Tecumseh Youth Theatre seeks support

Donations helped the Tecumseh Youth Theatre (TYT) get back on its feet in 2013, however, support is still being sought to keep the organization alive.

For over 30 years, the TYT has provided an avenue for young people in the area to get involved with the arts. Begun in the early 1980s after its founders saw a lack of theatre presence in Tecumseh, the TYT was formed to provide a theatre experience for local youth. A volunteer-run group, the TYT professionally licenses and puts on well-known theatrical works, with actors ranging in grades first through twelfth. John Cardella, President of TYT, says the program focuses on helping kids develop their personal creativity, and fostering confidence onstage. “We try to provide a professional theatre experience for all the kids we deal with,” Cardella said.

The TYT is divided into age-range groups for each show, including elementary, middle, and high school-aged students from any child in Lenawee County. Past shows include Beauty and the Beast, the Wizard of Oz, The Little Mermaid, Aristocrats Kids, and Cats the Musical.

In the past, the group also worked with a local author who was writing a play and needed help flushing out his characters. The TYT worked directly with the author in a theatrical experiment to improve the play and broaden the actors’ skills. “It gave our kids a good experience they wouldn’t have anywhere else,” Cardella said.

Cardella says the TYT is dependent on donations to survive, which usually generate through word-of-mouth. “A typical show will cost anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000 to put on, depending on the show,” Cardella says. “There are a lot of costs involved, especially when you put on a musical, because you have to pay for the rights of the play and the music. We’re really limited to our donation pool and how we manage that money.”

In 2013, TYT made the announcement that they did not have enough funds for another season. But through donations, the organization was able to keep putting on productions. “We put out a call when donations are very scarce,” Cardella said. “Our large donors were in a crunch and weren’t able to donate because of the economy. We made a plea to the community for volunteer help or help in any way to put on a production. The community really came forward and helped us out, but we’re definitely at the point where we’re going to have to do that again very soon. We’re a year to year organization, and we don’t have a large nest egg or a large marketing budget.”

The TYT makes an effort to involve disadvantaged children, as well as children with disabilities, in their productions. “We’ve had children with autism and other disabilities, and we always have roles for them,” Cardella said. “One child with autism had a great experience, and he wanted to participate and do it again. Just because you have a disability or even intense shyness, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t audition. We even have work behind the scenes. If you have a technical capacity or skill, we can put you there.”

All questions and volunteer inquiries for the TYT can be directed through email at board@tecumsehyouththeatre.com, or by calling the Tecumseh Center for the Arts at 423.6617 and leaving a message. Donations can also be given through either of these two avenues.

“The biggest thing about theatre is that is an intensely creative medium that forces you to step in front of people and invoke emotion,” Cardella said. “It invokes confidence and courage. That’s the most important contribution.”