“Last year, [my daughter] benefited enormously from the opportunity granted to her through your scholarship fund. Her experience was simply wonderful! She thrived and excelled in every aspect. I saw her gaining confidence in herself. Throughout the classes I saw how serious and committed she was to the team effort and the production. When she finally performed in the show, I realized how much she had learned … and had enjoyed the creative process.”

- Parent of a scholarship student

Core Program - Summer Program

Heat Up Your Summer with The Origins Project 2008

BRING A SLICE OF NEW YORK HISTORY TO THE STAGE!

Actors!
Playwrights!
Comedians!
Creative minds of all kinds!

Who: City Lights Youth Theatre is looking for talented students entering grades 7-12 for this summer’s Origins Project! We are looking for students who are interested in writing and performing, but no prior theatre experience is required.

What: The Origins Project, is an innovative summer program that offers New York City teens the unique opportunity to work with a professional playwright and professional director to create and perform a new theatrical work. Utilizing primary research material, first-hand interviews, and site-visits, students integrate personal experiences with those seated in the historical past, and are able to bring history to life using the magic of live theatre.

We were delighted to have partnered with the Museum of the City of New York for Origins Project 2007! MCNY's "Perform" exhibit served as the centerpiece for this past Origins Project. Students brought the exhibit to life by performing the time-specific, groundbreaking plays that stamped the major events in New York City's history. They performed period songs, musical numbers, in addition to ORIGINAL written material while working with a director AND a musical director/choreographer. Our other previous partners have included The Brooklyn Historical Society, The Lower East Side Tenement Museum, The New York Historical Society and The American Jewish Historical Society.

Where: CLASSES ARE HELD AT:
City Lights Studios
630 Ninth Avenue (between 44th and 45th streets)
Suite 1411

Origins 2008

The 2008 Origins Project is pleased to announce its partnership with Ellis Island Immigration Museum ! There is no better location where City Lights students can celebrate NYC , since Ellis Island served as the gateway for many immigrants to create the melting pot that is New York City.

When: Mondays through Fridays from 10:00am to 4:00pm starting Monday, July 7, ending in final performances, Friday, August 8 and Saturday, August 9, 2008.

How: Apply!
1. APPLICATION: Fill out the attached application and submit it to City Lights no later than May 28th at 6:00 pm. APPLICATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED NOW! Make sure to include the required $25 application fee with the application. Checks should be made out to City Lights Youth Theatre.

2. INTERVIEW: We will call all applicants to schedule interviews after receiving applications. Interviews will be held from June 9 - June 13. At least one parent or guardian must be present for the applicant’s interview.

3. ADMITTANCE: Those selected to take part in this year’s Origins Project will be notified no later than Monday, June 16. There will be an initial meeting to get acquainted with other students, the director, and the musical director/choreographer TBA.

4. TUITION: Tuition for the five-and-a-half week period is $1,200. Full and partial scholarships are available for the Origins Project.

You may download the following applications(in PDF format) here.

Origins Application (53K)
Origins Class Contract (37K)
2008 Origins Emergency (55K)
Origins Financial Aid Application (57K)

Send completed applications to:
CITY LIGHTS YOUTH THEATRE
Attn: Origins Project 2008
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1411
New York, NY 10036