Formation 1984 (1984) Artistic director(s) Nicola Bosco-Alvarez | Type Theatre group Website www.yptmtc.org | |
Purpose Musical Theatre, Teen Education Location San Francisco, California, US | ||
The Young People's Teen Musical Theatre Company is a performing arts company located in San Francisco, California. Its mission is to provide exposure to and training in musical theatre and other forms of live performance. Founded in 1984, the group is sponsored by the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department and supported by a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Friends of the Company.
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History
As funding for arts in the public schools was being cut in the early '80s, Diane Price, who taught tap dance at neighborhood playgrounds for the Recreation and Parks Department, realized that children in the city needed an affordable and accessible opportunity to explore the world of musical theatre and the performing arts. She convinced her superiors to let her start the a theatre company for teens.
The Company, now in its 30th year, continues to offer teenagers professional quality training in drama, dance, and voice. The group puts on three to four shows per year.
As part of the 30th anniversary celebration, a photo exhibit featuring images of company members and productions through the years was compiled and put on display at the Recreation and Parks department headquarters at McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park. In addition, an alumni show featuring former company members who have gone on to have successful careers in the performing arts is planned for December 2015.
Notable Alumni
Several members of YPTMTC have won or been finalists in the annual Beach Blanket Babylon Scholarship Competition including Cecilia Foecke (2002, Voice), Philip Ngo (2003, Acting), and Angela Travins (2007, Voice). Many have gone on to have successful careers on Broadway and in Hollywood.
Alumni include 2014 Tony Award Winner Lena Hall (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Cats), Amir Talai (Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, What to Expect When You're Expecting), Jaime Rosenstein (Wicked), Anderson Lim (Awesome 80s Prom), Dominic Nolfi (Jersey Boys, Motown: The Musical), Rodney Jackson Jr. (Book of Mormon, Motown), Justin Mendoza (Book of Mormon, Wicked, In The Heights), Vincent Rodriguez III (My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Melissa Hutchison (The Walking Dead), Lloyd Arriola (pianist and conductor, New York), and Daniel Feyer (six-time crossword puzzle champion).
Directors
The founder and original director of YPTMTC was Diane Price. Mrs. Price (née Berman) was herself an actress who performed at The Purple Onion, the Opera Ring, Bimbo's 365 Club, The Hungry i, and the Sea Witch, all in San Francisco. She was director of the group from 1984 to her retirement in 2009.
Anne Marie Bookwalter, an alumnus of the YPTMTC, was the director from 2005 through 2007.
Nicola Bosco-Alvarez took over as Director & Choreographer in 2007 after 12 years as an Artist in-Residence and Choreographer with the San Francisco Arts Education Project. Nicola has an Associate Credential of the Cecchetti ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) and has studied professionally in Florence, Italy.
Performance History
YPTMTC has produced more than 120 shows ranging from classics like West Side Story, A Chorus Line, and South Pacific to more controversial works such as Rent, Spring Awakening, and the Rocky Horror Picture Show, as well as multiple original revues.
In addition, the Company has performed regularly at Halloween events such as Rec and Parks' Scaregrove and as part of the Fear Oaks Haunt. The Company also regularly performs at the tree lighting ceremony in front of the Recreation and Parks Department's headquarters at McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park.
Friends of the Company
The Friends of the Company is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Company, both financially and operationally. It was founded in 2003 to ensure the continuation of the Company should the founding director, Diane Price retire.