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.

Hometowntimes.com recently mentioned CYT Atlanta in their news-here is an excerpt of Local Foster Families Get VIP Treatment From CYT Atlanta:

“Christian Youth Theater (CYT) will perform the much loved musical, The Sound of Music, at the Old Milton Auditorium in Alpharetta. Over 70 local children and teens will perform in this popular show. CYT is excited to be working with the Foster Care Support Foundation (FCSF) to provide free VIP admission to the show for a number of metro-area foster families. ‘Rachel Ewald (FCSF’s Founder) has worked so tirelessly and devoted her life to improving the quality of life for these sometimes forgotten children. We just wanted to do something to bring a little joy to the kids and their foster families.’ said Pat Valleroy, CYT Atlanta’s Artistic Director. FCSF will also receive donations of socks and tennis shoes from local scout troops who attend the Scout Day show on May 8.”

“The musical was made into an Oscar winning film in 1965 starring Julie Andrews. Fans of Ms. Andrews will have the chance to bid on three autographed items, two head shots and a vintage movie poster print, at the evening performances on April 30, May 7 and May 8.”

Not long ago, KC Parent Magazine wrote an awesome review of CYT Kansas City’s production of Peter Pan. Here is the review, written by Kristina Light, in its entirety:

“If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree,
I’ll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up, not me!

We attended the opening night show where my children were on the edge of their seats with excitement as Peter Pan (Camille Yearry), Wendy (Katelynn Quick), John (Aaron Brown) and Michael (Mac Morey) flew across the stage in their adventures with Captain Hook.

The story is beautifully staged, with twinkly stars setting the backdrop for Neverland where the cast meet pirates, an indian tribe led by Princess Tiger Lily (Jamie Ras), and exotic animals. My children laughed out loud at the tick-tocking-Captain-Hook-chasing-Crocodile, and we were all amazed by the fantastic choreography (directed by April Okken) and musical performance of the drum dance (reminiscent of Stomp). Camille Yearry did a great job in her portrayal of Pan against the hysterical portrayal of Captain Hook by Seth Rector, but the showstopper for my girls was the Croc (played by Ryan Beard).

We thoroughly enjoyed the entire play from start to finish… and you could tell just by watching that every member of the cast did as well! Thank you CYT for taking us to a fantasy world with Peter Pan, where for one night, no one must ‘grow up‘.”

CYT Lafayette recently won the “Baker for the Day” contest at Great Harvest Bread Company. Results are shown below.

Gerald Broussard, Board Chair, said, “Thank you for taking the time to go and vote! Get ready to go Bread shopping on Sunday April 18th and all proceeds will go to CYT!”

CYT Kansas City students participated in the World Down Syndrome Day, this past Sunday.

The day kicked off with performances from the Peter Pan cast as well as HEART program members. Photo opportunities with CYT students dressed in OZ costumes were available for attendees, followed by performances from the Wizard of Oz. They also hosted a booth to spotlight their HEART program (for youth with special needs interested in theater).

CYT Kansas City’s PR and Marketing Director, Amy Cox, said, “The kids had a GREAT time with the performances and [photographing as] the Wizard of Oz characters.”

For more info about CYT KC’s HEART program, visit their website.

For the next year our Quotes of the Week will consist of “Thank You” cards and letters from the CCT/CYT community. The catch? We are visiting our ghosts from CCT/CYT past. The memories will continue until July 13th, which marks the beginning of the CYT Leadership Conference, National Leadership Council, Improv National Competition, HYPE, and 30th Birthday Celebration here in San Diego.

CYT Phoenix is hoping the media can help them find storage space for their growing number of costumes and sets. East Valley Tribune writer, Jayson Peters, posted this article last week:

“Christian Youth Theater is urgently looking for storage space for costumes, props and set pieces.

The nonprofit education arts organization is hoping someone will come forward with empty commercial space they can use for a low rent rate — or free of charge — in the north-central Phoenix area near Loop 101 and state Route 51, the Piestewa Freeway.

Anyone interested in helping out can e-mail tambra [at] cytphoenix.org or call (480) 310-0365.”

Find out more about CYT Phoenix at their website, http://www.cytphoenix.org/.