A word from new YATS President, Sarah Bachmann
Having served as YATS Vice President since 2020, it is with great pride and happiness that I have taken on the role of President! Along with the YATS family, I would like to thank my predecessor, Paul Bikard, for his leadership and dedication over the past 3 years and am happy to report that he will be continuing as YATS Treasurer on our Executive Board.
I have been part of this wonderful project since its creation and have watched many young people and parents grow together in a creative and innovative way. YATS has come a long way and each year we are rewarded with more families knocking on our door. I believe that in a fast-evolving and uncertain society, our values and ambitions are strong markers for our young actors and one of my first priorities is to make sure that everyone, young people and parents alike, feels involved. Our upcoming musical is a great opportunity for parents and friends to sign up for volunteer activities and I look forward to seeing you at the show in October!
Workshop places are going fast!
Looking for after-school activities? YATS workshops offer an opportunity for youngsters to discover their interests in acting and singing. It’s not too late! We still have a few places.
Introduction to Theater ~ full
Entry Acting Level 1 ~ full
Intermediate Acting Level 2 ~ available
Intermediate Acting Level 3 ~ available
Advanced Acting Level 4 ~ available
Performance Training :: starting after Toussaint
Sunday Afternoons :: starting after Toussaint (meeting on Wednesday evenings)
All workshops will be held at Gymnase Jean Sturm, 18 Place du Temple Neuf, Strasbourg. For more information and to register, visit the workshops page.
20 September: Conference on migration and Ukraine
With the support of the Embassy of the United States of America in France and the U.S. Consulate General in Strasbourg, YATS is holding a free conference dedicated to the topic of migration, with a particular focus on Europe and the Ukrainian refugee crisis. We are inviting all high-school (lycée), English-speaking students in the Strasbourg area, YATS members and friends to attend on Wednesday, 20 September 2023, 6:30-7:45 p.m. at Le Cube, Gymnase Jean Sturm, Strasbourg (entrance at 18 Place du Temple Neuf).
The Fiddler storyline provides a poignant exploration of migration, persecution, and the preservation of cultural identity, which resonates with the issues faced by all migrants and refugees, including those affected by the war in Ukraine, which is the setting of our musical.
Mykola Gnatovskyy, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights, elected in respect of Ukraine, and Anne Kayser-Attuil, Adviser in the Office of the Council of Europe Secretary General’s Special Representative on Migration and Refugees, will present the current challenges in today’s Ukraine.
Attendance is free, but seating is limited. To enroll, please send an e-mail to: 2023YATSconference@gmail.com
October 2023: Fall musical, Fiddler on the Roof
Come and join us!
Tickets for Fiddler on the Roof are selling fast! There will be 5 performances, October 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22,at Le Point d’Eau, Ostwald. Fiddler has long been considered one of the greatest pieces of musical theater, with a score that is instantly recognizable and the story of family that is both funny and touching. Audiences around the world connect with Fiddler because it seems to tell their story.
YATS Sponsor: Sipp Mack Vins d’Alsace
In the beautiful surroundings of their charming 18th century family property with 10 generations of wine making history, YATS met with long-time sponsor Laura and Jacques Sipp, along with the next generation, daughter Carolyn, at the Sipp Mack winery, located in Hunawihr (near Ribeauvillé).
Laura Sipp, an American who grew up in a military family that moved a lot throughout her childhood, told us how she personally found comradery and a sense of community through the arts. She told us, “Theater groups like YATS are a way of creating something positive and dynamic. I can see it after every show – it brings cultures together and promotes lasting friendships. Groups like YATS bring serenity to our communities.” Laura continued, “With all the problems in the world nowadays, we need to bring people together now more than ever. That’s why we’re 100% behind YATS!”
Sipp Mack has been one of the original sponsors of YATS for nearly a decade and helps us celebrate every event in style with its delicious and well-regarded Crémant and Pinot Gris. It’s been a wonderful tradition at show time. Laura remarked, “It’s a great selection. You can’t go wrong!”. Click on the link to learn more about Sipp Mack.
We want you! In search of a Technical Director (a partly paid position)
The Technical Director (TD) has the responsibility of organizing the technical operations for YATS performances and workshop presentations, including lighting, video, sound and/or set design. They should have experience in at least one of those disciplines and be able to coordinate these activities. One of the main activities for the TD is to lead a weekly technical theater workshop for college- and lycée-aged young people to teach the basics of technical theater. Workshops are taught in English. The TD also oversees the workshop students’ involvement in the YATS productions.
As YATS is primarily an English-language, volunteer-based organization working with young people, the candidate should have a history of working in this environment. YATS pays the TD for the workshop classes and, therefore, the TD must be able to work as an auto-entrepreneur in France.
YATS likes
Urinetown show: Check out recently added video of Urinetown.