A word from YATS President, Sarah Bachmann
On behalf of the entire YATS Executive Board, I wish you happiness, health, and success in 2025! Would you believe that YATS will showcase its 13th autumn musical production this year? Thanks to the dedication of our members and volunteers, combined with the passion of our actors and backstage crew, YATS has become a vibrant community that families are eager to join. Our shows are now a key part of the cultural scene in Strasbourg and our reputation keeps growing stronger.
Following the incredible success of Shrek the Musical, we can’t wait to see how many new kids will join us for auditions and workshops in May. We would also be thrilled to see more parents and friends become involved during the next production – there is so much to do and it’s a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills, meet people from different cultures, and foster the sense of community. Volunteers are at the heart of our association and your support is crucial to making everything we do possible. We will be organizing a special event late in the spring for member families and friends to come together and enjoy some fun moments. Stay tuned for further information.
Announcing: Alumni Show 2025
YATS is excited to invite alumni to take part in an intensive musical theater project this summer (like Assassins and Into the Woods). This project is open to YATS alumni who will have graduated high school by or before July 2025 and who have been involved in a previous YATS show within the past 7 years. Dates are 20 July through 3 August 2025, including performances.
Rehearsals will take place every day in the afternoons and evenings in Strasbourg. Because of the short rehearsal period, participants are expected to arrive at the first rehearsal fully memorized. We will select the show based on who is available. The show will have a smaller cast size, so, depending on the level of interest, everyone may not be cast.
If you are interested or have questions, please email YATS Director Victor Benedetti directly or info[at]YATStrasbourg.com by 15 March.
New year, new Design and Technical Theater Workshop!
Learn lighting design
This workshop will give students a full backstage experience, from learning the basics about designing theater scenery and lighting to learning about the equipment currently used for lighting, sound, and video. Classes will include both principles of design and practical experience operating lighting and soundboards as well as theater equipment. Students will have the opportunity to get real production experience by working on YATS musicals, including the Musical Theater Workshop production in May, the Alumni production in August, and the October musical in the Grand Salle at Le Point d’Eau. The teacher for the workshop is Xavier Martayan, one of the leading designers in the Strasbourg theater community. He designed the lighting for the YATS productions of Fiddler on the Roof and Shrek the Musical.
Classes will be taught in English and French and take place:
Mondays: 6:30 to 8:00 pm
When: February through June (first class on 24 Feburary 2025)
Elena Muller is in the Spotlight
Past productions: How to Succeed in Business…, Grease, Oklahoma!, Into the Woods.
Where are they now?
“I am currently studying at the University of Groningen (NL) in my third year of Arts, Culture and Media. Along with this, I had the opportunity to study abroad for six months in Colchester (UK). I met incredible people from all over the globe. We went to see many musicals in London and had tea in the afternoons.” Elena continued, “My current studies helped me to acquire knowledge about art regarding film and music and to discover many performances in the Netherlands. Last year I was a part of an association that organized a yearly festival in student rooms called Stukafest. This fun experience helped me meet artists, promote the association with events and radio shows and manage responsibilities with my team. Now my priority is to finish my bachelors degree in order to find my way back to the world of performance and art afterwards.”
When asked about her YATS experience, she shared, “YATS has been a life changing experience for me. During the first rehearsals of Oklahoma, the whole cast was invited to try on costumes and have a photo session. We had such a great variety of costumes to work with and it helped me build the character I was to interpret on stage. I cherish the many memories made with the cast that day. YATS provides the opportunity to discover yourself as a performer and a person. It helped me pursue a dream I had as a child. It showed me the beauty of working in the arts and how I could continue in this direction if I put in the effort. All the crucial knowledge I received from being in multiple shows and from helping behind the stage helps me every day to build my future career!”
YATS likes…
Our friends at Broadway Theater International have opened registration for their 2025 musical theater intensive camps. This year they are offering two weeks in the Vosges (July 6-12 / 13-19) and a week in the south of France (August 17-23). Sign-ups are available now, so take advantage of early-bird pricing! Find more information at the BTI website.
YATS wants you!
YATS is seeking volunteers to help manage our Logistics and Lighting (training provided). Consider this a glorious opportunity to become involved in YATS productions, learn new skills, and make friends with some amazing people. Role descriptions and other ways to help can be found here.