ABOUT THE CAPITOL ARTS YOUTH THEATRE

The mission of the Capitol Arts Youth Theatre is to produce high-quality theatrical programs by and/or for children and youth and to provide the theatre development of young people by creating a positive environment, promoting family involvement, and educating young people about professionalism in the arts. CAYT adheres to all-inclusive, family-friendly policies and procedures.

CAYT 2008-2009 POLICIES & PROCEDURES
CAYT uses local and professional theatre & visual artists to produce plays and musicals with youth performers. We demand professional-level training and education for our participants and pride ourselves on achieving high production values and theatre experiences.

All young people ages 4-18 with an interest in theatre, vocal musical or dance for musical theatre are encouraged to get involved (whether they plan to pursue a performance career or just want to experience performance activities as youth).

	ASHLEY GENTRY, Interim Artistic Director Ashley Ann Gentry obtained her BFA in Performing Arts from Western Kentucky University in 2005 she has served as Professional Director and Choreographer in numerous shows with Northern Lights Playhouse, Cam’s Dance Studio, Project Café, Warren East High School and Cumberland County Playhouse. In addition Ms. Gentry was choreographer for several shows with the American College Dance Festival Association and Western Kentucky University. Ms. Gentry has experience as an intermediate and advanced dance instructor, stage manager, lighting designer for several dance studios and Western Kentucky University. We are very pleased that Ashley Ann Gentry has joined us as Assistant Artistic Director at the Capitol Arts Youth Theater and as Guest Director for our December musical, Humbug! Scrooge’s Christmas Carols, a musical.
	CAROL HERIN JORDAN Carol Jordan obtained her MA from Emerson College in Boston in Theater Education and her BA from Earlham Colleg in Richmond IN with a Theatre Arts Major. Ms. Jordan has taught drama and theatre classes for all ages. Ms. Jordan has directed numerous plays including but not limited to Once on this Island, The Tempest, Little Ham, and The Wiz. She has also served an an intern for the Arena Stage in Washington, DC and for the Vineyard Theatre in New York City. Ms. Jordan has been director of summer Shakespeare camp, as well as a drama teacher for three years at Lawrence High School in Massachusetts. Ms. Jordan in addition to having directed and produced countless plays and musicals has professional theatrical experience as a director at the DC Arts Center.
	TRISH JOHNSON, Music Director Patricia Johnson has served as our CAYT Musical Director since 2006 so is very familiar with CAYT. Ms. Johnson was Musical Director at the Capitol for High School Musical and Grease. A soprano, Ms. Johnson obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Vocal Performance from Western Kentucky University and has completed additional graduate coursework in Vocal Pedagogy at the University of Kentucky. Ms. Johnson has taught Applied Voice, Ear Training/Sight Singing and Music Appreciation intermittently at WKU since 1995. In addition to university teaching, she maintains an active private voice studio of high school, college and adult students. Since 1996, Ms. Johnson has served the Holy Spirit Catholic Church community as a cantor and director of the Festival and Women’s Choirs. She has worked with the Capitol Arts Youth Theater (CAYT) teaching Musical Theater classes and directing musical productions since its founding.
	COREY MORRISON, Academy Acting Instructor Corey Morrison is a recent graduate from Western Kentucky University with a BFA in Performing Arts. He recently finished working as an Education Intern for Lexington Children's Theatre where he taught classes and directed several performances as well as directed for the satellite program in Elliot Co. While at WKU, Mr. Morrison was involved in numerous plays for young audiences, including James and the Giant Peach, Hansel and Gretel, Stuart Little, and Everybody Dance Now. While touring Stuart Little, Mr. Morrison also lead workshops, teaching on the elements of theatre. He also has experience working in Stage Combat, including unarmed and rapier, Stage Management, Light Design, and Sound Design.
	RACHEL MCCUBBINS, Dance Instructor WKU student pursueing Bachelor in Dance, with years of dance training and experience at the American College Dance Festival Association
	ELISE STUART IANNUZZI, Jr. Acting Instructor WKU student and Dean Scholar pursuing Bachelor in Acting. Attended Summer Theatre Institute (NYC), UCLA and Broadway Teachers Workshop (NYC)

CAPITOL ARTS YOUTH THEATRE STEERING COMMITTEE

OFFICERS CHAIR: Flora Templeton Stuart CHAIR-ELECT: Mary Proctor SECRETARY: Joy Denton TREASURER: Debi Maulden IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR: Suzanne Cornett

COMMITTEE MEMBERS Tom Carlyle Robyn Ford Twyla Harris Kim Jenkins Cheryl Kirby-Stokes Pam Montgomery Shannon Rich Stacey Sims Dana Emberton Tinius