The Geneva Theatre Guild Youth Theatre

What: Auditions for our Summer 2008 production
Who: Students in grades 4 through 12 (Geneva and non-Geneva kids!)
Where: Geneva High School auditorium, Geneva
Bring: a picture of yourself, and be dressed to dance
When: Saturday, May 31
Students entering Grades 8 through 12 at 9:00 a.m.
Students entering Grades 4 through 7 at 1:00 p.m.

Download our audition information sheet (.doc format, 333 Kb)

Download our audition flyer (.pdf format, 184 Kb)

The Geneva Theatre Guild Youth Theatre will hold auditions and registration for this summer's production at the Geneva High School auditorium from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on May 31. Young people currently in the fourth through twelfth grades are invited to audition for this summer's production of Disney's Aladdin. Those interested in participating should bring a photograph of themselves as well as a copy their summer schedule. Those who wish to perform should expect to do a short audition which will include some acting, singing and dancing. No preparation is necessary, and participation is free. Disney's Aladdin will be directed by award-winning local director Pam Rapoza with musical direction by Jennifer DeMillo. Performances of Disney's Aladdin will be at The Smith Opera House in Geneva on July 25th and 26th at 7:00pm and July 27th at 2:00.

Disney's Aladdin is a stage version of the Disney movie set in Agrabah, City of Enchantment, where every beggar has a story and every camel has a tail! All of your favorite characters are here, including Aladdin, Jasmine, and of course, the Genie. Filled with magic, mayhem, and flying carpet rides, the audience's spirit will soar with excitement. Most of all, the tuneful, Academy award-winning score with songs including "A Whole New World" and "Friend Like Me" will certainly make this musical a favorite for many years to come!

The Geneva Theatre Guild Youth Theatre is a summer theatre program by youth (3rd–12th grades) that was founded in 1986. To contact the program, email youth@gtglive.org.

The goals for the Youth Theatre are to provide local youth with an opportunity to be involved in any and all aspects of the production of theatre; to provide the community with theatre that is both artistically and educationally challenging; to help local youth develop a better understanding of the potential of theatre for fostering human development while also helping them understand the technical aspects of theatre; and to use theatre as a means of developing a sense of community. In 2008, GTGYT was awarded a generous grant from the J.M. McDonald Foundation, located in Evergreen, Colorado. The grant was given in support of our summer musical as well as the Curvin Playground Players. The Foundation was impressed by the longevity of the programs and their wide impact on the communities that we serve. We thank the grant panel for this award and look forward to being able to enhance our programming.

Each summer the Youth Theatre invites all area youth to take part in a production staged in late July or early August. All interested students (approximately seventy-five) are given a part in the production. Students also have the opportunity to work on scenery, lighting, make-up, or other production areas under the guidance of adult volunteers.

In July 2007, GTG Youth Theatre presented Disney's High School Musical at the Smith Opera House. The production was directed by Pam Rapoza with musical direction by Annie Bachman and Holly Blueye. In 2006, GTGYT performed the musical Annie Jr. at the Smith Opera House. The production was directed by Pam Rapoza, with music direction by Dewey Fleszar. In 2005, GTGYT performed the musical Once on This Island. The production, also directed by Pam Rapoza, was awarded a total of six TANYS Merit Awards. Photos from Once on This Island

In its early years, the Theatre produced musicals such as Oliver! (1986), The Music Man (1987), and The Hobbit (1988). More recently the Youth Theatre has explored a wider range of literature with productions of such as Aristophanes' The Birds (1990), Animal Farm (1996), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1993), Nicholas Nickleby (1997), and The Pushcart War (1999). In 1997 the Youth Theatre added a second program, Dramatic Inventions, for third and fourth graders. This is a series of nine classes in which children use informal drama to explore the world in which they live while also learning some basic acting techniques.

The Youth Theatre is a community-based program that depends on the support of individuals, local businesses and the cooperation of the Geneva City School District in providing programs open to all area youth free of charge. To contact the program, email youth@gtglive.org.

Past Performances

For a list of past performances and some fun pictures, click here.