HOW it all began
Paul & Sheryl Russell, both teachers at Christian High, began a community theater in the family garage. It was the summer of 1980 and the show was The Sound of Music. The purpose was to provide a vehicle for talented amateur performers from San Diego's local churches. All performances were held atop beautiful Mt. Helix in La Mesa. The sets were made from cardboard and the lighting was mounted on sawhorses which created scary shadows on the faces of the actors. But the audience enjoyed it anyway wanting more so an annual tradition began.
One year later, in 1981, the parents of this newly found organization Christian Community Theater (CCT) asked Paul and Sheryl to start an after-school theater arts program for their children. Paul and Sheryl with two small children and one on the way birthed another child, Christian Youth Theater (CYT). It began with 24 students producing the show; You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.
WHAT IS CYT? By Paul Russell - Founder
CYT is an after school theater arts program training children in all aspects of the performing arts. Wait a minute! Is that what we are? That sounds so academic, so mission driven, so the body without a heart or a soul. No, here is what CYT is to me
• CYT is
a group of kids who decided to make a difference and go down to Mexico and perform for one of Mother Teresa's orphanages. What they discovered was that happiness and fulfillment isn't in having all your material needs met. It is serving others and giving to others that really makes a difference. That's CYT - where you can learn the real lessons of life.
• CYT is
a kid who didn't like getting up on stage. Instead he liked getting up on ladders and hanging lights. He was intrigued with computer programs and special effects. He would volunteer to spend all night focusing and writing light cues for shows at Mt. Helix Amphitheater. Now at 20, he has, what he described as his, "dream job at Disney playing around with lighting at the happiest place on earth." That's CYT - making kids dreams come true.
• CYT is
watching the faces of thousands of children watching a CYT play. Seeing them get so caught up in the magic of theater that they scream out loud in the middle of the show to help save Robin Hood. Or applaud wildly to bring Tinkerbell back to life. Or boo the evil stepmother in Snow White at curtain call. Or cheer with pure delight when the shoe fits Cinderella. That's CYT- making the magic of performing arts come alive to a whole new generation.
• CYT is
a slumber party after a show and everybody is invited to come. Sleeping bags scattered from one end of the house to another. It's kids singing and making up choreography to the early hours of the morning. It's toilet papering the boys sleep over and your mom is an accomplice to the crime. How cool is that. That's CYT - creating memories that will last a life time.
• CYT is
after 10 years of being out of CYT you still love to get together with your old CYT friends. You still want to stay in touch with those friends that you made in your childhood. They came to your graduation and your wedding. You still like to reminisce about your CYT days. The first performance. The first missed cue. The first solo. The first lead. The first curtain call. The first sold out house. The first crush on someone. The first stage kiss. That's CYT - creating lifetime friendships.
• CYT is
a caring teacher inviting some teens over to their house for a Bible Study. Challenging them to make a difference in this world. Making them think of what is truly important in life. Helping them to work through family problems, peer pressure issues, and self doubt. Helping them to discover their gifts, their passions, their abilities. Helping them to fall in love with their Creator. That's CYT - helping kids explore their spiritual side.
• CYT is
where parents from all different backgrounds and faiths vacation together on the beach for a week and celebrate life, family and friendship.
• CYT is
strike parties where parents and kids are in tears because the show is closing.
• CYT is
being so nervous for your audition - but learning how to push through your fears.
• CYT is
learning to work as a team and accomplishing something that is much bigger than you could do on your own.
• CYT is
seeing yourself improve. You sing better. You dance better. You have more confidence in front of a crowd.
Paul Russell, Founder and Artistic Director of CYT