About

Welcome to CYT!


CYT is an after-school theater arts training program for students ages 4-18. Since its founding in 1980, CYT (Christian Youth Theater) has grown to be the largest youth theater program in the nation, with Branches across the country training thousands of students a year.

CYT stands in the forefront in its commitment to the highest ethical, moral, technical, and artistic standards of excellence. Instructors are professionals, qualified in teaching and/or performing, who understand our mission statement, values, objectives, and goals.

Something for Everyone

CYT offers after-school classes for students ages 4-18.  Weekly two-hour classes run during a ten-week session (Fall, Winter, & Spring) and might include acting, singing, dancing, behind-the-scenes training in makeup, costumes, tech, and more!  Class sizes are small and offer supervision both inside and outside the classroom. Each session culminates in a high-energy showcase to demonstrate to family, friends, and fellow students the skills acquired.
Learn About Classes!

All the World's a Stage

CYT shows are family appropriate and an excellent way to introduce children to the arts at a young age!

CYT Tri-Valley produces three Broadway-style musicals and three one-hour musicals each year and students 8-18 who enroll in a CYT class may audition for the current productions. Students are also welcome to join our backstage crew, run spotlights, or join the technical team.
Learn About Shows!

What Are Your Summer Plans?

During the summer, CYT Tri-Valley hosts a variety of camps for students ages 5-12; a fun and energetic immersion into the world of musical theater!  Camps are jam-packed with games and activities that build performance skills, self-confidence, and teamwork. Typical camps include rotations through drama, dance, and music workshops and conclude with a showcase for family and friends.

CYT Summer Camps are all about fun, friendships, and theatrics - a great yearly tradition for your child!
Learn About Camps!

Other Ways to Get Involved

There are many ways to be part of CYT beyond the stage! Check out our Programs for more about field trip opportunities, our leadership training group for high schoolers, and more.

If you enjoy sewing, building, makeup, hair, or want to work in the Tech Booth - come join us! Reach out to info@cyttrivalley.org.
Learn about Programs!

Contribute to CYT

CYT is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization funded primarily through its tuition, ticket sales, and outside contributions. We rely on your donations to provide the necessary tools and materials to deliver top-notch programming at an affordable rate!
Support CYT!

Our CYT Staff

CYT Tri-Valley's Teaching Artists, Production Staff, and Administrators are dedicated to CYT mission and values, and are committed to providing an educational experience that: 
  • Inspires young people to value the study of theater arts.
  • Meets parent expectations for their students to gain valuable skills from theater education.
  • Supports the success of the CYT affiliate as a whole.
Current Staff

Board of Directors

Our staff is supported by our Board of Directors:
  • Heidi Maher, Chair
  • Jonathan Rigsby, Vice Chair
  • Kristin (KW) Baer-Werder, President
  • Genoa Sperske, Secretary
  • Tim Putney, Treasurer
  • Pearl Lee, Board Member
  • Valerie Shirk, Board Member

CYT Mission & Values

Mission Statement
Christian Youth Theater develops character and creativity through quality theater arts training that brings families and communities together while reflecting Jesus.

Values
  • Character over competition
  • People over programs
  • Service over spotlight
  • Excellence over ego

CYT Trifecta
  • Character - We look to the person of Jesus Christ as the perfect and ultimate example of character. At CYT we want to grow in Christlike character through all that we do. This is our foundation as an organization.
  • Culture - Our culture is vibrant, imaginative, inclusive, and uplifting. Though CYT may not be for everyone, everyone is invited, and all are welcome.
  • Craft - We produce quality productions, classes, and camps holding a high standard of excellence in everything that we do.
Mission & Values

Statement of Inclusion

Our CYT community includes diverse cultures, creeds, political beliefs and positions on social issues. CYT is the common ground where we work towards a common goal, treating all with respect, understanding, and love. 

CYT leaders, families, and students must be able to hold to their personal convictions while simultaneously demonstrating grace and compassion to all those they encounter regardless of gender, faith, race, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. While we are passionate about making CYT a place where everyone is welcomed, we understand that it is not for everyone. No one will ever be turned away from CYT because of a disagreement concerning personal or political convictions. At the same time, CYT does not demand adoption of any specific religious doctrine or personal convictions and will not permit any leader, student, or family to disrupt the core mission of CYT by promoting any individual political or social issue while participating in CYT programs.

Our personal convictions regarding politics, social issues, and doctrine should be left as personal convictions while at CYT. While we support churches and organizations who specialize in these conversations, we understand our lane and our calling to our mission.

Colossians 3:12-16
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called into one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

I truly believe that God sent me to CYT as a kind of a Guardian Angel to help me with my task of overcoming anxiety.

Katie Gilchrist, CYT Student

CYT is committed to putting safety first at all times. The Safety Scene program is a CYT National initiative that goes well beyond background checks in its work to prevent, detect, and respond to physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual abuse in CYT programming. 
 
Any act of abuse is unacceptable and stands counter to CYT’s beliefs. CYT is committed to maintaining a community where all participants can work and learn together free of harassment, misconduct or abuse of any kind, including verbal, emotional, physical and sexual.
 
Explore our National Safety Scene page to learn more!
National Safety Scene page
A toll-free telephone number (1-855-222-0283) and website www.lighthouse-services.com/cyt have been set up for any local CYT participants, volunteers, or employees to report concerns. This confidential number and website is staffed by a third-party firm and will report any concerns to the CYT Inc Staff and Board of Directors.

The National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD) is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse.  The hotline offers crisis intervention, information, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources. All calls, texts, and chats are confidential.
CYT Reporting Website
CYT Tri-Valley, Inc.     348 N. Canyons Pkwy, Livermore, CA 94551     (925) 421-1351     info@cyttrivalley.org