CYT Blog

Last week CYT Indianapolis opened its doors to 250 kids for their first summer camp, Willy Wonka. The IndyStar.com interviewed Artistic Director, Lori Rigdon:

“‘Willy Wonka was meant to be a fundraiser, For example, the costumes are a combination of donations from Creekside Middle School in Carmel, creations by the cast, purchases from Goodwill and various pieces and parts that CYT had left over from other shows. The rented set will include a Chocolate Mountain, a Pink Candy Boat and a Nut-O-Meter, as well as many other pieces that will wow the audience,’ Rigdon said. ‘Many of the props have been donated or handmade by members of the cast.’

Rigdon [also] said CYT directors from around the nation ‘are surprised at how many students we had for our first season and our first year of camps.’”

Willy Wonka runs weekly, through July 23. Read the complete article, here.

This Tuesday, CYT Indianapolis students performed at Karen Kingsbury’s Baxter Family Reunion, to more than 1600 seats at the IU Auditorium.

According to Indianapolis Daily Student, “They recreat[ed] some of the musicals that were influential in the series, including songs from ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,’ ‘Seussical’ and ‘High School Musical.’”

Kingsbury’s books -the “Baxter Family” series- are directly inspired by Christian Youth Theater. The event was held, “in honor of her 18-novel series revolving around a fictional Bloomington family.”

Early this month Karen Kingsbury told the Herald Times, “I did all this for the readers. The way I look at it, I’m not just a writer. It’s a ministry. I have a great responsibility to my readers and I see them as my friends.”

Read more about the Baxter Family Reunion event, here.

CYT Lafayette is in good company. They are not the only new kids on the CYT block that have been noticed by the media for their growth spurt.

The Indy Star wrote this week that CYT Indianapolis is, “expanding in its 1st year… with 105 kids in theater classes and a cast of 55 children in this weekend’s production [Mulan Jr.], Westfield’s new Christian Youth Theater is growing. Disney’s Mulan Jr. is its largest and most elaborate production since the theater started in August.”

“‘We keep growing,” said Lori Rigdon, 41, Westfield. ‘The kids are working really hard and are having a great time as well,’ Rigdon said. ‘I really believe that this will be our best show yet…God has been so good to us and has greatly blessed us. CYT has far surpassed anything that I could have ever dreamed that it could be.’”

Read the complete article, here.

Click here to see the Schoolhouse Rock gallery at IndyStar.com.

Indy.com ran an article today about CYT Indianapolis and their production of Schoolhouse Rock Live. The emphasis was on the special talent of the students in the show.

According to Indy.com:

“Westfield’s Zane Williams strums the guitar. Carmel’s Samantha Hunter plays the clarinet. Noblesville’s Kathryn Lynch keeps time with an egg shaker. Carmel’s Sarah Heath showed her tap-dancing skills; Westfield gymnasts Grace Anderson and Jacob Wenthe demonstrated their talents; and Noblesville’s Delaney Whitlock, her ballet dancing.”

Lori Rigdon, CYT Indianpolis’ Artistic Director, said looking for the special talent was “something the directors incorporated . . . to add a little more to the show. ”

Read more of the Indy.com artice, ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ show helps teach grammar, here.

Hi, my name is Mitchell Siefker, 12 years old, and I just recently played “Charlie Brown” in CYT Indy’s FIRST EVER PRODUCTION, “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown!” I was very excited at first (at the beginning of rehearsals), but getting closer to the show, I got more and more nervous.

Opening Night was a blast! There were a few “Screw Ups” (Some made by me), but most of the other shows were fine. We did an ALMOST PERFECT Performance on the Saturday Night show. That was good timing because a few students from CYT Chicago came, thanks to Jared Updike who played Schroeder in the show. We had a blast and we were all crying before and after Sunday’s show. We had grown into the closest show family that anybody could wish for. A lot of times, we prayed behind the curtain right before it opened!

At the “Strike Party”, we all had an award ceremony, as usual for most CYT productions, and a big buffet dinner! We all had a great time doing this show and still miss each other very very much. Although the next show’s rehearsals (School House Rock Live) have almost begun, we wish “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”, had never ended!

We all say “Hi” to you guys from CYT Indy! We all love CYT very much.

-Mitchell Siefker