Author: bart-n-bob

The Cube Noir is saved – and so is our show! We were hugely relieved when it was announced that the Cube Noir would be saved. The news, shared by Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace in early March, came as a wave of reassurance to many in Strasbourg’s theatre community—including us. We’ve performed at the Cube Noir before, and we had been hoping to return for our upcoming alumni production of Spring Awakening. But with the venue’s future uncertain for several months, we found ourselves scrambling for alternatives. Every potential space fell short, and we were beginning to face the very real possibility of having to delay or rethink the show entirely. That’s why the announcement meant so much. Not only is the Cube Noir staying open,…

We’re thrilled to announce that thanks to your incredible support, we’ve reached our crowdfunding goal for new microphones. Whether you donated, shared the campaign, cheered us on, or simply believed in what we do — thank you, merci, danke, grazie, gracias, mulțumesc, děkuji, dziękuję, tak, дякую, dank je wel and thank you again. Your kindness and generosity mean the world to us. As a reward, the full recording of Bye Bye Birdie is now available to stream on our Shows page. It’s your support that made this possible, and we can’t wait for you to hear the difference when our brand new mics get their first live run in Spring Awakening, our Summer alumni musical running 1–3 August. Tickets are on sale now — don’t…

Our microphone crowdfunding campaign is close to the finish line – we’re now only 490€ away from reaching our 6000€ goal. A round of applause to everyone who has contributed so far. If you’ve been meaning to donate but haven’t yet, now’s the time to step into the spotlight and help out. And here’s a little extra incentive: when we hit our crowdfunding target, we’ll be releasing the recording of our spring workshop production Bye Bye Birdie — a special treat for all YATS fans. And speaking of shows… We’re excited to announce that this summer’s YATS Alumni production will be Spring Awakening — the groundbreaking rock musical that explores the trials of adolescence. With a cast full of familiar YATS faces, the show runs…

A massive thank you to everyone who’s already donated to our crowdfund for new microphones — your support is incredible, and we’re nearly there! Hopefully, you’ve had a blast watching Shrek the Musical — we loved bringing it to life for you. But here’s the exciting bit: if we hit our funding target (or go beyond it!), we’ll be releasing the full recording of this year’s spring musical, Bye Bye Birdie. So if you haven’t chipped in yet, now’s the perfect time. Let’s make it happen together — better sound, more musicals, and even more YATS magic to share! — The YATS Team

Today, 37 YATS members took to the hills, hiking from Dieffenthal to the Château d’Ortenbourg in the sweltering Vosges heat. With backpacks, water bottles, and a strong sense of community, we made our way up through the forest paths. Along the way, we shared a shady picnic, enjoyed the beautiful forest surroundings, and explored the castle ruins. The soundtrack to the day came from our young performers – songs from Shrek the Musical (including the lively “Travel Song” led by Flavia, who played Donkey) filled the air, along with spontaneous bursts of airs from Hamilton, Oliver!, Fiddler on the Roof, and Bye Bye Birdie. No stage required—just voices, friendship, and a lot of good energy. It was a day of fresh air, shared laughter, and…

At YATS, every show is filled with magic—and not just on stage. Some of it happens behind the scenes, where parents and volunteers help make the fairy tales come to life. One of those magical helpers is Alex Oancea, a long-time YATS parent whose two daughters have performed in many of our shows in starring roles. During Shrek the Musical, Alex became our resident microphone-fitter-in-chief, figuring out how to sneak microphones onto Shrek, Fiona, and a whole cast of colorful creatures—without letting the audience see a thing! For Bye Bye Birdie, he took a seat at the sound desk, helping ensure every solo, scene, and punchline landed loud and clear. “It’s been lots of fun, as well as a bit of a challenge” he explains….

At YATS, we’re used to young stars shining brightly on stage—but some of the most remarkable magic happens behind the scenes. For over a decade, one parent has quietly been shaping the world our actors perform in, one expertly crafted set at a time: Ben Bentz. Father of Pierre—who will be taking the stage this summer in our alumni show—Ben has been part of the YATS family since 2013, and his impact has been monumental. From that moment on, he’s never stopped building, dreaming, and elevating our productions to new heights. Here’s just a glimpse of his behind-the-scenes brilliance: But this summer, Ben is taking things to a whole new level. For our 2025 production of Oliver!, he’s building his most ambitious set yet: 19th-century…