Kansas City Youth Perform A Christmas Carol

Nearly forty youth from across Kansas City will perform A Christmas Carol this holiday season as a part of Christian Youth Theater's (CYT) east program. The east program is one of four areas that host CYT programs in Kansas City.

Students ages 8 - 18 auditioned this fall for the production, which will be performed at Goppert Theater at Avila University beginning December 15. The production will have a run of 7 shows through December 18. A video of the show's preparations can be viewed at http://video214.com/play/flZBWcIjLaovUZlUEHZ1rA/s/dark .

CYT has been in the Kansas City community for 12 years and will produce 11 Broadway-style musicals this season. It offers youth an opportunity to learn theater skills in a safe, supportive environment, teaching them to Act, Sing, Dance, Live!

Show synopsis:Charles Dickens' classic gets the full Broadway treatment by the Broadway team of Alan Menken ("Beauty and the Beast," "Little Mermaid,"), Lynn Ahrens ("Ragtime," "Seussical") and Mike Okrent ("Crazy For You," "Me and My Girl.") Called by The New York Times "a tonic for adults, and for children a transfixing journey," this spectacular musical extravaganza ran for ten years at Madison Square Garden, complete with falling snow, exuberant dances by famed choreographer Susan Stroman, flying ghosts and a magnificent set which recreated the streets, graveyards, homes and buildings of Dickensian London. In 2004, this version became the basis of an NBC Hallmark Entertainment special (teleplay adaptation by Lynn Ahrens) featuring Kelsey Grammer as Scrooge, and an array of stars including Jason Alexander, Jesse L. Martin, Jane Krakowski, Geraldine Chaplin, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ruthie Henshall. But even without starry casts and spectacular trappings, this "A Christmas Carol" retains its emotional power and pure joy, thanks to the marvelously-told story by Ockrent and Ahrens, and the Menken/Ahrens score filled with beautiful melodies and emotional lyrics. In fact, their song "A Place Called Home" has become a holiday standard.

A Christmas Carol Performance Times
Day Performances
Thursday, December 15 - 10:00 am
Friday, December 16 - 10:00 am
Public Performances
Thursday, December 15 - 7:00 pm- Family Night Show
Friday, December 16 - 7:00 pm
Saturday, December 17 - 2:00 pm
Saturday, December 17 - 7:00 pm
Sunday, December 18 - 2:00 pm
Goppert Theater, Avila University
11901 Wornall Road
Kansas City, MO 64145

ON-LINE TICKET ORDERING AVAILABLE AT CYTKC.ORG

Tickets may be purchased in advance via phone at 913-681-3318 or at the door 30 minutes in advance. Advanced ticket sales are offered at a reduced cost.
(Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover accepted.)