This just in:

CYT San Diego alum Melissa Disney -yes, she is a distant relative of Walt Disney- will be the official “voice” of the 2010 Emmy Awards taking place this Sunday August 29th, at 5pm PT and 8PM ET on NBC! Past voiceover work includes the Stunt Awards, the Key ARTS Awards, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The Jimmy Kimmel Show.

“She is already pre-recording a lot of intro’s, [and] will get to do lots of live announcements…It’s a really big honor. She and I were seat fillers for the Emmy’s a few years ago and I can honestly say, I’ve never seen so many BIG NAME stars all in one place at one time. There are not only the nominees but the presenters and special guests who are from TV, film and stage,” said Louise Gallagher, Melissa’s mother who presented at the CCT/CYT 30th year Birthday Celebration, and who acted as the Liz Taylor impersonator in CCT’s Senior Follies.

Support CYT SD Alum Melissa Disney by watching the Primetime Emmy Awards this Sunday!! Don’t forget to DVR and TiVo.

Click here to read more about the 2010 Primetime Emmy Awards, and Melissa Disney.

CYT Chicago welcomes Deb Hochstatter as their Interim Artistic Director, while Justin Parks counsels CYT VanPort. Here is a letter from Deb, that was published in their July issue of The Point:

Just when we think we have it all figured out, God steps in and lays a new path or direction in front of us. This is the case with the journey that’s just begun regarding my position in CYT during the next ten months.

It’s with a great sense of excitement that I venture into the upcoming season as CYT’s Interim Artistic Director. My family has been involved in this organization since 1998. I have been blessed with experience in leadership and artistic involvement in many different CYT arenas. My early involvement included set painting, AC for summer camp, teacher, and choreographer for several McHenry productions. As years progressed, I became a member of the CYT Board of Directors, a part-time marketing staff member, CYT Camp Counselor and ventured into directing. In recent years, I continue to direct and usually teach as well. Currently I am the Marketing Director and General Manager for a company my husband and I started fifteen years ago. I’ll be taking a step away for a time in order to serve CYT in this Interim period.

With the help of all of you I anticipate the challenges and rewards that are CYT. It’s an organization that my children grew up in, and one that has allowed me to explore my God given talents and spiritual gifts for many years. I love CYT, and appreciate all the blessings I witness year after year in the lives of families and communities of the 9 counties we serve.
As Justin and I have already worked together, I welcome his trust and continued leadership and offer him and his family support as they venture west. I ask for prayer in this transitional time and continued support for the program from you, our loyal CYT families!

In His service,

Debbie Hochstatter

We are so excited to be hosting the CYT Leadership Conference along with the Improvathon, HYPE, and the 30-year Birthday celebration. We haven’t had the whole nation together since 2007 and are excited to bring the CYT community together in San Diego.

To those of you who have already registered-thank you for “Riding the Wave” to San Diego.

The format for this year’s leadership conference “workshop series” will be a bit different than in the past.  We’re planning to conduct three consecutive panel discussions pertaining to the three pillars (threads) of CYT – the art, the business and the ministry.

Confirmed speakers for the CYT Leadership Conference include:

Phil Smith, Annie Fitzgerald, Linda Mitroff, Sharon Kleinschmidt, Suzanne Powell, Donna Amadee, Travis Russell, Cathie Stanner. Gina Milbourn, Justin Parks, and Paul and Sheryl Russell!

We will keep you updated on speakers as the weeks get closer to July 13th. Stay tuned!
You can also stay updated with the latest information by following us on twitter.

Please remember to register if you haven’t done so already. Here is the current schedule:

SURFIN’ USA
2010 CYT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, IMPROVATHON
NATIONAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
HYPE CONFERENCE & 30-YEAR BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
JULY 13 – 17, 2010 IN SAN DIEGO, CA

Tues. July 13th
Registration/meet & greet at Crowne Plaza Hotel
Improv & HYPE bonfire @ South Mission Beach

Wed. July 14th
Affiliate Meetings by Appointment @ CCT/CYT Office
Improvathon Workshops
Improvathon Rounds

Thurs. July 15th
Improvathon Rounds
Improvathon Competition and Awards
Improv/HYPE Dance

Fri. July 16th
National Leadership Council Meeting
CYT Leadership Conference Opening Session

Sat. July 17th
CYT Leadership Conference Sessions and Workshops
HYPE at Conference
30-Year Birthday Celebration & Dessert Reception

CYT Chicago’s Maddie Dorren made an appearance on Ellen yesterday!

Currently Maddie is performing in CYT Chicago’s production of Little Princess (Dupage). She sang “Breakeven” on Ellen’s “Wonderful Web of Wonderment” segment.

View Maddie Dorren on Ellen now!

Last week San Diego Family Magazine introduced their first-ever Virtual Camp Fair on their website, with over 40 camps to browse.

Check out CYT San Diego Summer Camp photos, video, and highlights at their profile. Under the Sea, Super Heroes, and Tween Idol are this years themes.

Ten-year-old Kate Wild was born to sing. The Naperville Sun wrote an article about this CYT Chicago student-actor-singer last week. Below is an excerpt from her interview. Up next? Wild will be performing at the Chicago Navy Pier, singing in Big Mac Under Glass, fundraising for the Ronald McDonald House.

“Wild: ‘I just was born and I sang. When I was a toddler I just sang ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ or all those little rhymes. And I just sang it around the house. I still do. I sing around the house all the time. And my dad is a drummer. He has the musical ability. It’s really from my dad’s side. And my grandma (Wild) — she can play the piano and she can sing.

‘Standing in the wings and waiting for your queue is so intimidating. Like, ‘Oh, I’m so nervous! I don’t know if I can do this,’ or ‘I’m so excited! I don’t want to get on stage.’ And it’s so much fun when you get on stage … It just all goes away and all those lights are shining — the stage lights — and you just have to enjoy it.

‘My stomach usually hurts when I get nervous so sometimes I like to eat mints ’cause it helps a little bit. And I drink lots of water. I guess I just sort of take deep breaths and say ‘you can do this,’ and it turns out OK.

‘It’s sometimes really, really bright (on stage) with all those lights. … For me it feels actually a little bit calming — just singing and feeling like nothing else in the world and just being on stage. It’s such an amazing opportunity. … All the work has paid off, and you just feel like nothing else in the world can compare to this.

‘My biggest dream is to perform on Broadway actually. But there’s a lot of steps to get there. So, I’m working on it.’”

Read the full article, and listen to Kate Wild sing, here.

CYT Chicago sent out their first newsletter this week! Below is the Q & A interview with Director Sara Lance, from CYT Chicago’s The Point, Issue #1:

“(Currently directing Little Princess in DuPage) Sara has directed several shows and loves working with kids and teens, developing their character and performance skills on and off stage.  Sara holds a full time position with Cuginos Gourmet Foods and uses her Art Degree often painting drops and scenery for many CYT shows.

Q. What is your favorite aspect of directing?
Oooh, that’s a hard one, I would say having the opportunity to bring out the undiscovered – either in casting, in character, or in visuals!

Q: Do you have a favorite show/musical?
I LOVE Lion King on Broadway! That is a stunning show that transforms the stage with music, costumes & staging - it takes you to right into Africa!

Q: How many shows have you directed?
This (Little Princess in DuPage) current one is my 5th!

Q: Favorite food?
Any time of day…Chocolate Covered Strawberries!

Q: What stands out to you in an audition?
Confidence, commitment, potential.

Q: Who should play you in a movie?
I would love for Sandra Bullock to play me, she would make me rock!

Q: What book should all aspiring actors read?
“Sanford Meisner on Acting” I learned so much!

Q: Guilty pleasure?
Sleeping in….all day! (Gosh when was the last time that happened?)

Q: What do you love about CYT?
The family interaction it provides, both for me and my family and for all the family’s I get to work with through out a production!”

Subscribe to CYT Chicago’s Newsletter, here.