Your financial support of VYT enables us to:
* Accommodate our growing number of performers
Nothing speaks louder of VYT's success than our history of growth. Since our first performance of The Wizard of Oz with about 20 cast members in 1991, we found ourselves bursting at the proverbial wardrobe seams with our 2011 season's combined cast of over 170, in "My Favorite Year", "Thoroughly Modern Millie", and "Magic in Me". The cost of staging last season's productions totaled just over $55,000 and we expect that cost to continue to rise. Each dollar you contribute helps ensure that we can continue to provide the youth of Vandalia and its many surrounding communities with that incredible feeling of satisfaction and pride when they speak their first line, sing their first solo, paint their first set and experience their first standing ovation.
* Develop the talent of our creative staff
VYT's creative staff of directors, music directors, designers, and technicians come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common: a dedication to their craft and to the education of our youth. Many of our staff have already won community-wide recognition for their skills including the coveted DayTony Award. Some, however, are college students who are just beginning their career paths in the theatre. Each dollar you contribute helps ensure that we can continue to provide a learning environment for this pool of talented young artists who not only teach our performers, but add the spark and vitality to our arts community.
*Teach our youth about giving back to their community
For the past four years our young performers have undertaken community outreach projects such as holding food drives for local pantries and animal shelters, performing at area nursing homes, knitting scarves for the homeless, and the like. Last season, to connect with a theme in both of our shows, our primary project involved reaching out to children in foster care. Each dollar you contribute helps sustain our commitment to further enrich our cast members by encouraging them to use their talents to help those beyond our theatre community and experience the joy that comes from giving back to their community.
