What is CYT?
CYT is an after-school theater arts education program for kids ages 4-18, offering classes in the Aurora, DuPage, Kane, Kenosha (WI), Lake, McHenry, NW Cook, Oak Park, and Rockford County areas. Three sessions are conducted each year, beginning in the fall. Week-long summer camps are offered in all regions as well. CYT offers students an opportunity to develop their talents, interact with friends and learn to be a positive member of their community.
Toward the end of each session, a fully-staged musical production is presented for a run of up to two weekends. Students ages 8-18 currently enrolled in the session have the opportunity to audition for the show.
CYT utilizes local churches and schools for classes and productions. Although CYT may conduct classes in a church, it does not maintain a specific church affiliation. However, those involved in CYT at the staff and teacher level must understand CYT's Statement of Beliefs and reflect its Values and Objectives in their work.
Since it's founding in 1981 in San Diego, California, CYT has grown to be the largest Youth Theater in the nation. There are many branches across the country providing training to thousands of students every year.
CYT stands in the forefront in its commitment to the highest ethical, moral, technical and artistic standards of excellence. Instructors are professionals, qualified in teaching and/or performing, who must understand our mission statement, values, objectives and goals. All CYT staff strive to be excellent role models.
CYT is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization which is funded primarily through its tuition, ticket sales and outside contributions. Since CYT does not own its facilities for classes or productions, the organization works through the local community, utilizing classrooms and stages in churches, schools and local theaters. CYT is not affiliated with a church body, and people of all faiths are welcome.
How does CYT work?
CYT offers three sessions of theater arts classes for children to choose from throughout the school year, in the Fall, Winter and Spring, as an after-school activity. Each session consists of a ten-week period in which students take classes two hours per week as an after-school activity, covering such topics as Voice, Dance, Drama, Makeup, Set Building, Comedy, and Improv. Each class performs a “showcase” at the end of the session to show family and friends all that they have accomplished. Enrollment in our classes also provides students, ages 8-18, the opportunity to audition for the current production being produced for that particular session. Those students too young or those not cast are encouraged to participate in the production by, for example, being part of the backstage crew, helping to usher, playing in the band, etc. There are many ways to plug into a production. Parents of each student cast are required to serve on one of several production committees. Parents are asked to sign the audition form indicating their intent to commit themselves, as well as their children, to making the production a success. CYT is a family-oriented organization dedicated to providing entertaining activities centered around the family. Without the support of each parent, it could not offer the high quality productions it does.
In the summer, numerous summer camps are offered in all areas CYT serves. Fun and games mix with learning and growing as everyone prepares for a end-of-week showcase to entertain and delight family and friends.
CYT offers three sessions of theater arts classes for children to choose from throughout the school year, in the Fall, Winter and Spring, as an after-school activity. Each session consists of a ten-week period in which students take classes two hours per week as an after-school activity, covering such topics as Voice, Dance, Drama, Makeup, Set Building, Comedy, and Improv. Each class performs a “showcase” at the end of the session to show family and friends all that they have accomplished. Enrollment in our classes also provides students, ages 8-18, the opportunity to audition for the current production being produced for that particular session. Those students too young or those not cast are encouraged to participate in the production by, for example, being part of the backstage crew, helping to usher, playing in the band, etc. There are many ways to plug into a production. Parents of each student cast are required to serve on one of several production committees. Parents are asked to sign the audition form indicating their intent to commit themselves, as well as their children, to making the production a success. CYT is a family-oriented organization dedicated to providing entertaining activities centered around the family. Without the support of each parent, it could not offer the high quality productions it does.
In the summer, numerous summer camps are offered in all areas CYT serves. Fun and games mix with learning and growing as everyone prepares for a end-of-week showcase to entertain and delight family and friends.
What is Christian about Christian Youth Theater?
CYT strongly believes in setting high standards - mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. CYT is not a church. It is a youth theater company that is committed to training students to put on quality theater with a Judeo-Christian world view. All faiths and denominations within CYT look past denominational lines and see kids as kids.
CYT’s Goals:
1. Training children in the performing arts.
2. Building leadership skills.
3. Developing a sense of community and fellowship
4. Providing positive, godly role models for students.
CYT Mission Statement
CYT is dedicated to developing character in children and adults through training in the arts and by producing wholesome family entertainment, all of which reflect Judeo-Christian values.
CYT Values and Objectives
- Developing character traits and abilities in individuals including commitment, discipline, self-esteem, confidence and integrity.
- Sustaining the family unit through the direct involvement of each family members' talents, interests and abilities.
- Providing a quality product without compromising a wholesome environment.
- Placing the maximum worth on people and treating each individual with respect and significance.
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Being a Godly role model promoting the awareness of a higher accountability.
Statement of Beliefs
- We believe the Bible to be the only inspired, infallible and authoritative Word of God.
- We believe that there is one God eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, and His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through the shedding of His blood, in His bodily resurrection on the third day, and His ascension to the right hand of the Father.
- We believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith, apart from works, by the merit of the shed blood of Christ.
- We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
