Elite Ensemble/JTF
***Important Notice to Customers–Jan. 20, 2023***
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All Spring '23 Theater Operations of Pittsboro Youth Theater are discontinued–Theater Operations May Continue Under New Management in the future
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Center for the Arts MUSIC SCHOOL IS CONTINUING Private Music Lessons
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Entire PYT/CFTA Family of Community Performing Arts Organizations Up For Sale
We regret to inform you that after 10 years in business, Tammy Matthews and Craig Witter, the sole Member/Managers of Pittsboro Youth Theater LLC, do not have the financial resources or personal energies to continue to operate our theater organization or continue with plans to build our new North Chatham Performing Arts Center.
We are very sorry that our decision to close Pittsboro Youth Theater will cause sadness for a great many kids, parents and other supporters. We love you very much.
To those who are not saddened by the passing of our organization and/or those who have talked poorly of us to others, shame on you. Tammy and Craig, flawed humans like everyone, invested all our best personal efforts and financial means to benefit a community we now cannot afford to continue to live or do business in; we did our best, but now we and our money are spent.
Therefore, regarding Pittsboro Youth Theater activities,
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Spring 2023 theater casts of Pittsboro Youth Theater are discontinued effective immediately.
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All scheduled Spring '23 cast rehearsals/auditions/performances from this date forward are cancelled.
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All deposits paid to Pittsboro Youth Theater for children's participation in Spring 2023 theater cast(s) will be refunded to payers as soon as possible.
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All donations made to help us build the new North Chatham Performing Arts Center (NCPAC) will be used by new owners of our organization for that purpose if possible. If no buyer is found who wants to continue with NCPAC by Feb. 20, 2023, then all donations made to help build NCPCAC will be refunded to those who donated as soon as possible thereafter.
Tammy and I will do our best to find suitable buyers of Pittsboro Youth Theater LLC as soon as possible. We hope that a buyer or buyers will be found soon, who will resume theater operations with as little interruption as possible, continue to operate CFTA's music school, and/or continue the NCPAC building project uninterrupted.
We hope to find a buyer of our entire family of operations. One way or another, assets of Pittsboro Youth Theater LLC will be sold in an increasingly granular fashion; i.e.:
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Starting now PYT theater and CFTA music school organizations with their assets are for sale; perhaps different buyers will be found for PYT theater and CFTA music school organizations.
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Starting on March 1, 2023, assets that have not been sold in bulk with theater and or music school organizations will be sold independently (by the each), including: costumes, props, set pieces, technical equipment, music school instruments/equipment, etc
We hope to find a buyer for our theater organizations/operations that who will reopen theater operations soon and/or continue our music school and/or NCPAC building plans.
Pittsboro Youth Theater LLC assets for sale include:
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Community performing arts organizations with 10-years growth interrupted only by COVID until 2023
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An exceptionally affordable 15-year lease on an unfinished North Chatham Performing Arts Center facility with building plans to finish the space
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Every thing a community youth theater needs to do business, including: costumes, props, set pieces and technical equipment (lighting, audio, etc.), furniture, fixtures, etc.
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Office equipment, software, procedures, experienced staff contacts
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Much, much more
We will try to communicate the wonderful upsides of our organization to prospective buyers who have the resources to follow through with building and opening North Chatham Performing Arts Center by Summer 2023.
Tammy and Craig's goal was to transfer ownership/operation to new, younger and more capable owners and/or operational staff before we got into this situation. We're sorry that things came to this so suddenly, and we hope that we can find some way for PYT to continue to provide services to our patrons soon.
Sincerely,
Tammy Matthews and Craig Witter
Co-founders, Owners, Operators, Member/Managers
Pittsboro Youth Theater LLC
PYT's Elite Ensemble Cast Awarded
"OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION"
at 2023 Junior Theater Festival
Atlanta, GA • January 13, 2023
Pittsboro Youth Theater's Elite Ensemble kids delivered an exceptional performance of "Peter Pan Jr." at the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta Friday, Jan. 13, 2023.
There was lots of laughter in the house during their performance. The crowd in the big convention center meeting room, which was nothing like we have in Pittsboro–much larger even than Sweet Bee Theater, the 1 and only community theater in Chatham County–gave a long standing ovation and the judges were captured by the kids' performance.
WATCH Full Program Performed for Judges
Peter Pan Jr. "Outstanding Performance"
at '23 Atlanta Junior Theater Festival
by Pittsboro Youth Theater's Elite Ensemble.
Cast list and award winners
in end credits.
Amari Bullett Awarded
"OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
BY AN ACTOR"
at 2023 Junior Theater Festival
Atlanta, GA • January 13, 2023
It took 14-minutes and 30-seconds for JTF to recognize the brilliance of Amari Bullett.
No gem shines brighter than Amari in the eyes of those who get to know her. Everyone at PYT has been blessed to have her grace our stage and our lives over the last 7 years.
Amari's First PYT Play: "Wizard of Oz"
May 2016 at the Pittsboro Community House
Shown left to right are: Lachlann Kepley (Good Fairy), Shae Leighton (Dorothy), Skippy Gustafson (Tin Man), Kyle Stinson (Lion), Tammy Mathews (Pittsboro Youth Theater Artistic Director/Co-founder),
Amari Bullett (Wicked Witch), Liam Priddle (Scarecrow).
Our small town kids brought down the house
at JTF Atlanta, the worlds largest celebration of youth musical theater.
Stellar recognition gushed from the panel of professional theater Judges after their performance. Our kids, dressed to the nines in matching outfits, ended up winning "Outstanding Production" and will perform on the big Cobb Convention Center stage–an honest-to-goodness-Broadway-quality stage–before an audience of nearly 7,000 at the closing ceremonies Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023.
Disney, Music Theater International executives and theater loving folks from around the world will go home from this once-a-year event knowing Pittsboro, NC has great youth theater!
Thank you to all the directors, parents and volunteers who made PYT's 2023 JTF experience possible.
WATCH "I'm Flying" Main Stage Performance
Peter Pan Jr. "Outstanding Performance"
at '23 Atlanta Junior Theater Festival
by Pittsboro Youth Theater's Elite Ensemble.
Cast list and award winners
in end credits.
Elite Ensemble/JTF is Pittsboro Youth Theater's top tier providing advanced training in theater's "Big 3" (singing, dancing and acting) to elite-level young stage performers in the Triangle. Members of PYT's EE/JTF cast must pass an audition to join, exhibit outstanding commitment to participate and ultimately compete at Junior Theater Festival (JTF) Atlanta.
AUDITIONS
for '23-'24 JTF Elite Ensemble
will be scheduled soon for some weekend day in early Spring.
Location: Sweet Bee Theater
18A East Salisbury St., Pittsboro, NC 27312
Pittsboro Youth Theater's E lite cast of
Disney's "Frozen" musical at
2022 Junior Theater Festival (JTF) Atlanta.
Introduction to PYT's Elite Ensemble/JTF
Pittsboro Youth Theater's Elite Ensemble (PYT's EE) is for actor/singer/dancers with on-stage experience and/or exceptional abilities. This cast is competitive by nature, rehearses for 8-months, and ultimatly competes against other casts in the worlds largest youth musical theater festival, JTF Atlanta. A high degree of dedication is required of PYT's EE cast members and their families.
Members of PYT's Elite Ensemble will rehearse for 8-months in preparation for their trip to perform/compete at 2023 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta. During rehearsals expert direction will be provided in the big 3 disciplines of musical theater: acting, singing and dancing by the finest professional Directors in each discipline available. In addition to PYT's staff Directors, members of PYT's EE/JTF will receive special trainings by select theater professionals in the area and attend live musical theater in the region as a group.
PYT's JTF cast membership is by audition only. No one is guaranteed a spot. Auditions will be open to those with no history with Pittsboro Youth Theater. So, come to the audition well prepared. Based on auditions PYT Directors will invite the top 20 actors, singers and dancers plus 2 alternates based on their auditions. Staying in the cast through JTF 2024 will require a high level of commitment, excellent attendance, continual skill development, team spirit and following PYT's rules.
AUDITION INFORMATION
Musicals to sing and read from in audition are sent to potential team members after contacting our Artistic Director. These may not be the only shows that we choose from for JTF…just a starting place.
- Into the Woods
- Lion King
- Madagascar
A dance sequence will be taught and performed during the audition. Wear clothes to the audition that allow freedom of movement. Dance clothes are recommended for those who have them. JTF clothes would be great.
A successful audition will be required before being invited to join PYT's Elite Ensemble/JTF cast.
2024 JTF Atlanta
The Junior Theater Festival Atlanta dates are TBA.
For more information about JTF visit:
- newspaper article about PYT's experience at 2022 JTF Atlanta.
The Junior Theater Festival (JTF) is the world’s biggest and
best celebration of young people performing musical theater.
More Info.
"The Big 3" Disciplines of Musical Theater
Professional Directors will supervise every JTF rehearsal. All JTF cast members will be presented, rehearse and perform advanced Acting, Singing and Dance. Students will be expected to master the basics of each discipline.
- Acting: monologues, duo scenes, small group scenes, beginning improv
- Vocal: proper singing techniques, ensemble singing, solo singing, breath support, confidence, harmonies
- Dance: Coordination, Timing, Rhythm, Conditioning, Vocabulary, Strength, Flexibility
Requirements
PYT's Elite Ensemble (JTF cast) is not for everyone. Successful Elite Ensemble members must be very dedicated.
- Attendance: A maximum of 4 unexcused absences during the entire 8 month season will result in consequences.
- Rehearsal Dress Code: Elite cast members must wear black jazz pants, jazz shoes and a plain black shirt to all rehearsals.
- Consequences: Elite cast members who do not follow rules, directions or miss too many rehearsals will become alternates. Alternates who do not follow rules, directions or miss too many rehearsals will be removed from the program and replaced.
- While the Elite Ensemble's main purpose is to go to 2023 JTF Atlanta, they will also perform at street fairs and other community events. Participation in all events is expected.
Catherine Hall and other
PYT actors won awards at
2022 JTF Atlanta.
2023 Rehearsal Schedule
Rehearsal dates and times will vary by season. Rehearsals will include multiple segments dealing with musical theater skills as follows.
April-May 2022
Fridays 5:00-7-00pm (except Fridays on 4/8, 4/29, 5/13 and 5/20 are replaced with optional Thursday rehearsals on 4/7, 4/28, 5/12 and 5/19)
- 5:00-6:00pm - Group Vocal Training
- 6:00-7:00pm - Dance, Technique
June-July 2022
Wednesdays 5:00-7-00pm
- 5:00-6:00pm - Acting, Monologues/Scenes from potential musical plays
- 6:00-7:00pm - Dance, Musical Theater Jazz
- Musical play will be chosen and roles will be assigned by the last rehearsal in July
September-December 18, 2022
Sundays 3:00-6:00pm
- 3:00 to 4:00 - Dance, Choreography
- 4:00-5:00pm - Blocking and Acting
- 5:00 to 6:00pm - Group Vocals
- No rehearsals during holiday break 12/19/22-1/3/23
January 4-10
This week will have many mandatory weekday evening and weekend day rehearsals.
- Dates and Times TBD
- Mandatory Intensive Run-through Rehearsal
Cost
Once admitted into the cast, the following fees and costs will be due.
- $115 per month, per Elite Ensemble cast member, April-December 2022 which will cover:
- All group vocal, dance and acting rehearsals
- JTF attire (3 t-shirts, skirt or pants, shoes and a team jacket and bag)
- All PYT expenses including JTF group registration fee, administrative and other costs.
- $TBA one-time registration fee to JTF Atlanta for each cast member and any other person entering festival.
- Cast member families must cover the cost of food, lodging and transportation to Atlanta. All cast members must stay in the same hotel to be arranged by PYT.
- PYT will not be fundraising for JTF but individuals are welcome to conduct and administrate their own fundraising activities. Specific revokable permission must be obtained in writing from Pittsboro Youth Theater before our name or logo can be used in any way.
PYT Actors traded JTF bracelets with other youth theater casts from around the globe.
