The Geneva Theatre Guild Youth Theatre

Grease

The Geneva Theatre Guild Youth Theatre invites all young people between the ages of 10 and 19 to take part in this summer's production of Grease.

Auditions

Auditions and Registration for Grease will take place at the Smith Opera House on Saturday, June 6th. Those who wish to perform in Grease should bring a photograph of themselves and should expect to do a short audition which will include some acting, singing, and dancing. No preparation is necessary. Students between the ages of 10 and 13 should arrive at 9:00am. Students between the ages of 14 and 19 should arrive at 1:00pm.

Who

Students between the ages of 10 and 19 may participate in Grease. Those who do not wish to perform are invited to sign-up for set construction, scene painting, make-up, stage crew, etc. The production will be directed again this year by Pam Rapoza with musical direction by Jennifer DeMillo.

What

Here is Rydell High's senior class of 1959; the hot-rodding "Burger Palace Boys" and their gum-snapping "Pink Ladies" in bobby sox and pedal pushers. Head "greaser" Danny Zuko and new girl Sandy Dumbrowski try to relive the high romance of their "Summer Nights" as the rest of the gang sings and dances its way through such songs as "Greased Lightnin'", "It's Raining on Prom Night", "Alone at the Drive-In Movie." Recalling the music of Buddy Holly, Little Richard and Elvis Presley, Grease is among the world's most popular musicals.

When and Where

Rehearsals will be scheduled at The Smith Opera House for every Monday through Friday AFTERNOON, from 12:00 until 4:00, beginning June 29th and running through July 24th. In addition, there will be Saturday rehearsals on June 13, 20 & 27. Participants must be available for all rehearsal times. Performances of Grease will be at The Smith Opera House in Geneva on July 24th and 25th at 7:00pm and July 26th at 2:00.

Cost

Those in the cast will be expected to purchase their script & music for $10. There will also be the opportunity to purchase a show t-shirt for $10 to $15 depending on size. In addition, we expect parents to volunteer some time if they can.

Further Information

Send e-mail to Youth@gtglive.org or go to the GTG website at: www.gtglive.org and follow the link to Youth Theatre

The Geneva Theatre Guild Youth Theatre is a summer theatre program by youth (3rd through 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.