Recently two CYT’s were voted BEST OF by their communities.
CYT Chicago won for “Best of” for Best Live Theater by the Northwest Newsgroup and CYT San Diego won “Best of” for Live Theater Group by the Union-Tribune. Congratulations to those who won!!
**If you want to keep CYT’s winning streak alive, make sure to cast a vote for CYT Denver- they are up to win Best Theater Group for the third year in a row by Channel 7.
You can vote only once, here.
CYT Chicago Cast, West Side Story |
Students from CYT Chicago and CYT San Diego earned a total of eight 2010 National Youth Theater Awards!!
According to their website, “The National Youth Theater Awards [honors] outstanding work in youth theatre. This year more than 200 productions were considered for the awards, including shows from more than 100 different theatres in more than 50 cities spanning 15 states. Thank you all for your incredible work and all the unforgettable entertainment over the past year! ”
The winners were formally presented with their awards this past June and August at the David and Dorothea Garfield Theatre in San Diego, and the Riverdale Rising Stars in Chicago. Listed below are the CYT winners- Congratulations everyone!!
CYT Chicago
CYT San Diego
CYT San Diego Cast, Annie, Jr.
Click here to see the complete list of winners from the 2010 National Youth Theatre Awards.
This summer, the Chicago Tribune recently took notice of the “Glee” phenomenon that was spreading to summer camps- and mentioned CYT Chicago as apart of the growing trend! According the article,
“Inspired by the overwhelming popularity of the musical comedy-drama on the Fox network, dozens of theater groups and arts organizations in Chicago and across the country have created ‘Glee’ summer camps for kids using music and choreography from the hit show.”
Read excerpts from the article below, and check out what Lindsey Branson, CYT Chicago’s Marketing Director, had to say about the controversy surrounding Glee.
“In the Chicago area…at least 10 other ‘Glee’ camps [were] scheduled for July and August, with some already sold out. Christian Youth Theater sold out its ‘Glee’ camps in Cary and Wheaton after enrolling 150 young people ages 11 to 17. The group has additional camps running in Arlington Heights, Gurnee and Rockford.
When the artistic directors of Christian Youth Theater [Chicago] began brainstorming with kids for summer camp ideas, ‘Glee’ won by a landslide. But, Lindsey Branson, the group’s marketing director, said some of material in the show was viewed as inappropriate.
‘The music is great and fun, but some of the characters and plot are not exactly what we want to emulate,’ Branson said. ‘So because of that, we’ve chosen not to use the story, just the music.’”
Read the Chicago Tribune article in its entirety here.
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
CYT Chicago wrote an article in their newsletter “The Point” this month, about their participation at the 2010 National Improvathon in San Diego. The article, Chicago Competes at Improvathon!, interviewed the teams’ participants, as well as praised their Suburban Safari Improv Team, who placed 2nd.
Here is the article in full:
CYT Chicago sent three improv teams (4 Fish & a Cliff, Suburban Safari & Rockford Raisin Bran) to compete in the CYT National Improvathon in San Diego, CA. There were total of 21 teams competing this year and some great laughs from all the teams.
Congrats to all the Chicago teams and to SUBURBAN SAFARI for placing 2nd!
Some thoughts from the improvisors:
I really enjoyed my experience in improv this year. I have made so many new friends who I will be friends with for a long time. The whole San Diego trip was and will be the highlight of my year. -Tim
Improv was a life changing experience this year. We have been rehearsing since January with coaches that taught us not only about improv skills and teamwork, but how to give all the glory to God while doing so. We met tons of new friends, competed among 21 teams, and gave all the glory to God, we ended up taking a second place medal home with us to Chicago! -Victoria
Improvathon started as something I just did on Thursday nights, the practice was fun, and the kids were nice. However, near those last weeks, my whole team, and the entire group all got really close, we grew towards our team, and not only that, but God also. In the end, we came home in 2nd place. Without 3 key things, I don’t think we could have gotten there: 1: Our coaches, Dave, Lindsey, and Kristen were ALWAYS giving helpful advice, and encouraging us to do our best and have fun. 2: Our teams, if we messed the game up, we were all able to get back up after it because we were there for each other. We would get knocked down, pick each other up, and keep on fightin’. 3: The Lord, and this was without doubt the biggest. The Lord gave this opportunity, and from then on let us decide if we would give Him the glory, or ourselves. Overall this was an amazing experience, and I hope to do it again! – Grant
Check out Rockford Raisin Bran’s performance on Facebook.
AD Retreat in NYC, 2009. Justin Parks, 2nd row, left.
CYT National has an exciting announcement!
The Executive Artistic Director for CYT Chicago, Justin Parks, through the blessing and support of his Board of Directors and the Expansion leadership in San Diego, has agreed to be the Executive Artistic Director for CYT VanPort for one year. He will be part-time for CYT VanPort from June 1-July 31 (from Chicago) and then full-time on site in Vancouver from August 1 through June 2011.
Justin comes with a wealth of knowledge in the area of CYT. First as a CYT student from age 12-18, then as a director with the CYT San Diego program from ’93-97. In 1997 he co-founded the CYT Chicago program which has grown to over 7000 enrollments per year and audiences totaling over 100, 000 per year. In 2000, Mr. Parks also co-founded CYT Kansas City and served as the National Expansion Director in 2001-02 during which he helped launch new CYT’s in Denver, Richmond and in Vancouver!
We believe he will be able to do for CYT VanPort what he did for CYT Kansas City in one year: create a strong foundation for a long-term, viable CYT ministry that can serve the VanPort area even better than before. Some of his tasks will include but not be limited to: increasing overall sales, eliminating all unnecessary expenditures, expanding Board participation, expanding programming where needed, evaluating and, in general, fine tuning all aspects of the CYT VanPort. Finally he will be the chief advisor to the CYT VanPort Board in the hiring of a long-term Business Manager in the immediate future and an Artistic Director to take over when he leaves.
Justin will be traveling to Portland for a visit around June 20-23 with his wife, Rachel. At this time, a review of the 2010-2011 budget will take place with the CYT VanPort Board and changes will be considered for the upcoming season. Justin will meet with current staff to go over thoughts about the transition. Also Justin will participate in a Parent meeting to share his vision with parents. Justin and Rachel are also hoping to view housing options. They have four children ages 1-7 and because of a significant pay-reduction they are taking hope to secure free or reduced cost housing during their stay in Vancouver. If you have any housing leads please email or call Bethany Larson, at b.larson@cytvanport.org.
Bethany Larson has been the interim Executive Director and Anne Dunlop the interim Artistic Director while the CYT VanPort board considered options for the future. They will be assisting Justin during the transition over the next few months as he comes on board.
We are thankful that Lord has provided this opportunity to bring Justin to CYT VanPort. We are also thankful that the CYT Board in Chicago has generously offered and allowed Justin to take a leave of absence to come assist CYT VanPort as well as contribute financially towards this venture. It is all truly an answer to prayer!
The Daily Herald interviewed the McHenry County cast of CYT Chicago’s Les Miserables: School Edition this week. The young actors performed at Huntley High School, “bringing the message of love, redemption and revolution” to the stage.
The article, by Holly Zissman, states,
“‘It was time for CYT to do ‘Les Mis’ again,’ said director Teri Leman. ‘It’s my favorite show. It’s a beautiful story of redemption.’
Jim Gritschke, who plays reformed criminal Jean Valjean, appreciates the variety and change his role allows.
‘Throughout the show, Valjean does a complete 180 on his view of the world,” said Gritschke. ‘It’s interesting to see how one thing going into your life can change the course of your life and change your mind. One thing comes into your life and you discover that everything you’ve known has another side to it.’
‘The whole cast is amazing,’ said Naponelli [who plays Eponine]. ‘Everyone is just so strong (with their talent). I’ve been in the show before and there are definitely a lot of things we looked at (and changed) that I don’t think anybody will expect to see.’”
You can read the complete article here.
