DRAMATIC ARTS /
Yorkville Theatre Ensemble

 Winter Musical Theatre

Yorkville Youth Theater Ensemble has been in existence for six years and is ever growing to meet the needs of the Yorkville Youth community. The philosophy of YYTE is that the theater experience goes far and beyond the performance itself. Our children and teens are involved in a fourteen week learning experience that culminates in the final production. Theater arts-acting, singing and dancing develop character much in the way sports do for our children; for the cast and crew learn that one develops their potential through hard work, discipline, dedication, and teamwork. Each performer brings his or her own special talents which are nurtured and encouraged to bloom. Participants find new friendships and form very special bonds with each other as they work together toward the shared goal. Every effort is made by the directors to put forth a production that reflects an ENSEMBLE, yet at the same time to showcase the gifts and the uniqueness of each performer.

There are two age groups who each participate in their own production. The Majestic Group is made up of children in grades 2 -5, and the Gershwin Group is comprised of students in grades 6- 10. There is some flexibility in the groupings at the discretion of the directors, depending on the needs of a particular production, and the experience and maturity of the performer.

The repertory of YYTE includes original productions as well as youth productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, OLIVER!, GREASE!, Schoolhouse Rock, and Guys and Dolls. Shows are chosen to best suit the personalities, abilities, and talent pool of any given year.

DIRECTOR

Our director for the 2009-10 season is Scott Laughead, who had been the musical director for Yorkville's Musical Theatre program since 2005. He is also the Artistic Director and Director of Education for Periwinkle Theatre for Youth, a professional theatre for young audiences. Scott is a playwright, director, musical director, educator, and drama leader whose original plays and musicals have toured professionally throughout the United States. In addition to directing many of the plays in the Periwinkle repertoire, Scott has directed plays, musicals, revues, and storytelling events for Music Theatre North, Hunter College, Lincoln Center, and the Brooklyn Art Museum. As an educator, he has taught performing arts for the NYC Department of Education and worked as a teaching artist throughout New York State. He currently trains Periwinkle's team of twenty-five teaching artists in curriculum design and applied theatre techniques. Scott's professional affiliations include the American Alliance for Theatre and Education and Actors' Equity Association. He holds a B.A. in theatre from Penn State University and an M.A. in theatre from Hunter College.

CHOREOGRAPHER

Barbara Carbone has been the choreographer of YYTE since 2003. She is currently on the faculty of Ballet Academy East, Graded Level Children's Division, teaching children primarily five to nine years old, but has experience working with older children, teens, and adults as well. She is a ballet mistress for the Yorkville Nutcracker (no affiliation with YYAA), choreographer Frances Patrelle.

CONSULTANT/SET DESIGN

Mark Erson is now consulting with us on set design and other matters. He had been our director since YYTE's inception in 2002. Mark has had the opportunity to direct at various stages from coast to coast (including Alaska) and has been a regular participant in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Scotland (the world's largest theatre festival) for the past eight years. He has worked with performers from 6 to 66. When he is not consulting or directing, he is writing his own plays.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

2010/2011

Fall Actor's Workshop: MISS NELSON IS MISSING
Majestics: MARY POPPINS
Gershwins: THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE

2009/2010

Fall Actor's Workshop: ORPHAN TRAIN
Majestics: CINDERELLA
Gershwins: HELLO, DOLLY!

2008/2009

Fall Acting Workshop:
  Theatre in Epic Proportions: THREE WORLD MYTHS
Majestics: CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
Gershwins: SMILE

2007/2008

Fall Acting Workshop: HY-NEU AND THE DRAGON LORD
Majestics: LOADING BOXES, LOADING BASES
Gershwins: THE MUSIC MAN

2006/2007

Fall Acting Workshop: AESOP'S FABLES
Majestics: SAVING GHOSTLIGHT THEATRE
Gershwins: ONCE UPON A MATTRESS

2005/2006

Majestics: DAVID COPPERCAT
Gershwins: 42 ND STREET

2004/2005

Majestics: LEARNIN' SAFARI (Schoolhouse Rock Music)
Gershwins: GUYS AND DOLLS

2003/2004

Majestics: OLIVER
Gershwins: GREASE

2002/2003

Majestics: THE DANCING SPIDER (Anansi Tales)
Gershwins: JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

2001/2002

Majestics: BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS
Gershwins: HOW TO EAT LIKE A CHILD