Summer Youth Theatre Ensemble Program Culminates with An Original Production Fully Created by Students

As a part of their expanding education outreach, KCRep launched its first Youth Summer Theatre Ensemble program this summer which falls under the umbrella of the EnrichKC programming with KC Metro schools and community-based organizations.

EnrichKC: Summer Youth Theatre Ensemble, or SYTE, is a four-week program open to young artists ages 13-18 in the Kansas City area from July 5th-July 29th at Spencer Theatre on the UMKC Campus. Best of all, thanks to the support of generous donors, the program is completely free for every student.

In preparation for the program, several workshops were executed in area schools. KCRep teaching artists guide students through an interactive four-week rehearsal process packed full of games, ensemble-building activities, playwriting exercises, and more. From this process, they worked together to write and produce their own original theatre piece that will be performed on the Spencer stage in the Olson Performing Arts Center on the UMKC campus on Friday July 28th at 7:00pm and Saturday July 29th at 3:00pm.

According to Melinda McCrary, the Director of Education at KCRep, "The Summer Youth Theatre Ensemble will be an opportunity for students to examine their role as artists and storytellers in our community. We will connect youth from all over KC in a way that is exceedingly fun, provokes thought and expression and enhances their sense of themselves and their place in the world through the stories they have to share."

Featuring 36 cast members from 25 local schools, the student's play, To Be Human explores a hero's journey from the origin story, through life's challenges, and onto the discovery that to be a superhero is to be a super human.

"No previous theatre experience is required to participate, reinforces Assistant Director of Education Lydia Fuqua, "the Summer Youth Theatre Ensemble is a space for students to express, learn, grow, take risks, think about the world around them, and make new connections. It is a place where they can totally be themselves!"

Seating for the two performances of To Be Human is General Admission, but patrons can reserve their seats by visiting http://ticketing.kcrep.org/single/PSDetail.aspx?psn=8576