Youth Musical Theater Commons - Remembrance

"Hand Cam" VIDEO CLIPS Beneath the "Death Chute" (13mb .rm)
Snapshots Set Choreography (7mb .wmv)
Act II Clips (38mb .wmv)

YMTC is an independent, self-funded program serving students excited about musical theater.

"Play it Cool!" (West Side Story 2004)
The 32 castmembers of the last production represented three middle schools, four private schools and BHS. Admission is regardless of prior experience. Click links at left to learn more. Youth Musical Theater Commons receives no funding or consideration from BUSD or from other institutions. Revenue is from tuition, show admission, concessions, and an occasional donation. The tuition is set relatively low, by design, so the program shall remain affordable for public school families. ("Scholarships" available.) YMTC pays Berkeley Unified School District at least $4000 per production in rental and custodial fees. Most of the budget balance pays musicians and the artists of the YMTC staff.

Origins

Spring, 2003, "Les Miserables" Guys and Dolls - "The Oldest Established..." Malcolm X Elementary's renowned "Gilbert & Sullivan Troupe" dissolved in 1997. It was reincarnated at Willard Middle School as "Middle School Musical Theater." As after-school musical theater thrived at Willard its founders conceived an independent whole-district program with a "youth theater" rather than a "school activity" mission. YMTC - "Youth Musical Theater Commons" - was launched in 2000. It serves middle and high school students of all Berkeley schools. In 2004 it transitioned to "Youth Musical Theater Company, an "IRS 503C3" non-profit organization.

The common thread through 2004 was its mission, and a one constant individual, and institutional memory. If you can make rehearsal in Berkeley every day and are passionate about youth musical theater you've come to the right place.

What's Next

Webmaster & tech director bwicinas@pacbell.net.
Contact Us | Staff Access | Rollover wk2 to 1 | (old) Call-up | Exp Cal | ©2005 Youth Musical Theater Commons