On Sunday, 29 March at 10h00, we’re thrilled to invite all cast, crew, creatives and behind-the-scenes heroes of OLIVER! to a very special cinema screening of our YATS production. This is your moment to sit back, relax, and relive the magic you helped create — from the first rehearsal to the final curtain call. Every song, every scene change, every costume quick-fix and lighting cue came together because of your hard work, dedication and talent. Now it’s time to see the full picture and celebrate what we achieved as a team. Join us for this one-off screening and share the pride, laughter and memories all over again. For more information and to reserve your (free) tickets, click HERE — we can’t wait to see you there!

YATS is thrilled to announce that this year’s Fall Musical will be The Music Man. One of Broadway’s most beloved classics, The Music Man tells the story of fast-talking salesman Harold Hill, who arrives in small-town Iowa determined to swindle the locals by selling them band instruments and uniforms for a band he has no intention of forming. His plans are complicated when he falls for Marian, the town’s sharp-witted librarian. Packed with unforgettable songs such as “Seventy-Six Trombones,” “Trouble,” and “Till There Was You,” this heartwarming show celebrates community spirit, romance, and the transformative power of music.

We are delighted to return to Le Point d’Eau in Ostwald. This wonderful venue has been home to many of our most memorable productions, and we can’t wait to bring this Broadway favorite to its stage once again. There will be five performances only, on 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 October. A total of 2,500 tickets will go on sale in August. With just five shows, we expect high demand, so be sure to mark your calendars.

As always, The Music Man will be produced to YATS’ usual high professional standards, with a full creative team, dynamic choreography and high-quality production design. Our cast will be made up of talented local young actors, who will be selected following auditions on 23–24 May. We’ll share more information very soon. If you’ve ever dreamed of taking the stage with YATS, stay tuned; The Music Man adventure is only just beginning!

Finally, congratulations to the winners of our Guess the Musical competition: 1. Twink Collector, 2. Mme Forbes, 3. Mme Althuser. Thank you to everyone who took part and well done to our sharp-eyed musical theater fans.

Lycée Pontonniers’ annual Talent Show promises to be extra special this year! This time, the event will take place at the Salle Marcel Marceau in Strasbourg, on March 18, 2026, at 19h30. Once again, proceeds will go towards the PONTOLINKFORLIFE charity.

Students from the Lycée International des Pontonniers will showcase their abilities in belly dancing, singing, rock music, poetry, and many other surprising talents. As ever, YATS talents are sure to be on the billing!

All funds raised during the Show will be donated to PONTOLINKFORLIFE who help support local pediatric services and education for young people around the world. In 2025, the funds raised were donated to the Sokomar charity in Cambodia to finance the purchase of uniforms and scooters for young orphan students, and to ESQUIF, Strasbourg, the mental health center for teens. Both worthy causes, you will agree!

Tickets cost €10 and can be purchased on the night or reserved in advance by sending an email to josiane_woods@hotmail.com!

We hope to see you there!

Our audiences loved Annie Jnr (2013), Seussical Jnr (2014) , Beauty and the Beast Jnr (2015), Fame Jnr (2016), Anything Goes (2017), How to Succeed in Business (Without Really Trying) (2018), Grease (2019), Oklahoma! (2020), Annie (2021), Guys and Dolls (2022), Fiddler on the Roof (2023), Shrek (2024), and in 2025 they were blown away by Oliver!

So what’s the next jaw-dropping show by YATS going to be, in Fall 2026?

The first person to guess our next production correctly on Facebook or Instagram will win 2 free tickets to the show! The 2nd and 3rd correct guessers will also receive some exclusive YATS merch!

Think big, think bold, think Broadway and drop your guess (or your dream musical!) into the comments on our Facebook or Instagram feed ASAP!

The big ONLINE reveal will take place on March 1st!

Samuel is in the Spotlight

Shows: How to Succeed…, Grease, Oklahoma, Annie, Urinetown, Guys & Dolls, The Humans, Fiddler on the Roof.

I’m currently writing this on the plane back to London, where I am in my second year of a bachelor’s degree in Economics at University College London. Although my studies are becoming more challenging and, to my dismay, I’m spending more time in the library than in the pub, I’m really enjoying the whole process.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve moved to the other side of the fourth wall, taking on the role of the spectator. Being so close to the West End, I’ve had the chance to see quite a few plays and musicals. A notable highlight was Nicholas Hytner’s immersive adaptation of Guys and Dolls, where I found myself forgetting too many of my old lines to be able to give Nathan any notes on his delivery.

I spent considerably more hours in school than at YATS; however, I believe YATS is where I did a large part of my learning. I learned a sense of responsibility as a 14-year-old trusted with playing a century-old president. I learned the importance of friendship, having to rely on each other every night. I learned to accept setbacks when I missed my cues or rhythm while practicing countless fugues. I learned how to balance work ethic and creativity when switching between backstage technical details and onstage dancing. And even though much of this learning was unconscious, I carry all of these skills and lessons, and the friendships formed through them, into my everyday life, and hopefully will for a long time to come.

Happy New Year to all our YATS fans, friends, and supporters. We are very happy to be back and into a busy start to the year. Our workshops are officially back in full swing, and the Musical Theatre Workshop group is currently devising and rehearsing our new Spring Musical!

There is also plenty happening behind the scenes too. This week, sealed envelopes were sent to our board members outlining the shortlisted musicals for our Fall spectacular, which they will be voting on very soon. We are also delighted to welcome two interns from Syracuse University who have recently joined the YATS team, they will be with us until the beginning of May. Ava will be supporting our workshops on Wednesdays, and Callan will be helping us develop a robust communications plan for the coming year. We are very glad to have the extra help!

As always, we are seeking volunteers to support our productions, particularly in backstage roles. So, if you are interested in getting involved, we would love to hear from you. We will be sharing our 2026 calendar soon, which will include all the important dates for announcements, auditions, pre-audition workshops, rehearsals, and performances, etc.

The stage is being set, get ready for your cue!

Spread the word! We are looking for three courageous souls to get (more) involved in YATS and help out on our soon-to-be-announced 2026 productions. No prior experience is necessary. What matters most is your enthusiasm, availability, and a good grasp of English and French.

1. Communications Manager

This role involves publicizing YATS activities throughout the year. You’ll take photographs and reels during rehearsals and performances, maintain our Instagram feed and other social media platforms, and ensure that news about YATS reaches local English and French-speaking communities, as well as potential audiences in neighboring areas of Germany and further afield. You will build relationships with press, radio, and TV stations, to bolster audiences when ticket sales are underway. Would suit anyone with bags of energy and enthusiasm!

2. Backstage Props Manager

As our backstage Props Manager, you will oversee props during show nights and support the practical work that takes place in advance of the production. This includes finding, building, or repairing props, checking they are stored safely, and coordinating with the director and cast to confirm what needs to be used and when. During performances, you will ensure each actor has the right prop at the right time. You’ll be an essential part of every show – and it will be fun, fun, fun!

3. Backstage Wellness Engineer

We need someone to think about the wellbeing of our young actors as they navigate the stress of school, homework, rehearsals, and performances. You will help them maintain healthy habits such as wearing masks to limit the spread of coughs and colds, eating properly, and be on hand to offer reassurance, hugs, and practical support when needed. You will offer a quiet moment backstage, give encouragement when nerves take over, dry tears, and distribute our famous “magic tea” to help steady emotions and boost morale. Would suit any mom who knows how to give cuddles!

If you are interested in taking on any of these essential roles, please contact us via the YATS website or through our WhatsApp community.

Our Young Actors can’t buy that wonderful feeling of being on stage, to keep in a box and see at their leisure. Indeed, when the final curtain falls, the tears often start. The post-show blues are perfectly normal after six months of pouring heart, energy, and soul into something magical — when suddenly, it’s all over.

But there’s something you can do to cheer our young actors up!

If you purchased tickets for any performance, you’ll soon receive an email inviting you to rate the show (out of 5 stars) and share a short review — in any language you like. (You’ll get multiple emails if you attended multiple shows.)

They will treasure your words of appreciation and it will encourage them to look forward to doing it all again next year. So, please keep an eye on your inbox!

It’s official: Oliver! has been a record-breaking success! With just 7 tickets remaining (at the time of writing) for tonight’s performance and tomorrow night completely sold out, this production has drawn the biggest audiences we’ve ever seen in our 12-year history. A huge thank you to everyone who has come out to support our incredible cast!

After the final curtain falls tomorrow night, we’ll kick off one of our favorite YATS traditions: the after-show cast party! After dedicating a special copy of the show poster for each other, all members of the cast and backstage crew come together over a big celebratory meal — usually featuring pizza, ice cream, fizzy drinks, and plenty of laughter — to share stories, reflect on their experiences, and, yes, shed a few tears.

The party also includes our much-loved cast awards, where the senior members hand out light-hearted titles like “best dancer,” or “the cast member who can do the best impression of Sean laughing.” It’s all very silly, frankly. We also hold our annual graduation ceremony, where the cast members who have just performed in their final YATS show before heading off to university next year are recognized. Many of these ‘YATS Graduates’ have taken part in as many as eight productions with us over the years. They’re each presented with a certificate to thank them for their courage and commitment. (Of course there is a very good chance they will go on to become professional performers or stage crew!)

While all this is going on, our amazing volunteer team swoops in to strike the set, dismantle the lighting rig, pack away the costumes, clean the theater, and load everything back into storage — where it quietly sits until the next year, when we WILL be doing it all again!

From all of us at YATS, thank you for making Oliver! such a huge success. It’s been a joy to share it with you.

The first two performances of YATS’s Oliver! were met with standing ovations by the audience. So, with just three performances remaining, it’s time to consider it for yourself. If you’re planning to come along, Friday night is a fine choice — not just because tickets are still available, but because it’s the perfect opportunity to see the cast full of confidence after the opening shows.

That said, regular YATS fans will tell you that the second Saturday performance has a special kind of magic. It’s the fourth show of the five-show run, when the cast are at their most polished. It’s also Alumni Night, when familiar faces from past YATS productions such as Shrek, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys & Dolls, Annie, and Grease return to join the audience. Many are home from university for their autumn break, and together they create a real noise with a supportive, infectious enthusiasm that inspires the cast to deliver a sensational performance. And, as tradition has it, this is the night filmed by José and his talented crew — to preserve the show for posterity, for the actors to watch later.

Reviewing the situation: whether you come on Friday or join the alumni crowd on Saturday, Oliver! promises a glorious evening of musical theater that will leave you humming Oom-pah-pah all the way home (everyone knows that’s how it goes.)