ST MARY'S YOUTH THEATRE: February 2012

Saturday, 18 February 2012

High School Musical Cast

Troy- Noel Noblett

Gabriella -Anastasia Burton

Sharpay- Olivia Bowden

Ryan- David Brown

Chad -Owen Savage

Taylor- Anna Thornton

Kelsi- Emily Rayner

Jack Scott- Jake Bray

Zeke- Thomas Ballinger

Martha -Sofia Manfredini

Sharpettes- Jessica Northam, Shelby Thompson, Amy Bilton

Fulton -still to be cast.

Thursday, 9 February 2012

No rehearsals over half term week, everyone needed on the Tuesday following (21st).

Concert at St Mary's Church will take place on Sat 28th April.

High School Musical 2 is being performed on Fri 11th and Sat 12th May.

WHO ARE WE

St. Mary's Youth Theatre was formed in August 1993 by Steve Archdale who was concerned about the increasing problems of alcohol and drug abuse in the teenage community of Garforth. With so little for the youngsters to do, especially in the field of theatre arts and drama, the idea of creating a youth theatre seemed appropriate.

A cast of 60+ with ages ranging from 8 to 22 auditioned for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, all were successful, no one was turned away. The show was rehearsed and performed in 8 weeks to thunderous acclaim in a church hall converted into a Pharaoh's tomb by a local artist. The following week they returned eager to find out what they were doing next. What began as a one-off production became the start of many shows to come.

A disastrous fire in 1995 wrecked their headquarters, destroying costumes, props and sets. This could easily have been the end of SMYT but as a result they have pulled together and grown stronger gradually replacing their losses. As members of the Leeds Civic Arts Guild they perform at the new, Leeds Carriageworks theatre which is in the Millenium Square, mainly musicals (i.e., Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar, Fame, Children of Eden, etc.). The National Theatre Connections scheme gives the group the chance to perform new plays written by the very best writers. In 2002 they were fortunate to perform at the Royal National Theatre itself…what an experience! Their latest productions include Little Shop of Horrors, Honk, 17, Feather Boy,The Musicians,We Will Rock You, Rent, Our House, Les Miserables, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, The Passion, Our Cousin Flo, Scrooge, Peter Pan, Whistle Down The Wind and Annie.

SMYT are now based, rehearse and perform at Green Lane Academy and St Mary's Church, Garforth, Leeds and charge a yearly subscription fee of £40.