Concord Youth Theatre (CYT) announces expanded online and in-person fall programming for children of all ages and skill levels, with instructors with deep talent and industry experience as well as newly implemented health and safety guidelines to meet Covid-19 precautions.
“While we were forced to pause our spring and summer programming due to the pandemic, we’ve implemented new health and safety protocols and are excited to introduce expanded programming to allow more students of all ages to collaborate and participate in a variety of creative experiences,” says Lisa Evans, CYT Artistic Director. “We have thoughtfully planned our course offerings to reach a broad range of ages and skill levels. We are thrilled to expand our classes and provide access to some of the best instructors and talent in the industry.”
All CYT instructors and directors have degrees in theater, performing arts, or educational theater and extensive experience in productions. Most are engaged in theater education in public or private schools as well as at the college level. Among the new classes being offered for pre-schoolers through Grade 12 are (a complete listing, scheduled link to on-line registration can be found at concordyouththeatre.org):
INTRO TO STAGE MAKEUP
This three-week workshop will provide a comprehensive introduction to designing makeup for the stage. Students will learn everything from tools and hygiene to basic face charts, culminating in designing makeup for exciting characters!
STAGE MAKEUP 1
Over the course of six weeks students will explore their own unique design style as they gain confidence and experience using the necessary tools and products. Students will be introduced to more challenging techniques like clown makeup, wounds, and aging! They will walk away having created face charts for 5 unique characters.
INTRO TO STAGE MANAGEMENT
Stage managers are the unsung heroes of theater productions. In this crash course, students will learn important theater basics, what it means to be part of a production team, and the responsibilities and skills of a stage manager at CYT and beyond.
LIGHTING BASICS
Students will explore the ephemeral and temporary technical craft of lighting design with an international award-winning lighting designer. Over the 5-session course, we will cover basic principles of lighting, design skills, effective production team communication, dream space design, storyboarding, collage, observation, and how to light yourself at home creatively.
DESIGNING AN ONLINE EVENT FROM SCRATCH
The current climate has presented challenges to the entertainment community, but the show must go on! In this unique workshop students will discuss what they miss most about live performances and learn the skills necessary to mount their own digital event. Students will choose a cause, create a theme, and learn everything it takes to produce a full-scale digital event. The class will culminate in the presentation of each event!
MYSTICAL MYTHS mini-musical workshop
In this online workshop, students will be able to use all sides of their creative brain through performing, small creative writing projects, and design elements! Using an original script centered on the myth of Arachne, students will learn about the components of a myth and the Greek origins of theater, all while working on “sets”, costumes, and a song. These elements will culminate in a live virtual performance!
ROCK N ROLL vocal showcase
In this online workshop, students will explore the ROCK subset of musical theater repertoire, adding two ready-for-audition pieces to their personal repertoire. The workshop culminates in a showcase where each student will take part in a group song and sing a solo! Sessions will consist of song analysis exercises, private vocal coaching, and audition prep.
SENSATIONAL CINEMA mini-musical workshop
In this online workshop, students will be able to use all sides of their creative brain through performing, small creative writing projects, and design elements! Using an original script centered around a small-town movie theater owner, students will discuss the value of music in the movies, all while working on “sets”, costumes, and a song. These elements will culminate in a live virtual performance!
OFF THE PAGE vocal showcase
In this online workshop, students will explore musical theater repertoire from literature-based musicals, adding two ready-for-audition pieces to their personal repertoire. The workshop culminates in a showcase where each student will take part in a group song and sing a solo! Sessions will consist of song analysis exercises, private vocal coachings, and audition prep.
About Concord Youth Theatre
CYT, founded in 1976 as Act/Tunes, is a non-profit educational organization committed to making high-quality live theater accessible, relevant and memorable for young people and their families. CYT enriches the lives of young people by providing them withopportunities to actively engage in the creative process, through collaboration and participation in a variety of live theater experiences under the leadership of professionaleducators and artists. Thousands of students have participated in CYT programs since its founding, forming lasting relationships and embracing lifeskills that haveserved them into adulthood.
Through CYT’s performance company productions, theater arts classes, summer workshops and guest artist performances, CYT teaches young people skillsthat are essential for stage and critical to their success in school, work and social settings. CYT draws students from more than 20 surrounding communities including Maynard, Sudbury, Carlisle, Acton, Boxborough, Framingham, Wayland, Lexington, Lincoln, Stow, Westford, Bedford, Belmont, and Arlington, among others.