THANK YOU
Thank you for donating to our 2014-2015 season. We had a GREAT season and were able
to introduce some new things into our programing to further educate and enhance the
learning experience for the kids.
End of Season Update
TECUMSEH YOUTH THEATRE
This letter will show you highlights of this very special year for us!
Update on our 2014-2015 goals
Our goal for this season
was to offer new
experiences that will push
each participant to grow as
an actor, no matter the age
or ability. We were able to
accomplish this for all
levels and ages through the
season by taking the
following steps.
Our first step was to create
an elementary age
program, providing them
with the chance to have a
professional show
experience and go through
the whole process from
audition to show.
Our second step was
adding a meet the cast field
trip. We took TYT
participants to Detroit to
meet the cast of wicked and
have some one on one time
with the professional
actors. The cast talked
about the profession of
acting and the reality of
performing life. The cast
also gave them some great
tips!
Our High school age
students put on a very
tough show; vocally,
performing and dancing.
By performing in the show
CATS, we were able to
push the students even
farther and continue to
develop their performing
abilities .
Our non musical play this
year was also a challenge
for the students. It was a
new piece written by a
Michigan playwright. The
students were able to meet
him and work one on one
with him in building their
character and developing
the direction in which the
show would take. This was
a very unique experience,
brought to us by a
connection at Siena
Heights University.; not
many actors get to work
with the person who wrote
the show and see why the
story unfolded the way it
did.
Then our step towards
reaching our goals took
place during a summer
camp. This specific camp
added a new element that
challenged the students and
broadened their experience.
The Middle school and
High school students were
presented the opportunity
to write their own play or
musical. They took the
story line of the Harry
Potter books and created a
Potter parody musical.
Within this musical, they
took familiar songs from
Broadway and current pop
culture and re worked the
lyrics to tell the story of
Harry Potter. It was a very
creative learning
experiment and the end
result was astounding.
Pictures from the Middle School musical: Phantom Tollbooth
2014-2015 season overview
TECUMSEH YOUTH THEATRE
Po Box 2
Tecumseh, MI 49286
www.tecumsehyouththeatre.com
Email: [email protected]
All of our programing this year would not have been with out the support of our
sponsors, membership and grantors. We were able to accomplish all of our goals
for the year with focusing on creating an education program, rather than a
community theatre program. Each of our students came out of the program this
year more engaged in the program, more engaged with their fellow cast members,
more engaged in the performing arts and supportive in becoming mentors for the
new students coming into the program.
Thank you! You made a difference for this program. You touched the lives of about
200 students in Lenawee County and surrounding communities. You helped give
them a place to show compassion, artistic expression and acceptance.
Photos from the show Cats
Aristocats
This was the first time we had a show
dedicated just to elementary age students.
—and it was a huge success!
We produced the show Aristocats for this
season. It was aimed at grades 1-4. We
opened it up to anyone who wanted to
participate regardless of where they lived
or went to school.
For this show, we had a cast of 60. They
had three weeks from audition to show to
put this up on stage and perform. They
took the challenge and ran with it. We
found that the small time frame allowed
more kids to participate ; because it did
not interfere as much with other extra
curricular and family activities.
The students and their families had a new
introduction to the whole process;
auditions, parent meetings, parent
support, learning lines, blocking, vocals
and choreography.
The cast did very well and the audiences
that saw the show were walking out
singing “everybody wants to be a cat”.
The parent involvement was
exceptionally high, so we were able to
also educate parents in theatre etiquette,
the process, how to support their child as
they grow up in theatre, and performing
arts.
We are very excited to say that we
will be continuing the elementary
age programing for years to come!
This was a huge success for
Tecumseh Youth Theatre and all the
participants
What Remains
This show was a first for everyone! We
reached out to a Michigan playwright and
asked to perform his show. He came out
and met with the cast a few times,
working with them on some adjustments
to the show to truly capture his vision.
They were able to have the unique
experience in talking with the actual
writer, diving deeper into who the
character was to him, character
background development , etc.
The playwright was also able to take our
interpretation of the script and see where
revisions may need to be made before
sending to a publisher. He was impressed
with the students ability to become the
character and develop the story line on
stage with performance and movement.
He was very pleased with our
performance and was able
to come to two of the
shows. We are very
thankful to Siena Heights
theater department for
helping us make the
connection!
Phantom Tollbooth
Phantom Tollbooth the musical is based
off the novel by Norton Juster. The story
line is a cute whimsical ride through a
young boys imagination.
This show allowed the students to get
into a musical that wasn’t currently on
Broadway or anything well known. We
donated the novel to each of the
elementary schools in the community and
were able to perform the show for the
elementary schools and preschools in
Tecumseh.
to theatre and performing arts. They were
not in the show because it is popular or
flashy; they did the show because the
love of theatre and performing the next
show. It was a very dedicated group of
performers!
The students did very well with this
performance and showed the dedication
Cats
This musical is a very challenging
performance for actors of any age; let
alone high school age students. They
performed with a live orchestra and
encountered many “firsts” as actors.
For many of the actors/actresses, they had
never danced before. Unlike other shows
where the technique heavy dancing was
left to the ensemble; this show required
all characters to learn basic ballet
technique. Each male cast member also
learned Pas de Deux (partner dancing)
which included over head and shoulder
lifts.
The entire cast was also on stage
throughout the entire show. In most
musicals, only the lead character is on
stage the majority of the time. In this
show, each character was essential to the
plot and direction of the show.
The choral singing and vocal strength that
was needed to pull off this show was a
challenge that was accepted and exceeded
by every cast member.
We also introduced stage fighting, up
close special effects, and pyro techniques
With this show, we also held a Gala
opening night event. Audience members
dressed up, The TCA provided wine
and the Middle School age students
served hors d’oeuvres to audience
members before the show.
Great success and a great way to end
the show season !
Summer Camps
Summer camps are a group effort with TYT
and the TCA. We teach the participants
about how each element of the process
works and let them participate in all areas
such as: lights, stage design, costume design
and performing.
This year the middle and high school age
students created their own show from
scratch titled “a Potter Parody”. It was
clever and catchy show in which they
created new lyrics to popular songs,
designed their own costumes, sets , and
props. It was a great time, a new challenge,
and fun summer event!
“Wicked” meet and greet
Our field trip this year was
to see Wicked at the
Detroit Opera house. We
wrote a grant to cover the
cost of the bussing for all
of the students. After the
performance venue was
cleared of audience
members; some of the cast came down to
meet our Tecumseh Youth Theatre
students. They had a great experience
talking to the cast. The students presented
the cast with their questions which were
educated and well thought out.
“How much time did you have to learn this show?”
“What tips do you have for us as we audition?”
The cast did well with answering and giving them
honest answers. “It isn't a joy to do all the time ; it
take s passion and dedication.” “If you are truly
dedicated then all the hard work is worth it in the end
and it is amazing.” Were some of the enlightening
answers provided by the cast.
The first picture to the right is the cast with all of our
students and parents. The picture on the bottom is
the wizard, Galinda and other cast members talking
to the students.
“What is your rehearsal schedule like?”
2015-2016 Season! Up and coming events
We are starting off the season in
November 2015 with Lion King. This
experience is for elementary age students.
This is a joint effort with Tecumseh
Public Schools.
We will also be hosting another field trip
to see Newsies at the Detroit Opera
House in December. We are going to
work in a meet and greet again this time
as well!
Legally Blonde will be the show for the
middle school age students 5th-8th grades
set for February of 2016.
Rocking out the 80’s with the High
School age students in the Wedding
Singer this March 2016.
Our summer camps will also be on the
books for 2016. Dates TBD
Website:
Www.tecumsehyouththeatre.com
Email:
[email protected]
We have a couple more tricks up our
sleeves for new experiences, but have not
yet solidified the details to announce just
yet!
Facebook:Tecumseh Youth Theatre
Stay tuned to our website and social
media for updates!
Twitter: theatretyt
Instagram:theatretyt
Remind.com: use the email as a look up