PYT's fall classes are now available for online enrollment! Returning favorites, including Story Stretchers and Acting for Fun are joined by an exciting new workshop series for older students.

Three short specialty workshops taught by resident teacher Katie O'Bryon are a great way to learn something new or brush up on an existing skill for auditions! Interested students can sign up for just one subject, or take all three: Monologues!, Choreography! or Improv! Space is limited, so be sure to sign up in advance.

Other new class offerings for Fall 2009 include Group Voice Lessons and Broadway Scene Study.

"I think so," says resident teacher and choreographer Katie O'Bryon. "If the actors knew how great the training is, and how much individual attention they get, and the opportunities for great roles - they'd be turning out in droves." STORIES ON STAGE ("SoS") features stories adapted from literature and folklore in a one-act "black box" setting at Mountain View Center's Second Stage. "It's really the essence of theatre," enthuses Artistic Director Dexter Fidler, "It's about the story, the actors and the creativity they and the director bring to it." And unique to most youth theatres, SOS has produced nine world premieres since 2005, with two more on the way this season - Auntie Claus by Elise Primavera and Kate Hawley's Puss 'n Boots. "It's an amazing opportunity for an actor to get to create a role for the very first time," continues Dexter, "Some of these actors are literally getting parts written specifically for their talents. There are professional actors who would give their eye teeth for that."

Because of the short rehearsal time - Sunday and Tuesday evenings for a month - the shows are single cast. "Actors must be 12 years old at the time of the production," explains Dexter "so if you turn 12 in early December, you would still be eligible for the five shows that are in January through May," explained Dexter. Besides Katie and Dexter, the upcoming season's directors also include Michael Champlin, Elizabeth McClelland, Meg Fischer, and Rebecca J. Ennals.

Auditions are Saturday, September 12 at 2:00 PM. Actors should prepare a 1 - 2 minute monologue, dress for movement, and be prepared to cold read. There is a participation fee of $60 per show, and shows are "limited cast" due to the shorter rehearsal schedule.

Don't miss the chance to take part in Annie - the much-loved musical about America's favorite orphan. Directed and choreographed by Alex Acevedo, Annie is sure to be a great opportunity for all our performers!

AGES: 8 - 18 or still in High School A performer must turn 8 by Sept. 3, 2009
AUDITION DATES: Saturday, Aug. 29 at 10am or 2pm Sunday, Aug. 30 at 2pm
REQUIREMENTS: Prepare a song and a one-minute prose monologue. Bring sheet music or instrumental CD. Dress to dance. No experience or appointment necessary. All who audition will be cast.

On Saturday, May 30th, over 450 guests wined and dined, and danced and shopped, and enjoyed non-stop entertainment at this year's Gentry Gala at the Sheraton Hotel in Palo Alto. Guests were treated to live performances on two stages by Peninsula Youth Theatre, Ragazzi Boys Chorus and West Bay Opera. Joe Sheldon from Have a Party Pros spun popular tunes at poolside. Over 30 restaurants and caterers provided delicious and abundant gourmet treats. Guests enjoyed a silent auction which included donations from LaHonda Winery, Skin Spirit and a private tour of Pixar Studios. PYT would like to thank our many volunteers and attendees who made this successful fundraiser possible. We would also like to acknowledge our sponsors McAfee and the Steve and Michele Kirsch Foundation. We couldn't continue to provide high quality children's musical theater to the Peninsula without your support!

Grow your business and support a terrific organization at the same time by sponsoring a show or advertising in PYT's playbill for the 2009-2010 season. Our line-up for next year includes Annie, Willy Wonka, Seussical, Narnia and Footloose. It's going to be an exciting and popular season and we invite you to be part of it!

"The sun will come out tomorrow" for PYT if you or your business would consider a sponsorship at the $500 or $750 level for Annie, our first production of the 2009-2010 season. Sponsorships bridge the gap between the actual expenses of producing shows and the revenue raised by ticket sales and participation fees.

As a $500 "Star" sponsor, you will receive four VIP tickets to Annie, an autographed cast poster, recognition during the curtain speech and in the playbill, and an invitation to a special donor thank you/season announcement party. At the $750 level, you will receive all of the above as well as a cast T-shirt, a production mug, six VIP tickets in total and four tickets to any "Stories on Stage" 2009-2010 production.

If a sponsorship doesn't meet your needs, consider advertising in PYT's playbill for the 2009-2010 season. Your ad will reach a desirable demographic audience of Peninsula and Silicon Valley young families with attendance of up to 6,000 patrons per production. Rates are very reasonable compared to most printed media, ranging from $75 for a quarter page ad for one show to $800 for a full page ad for the entire season.

Please contact Emily Wu, development director at ewu@pytnet.org or 650-988-8798 extension 305 for further information.

PYT was saddened to learn of the death of Joe Killilea, the choreographer of our production of CATS in January of complications after being hit by a car. Artistic Director Dexter Fidler remembers Joe fondly as "the guy who saved the show." "It was November, and I was getting nervous because I was still looking for a choreographer for CATS, which started rehearsing in January 2006," remembers Dexter, "and my wife tells me she ran into an old college buddy she used to dance with." The old college buddy turned out to be a former Broadway dancer who had done national tours and worked with the legendary Hal Prince. "We were extremely lucky to get him," said Dexter. "Besides being a genuinely sweet guy, Joe brought an incredible professionalism, creativity and artistic standard to the actors who were fortunate enough to experience that show with him. We were always trying to get Joe to come back to PYT, but he was always too busy with his numerous other projects."

Our condolences go out to Joe's friends and family.