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| YPA will take look back in 10th year of shows |
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| Wednesday, 26 November 2008 | |
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Cliff Buchan News Editor Anniversaries are not to be taken lightly. Key anniversaries in particular. With that thought in mind, the organizers of Youth Performing Arts of Forest Lake will take a look back for this year’s holiday show at Forest Hills United Methodist Church. This year’s seasonal show marks the 10th anniversary of the theater troupe that formed in the late 1990s under the director of Susan Swanson Novak, the first technical director of YPA. “The Reason for the Season” will be staged at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4 through Sunday, Dec. 7. In addition, two matinees are planned at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6-7. This year Youth Performing Arts is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and the youth acting troupe has a full schedule of shows to share with the community to commemorate the occasion. This December, the public is invited to make YPA a part of your family’s holiday tradition by bringing everyone out to see YPA’s adaptation of their first original Christmas show, “The Reason for the Season,” which debuted nine years ago. The show features original and personal stories told by today’s young actors and, of course, a full repertoire of your favorite holiday music. “The Reason for the Season,” is a collaborative piece originally conceived nine years ago by YPA founder and director Susan Novak. The 1999 show featured stories written by the 24 youth involved in YPA at the time and many of the scenes were created by the young performers by experimenting with improvisational techniques. This year’s adaptation of the original production will showcase the talents of more than 65 youth in grades 7-12. Like their predecessors, they will be sharing their own stories, which have been adapted by practicing improv and, more importantly, by having fun. This year’s director, Vanessa Novak, daughter of Susan Novak, says “The Reason for the Season,” is about re-discovering the true joy of the Christmas season by focusing on the things that matter to us most, especially this time of the year: family, faith and generosity. “Youth Performing Arts hopes to show audiences this winter that we are all connected by our stories, our traditions and our love for one another,” Vanessa Novak said. Novak is assisted this year by assistant directors Kristi Johnson and Jessica Johnson, and Maurya Laqua, musical director. Susan Swanson Novak remain on board as YPA executive director. YPA history YPA began in 1999 with a dozen youth interested in acting. Today, the organization has grown to include almost 70 junior and senior high youth. The company is celebrating its 10th anniversary this season by bringing back it first two productions. In addition to “The Reason for the Season” this winter YPA plans to reprise “Godspell,” coming April 2-5, 2009, just in time for Easter. The commemorative season will conclude June 18-21 with the YPA 10th Anniversary Revue, where YPA Alumni will be invited back to join with today’s youth to perform some of their favorite songs from more than 20 productions. For a decade, the youth performance group operates on the generous financial support of its sponsors and its audiences. YPA is committed to putting on free family theatre for the community. Through donations and ongoing sponsorship by the Hallberg Family Foundation of Forest Lake, YPA is able to present quality family theatre with no ticket price. If you go While tickets to “The Reason for the Season” are free, reservations are recommended. Freewill donations for those attending will be accepted at the door. Performance dates for “The Reason for the Season” are December 4-7 at 7 p.m. with matinee performances on December 6 and 7 at 3 p.m. To make a reservation, or for more information, call 651-433-3085 or visit www.youthperformingarts.org. Tickets may be ordered online. Social Bookmarking ...       |
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