaters. CYT is not affiliated
with a church body, and people of all faiths are welcome.
CYT stands in the forefront in its commitment to the highest ethical,
moral, technical and artistic standards of excellence. Instructors are
professionals, qualified in teaching and/or performing, who must
understand our mission statement, values, objectives and goals. All CYT
staff members strive to be excellent role models.
Every session (fall, winter and spring) CYT offers theater arts classes
for children as an after-school activity.
Each local program conducts three 10-week sessions throughout the
school year, teaching drama, voice, dance and a broad spectrum of
specialty theatrical workshops at weekly two-hour classes. Enrolled
students have the opportunity to work behind the scenes or audition
and perform on stage in a Broadway-style musical performed for the
community.

How you
can
become
part of the
family:

To Sponsor
A Show

To Join
Our Team

To Get
Involved

To Stay
Connected

If you are
interested in
sponsoring our
show, e-mail:
waco@cyt.org
or call
(254) 340-0084

If youre interested
in applying to be a
teacher or artistic
team member,
download an
application from
our website and
e-mail it to:
waco@cyt.org

To sign up for
classes or buy
tickets to our shows,
visit our website:
www.cytwaco.org

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