Author: bart-n-bob

Get ready — because YATS’ Oliver! is about to blow audiences away. When the curtain rises this Saturday at 8pm at Le Point d’Eau, Ostwald, you’ll see why everyone is already talking about it. The stage is being transformed into the smoky, teeming streets of Dickensian London, and Ben Bentz and his scenery team have been working around the clock to make it look just like the real thing. Costumes, props, makeup – it’s all taking shape, and it’s stunning. Our young actors are now rehearsing with microphones and full theater acoustics, bringing every note and every dance move to life with power and precision. You can feel it already — this show is going to be something special. One performance is already sold out…

It’s time we took a moment to celebrate the extraordinary energy, talent, and commitment of our young cast. Over the past few weeks, our young actors have been rehearsing tirelessly – learning lines, mastering songs, refining choreography, and delving deep into their characters. Their hard work, creativity, and team spirit are what bring this much-loved musical to life, and we could not be prouder of the journey they’ve made together. Of course, no show could reach the stage without the dedication of the many volunteers working behind the scenes. From sewing period costumes and building sets, to sourcing the perfect props, managing ticket sales, and giving up countless evenings to help – their generosity of time and talent is the invisible foundation of this production….

Shows: Bob’s Gala, Grease, Oklahoma! What are you doing now?“I’m currently living in Paris, where I’ve just started my Master’s degree in Chemistry at the Sorbonne. It’s still very new, and I know it’s going to be challenging, but I’m excited for what’s ahead. I wanted to stay in Paris after graduating, and this felt like the right step forward — it’s a great program, and I’m ready to dive into it.” Are you still involved in the performing arts?“The arts are still a big part of my life. I sing a lot in my own time, often just working through songs I love and challenging myself to keep improving. I play guitar — especially blues, with B.B. King as my biggest inspiration — and…

Dearest YATS friends, Over the next five weeks we will need your help to build sets, sew costumes, cook, load and unload scenery, do hair and make-up, chase props, set the mics and welcome our 500-strong audiences to five performances – so to bring YATS Oliver! to life.    Every year our production requires 100 volunteers or so to make the show exceptional, once again!  With every costume stitched, prop found, drink served, and smile in the lobby will make the night magical for our young actors and every guest. Why this matters: What we ask: How we will support you: This is the moment to step forward as a volunteer.  Whether you are moving scenery, making popcorn, baking cakes, cleaning mics, or assisting actors…

Rehearsals for Oliver! have officially begun! The whole cast has just spent an intensive week at the Point d’Eau, diving headfirst into scenes, songs, and choreography. Parents and volunteers have been pitching in too, using the same space to help organize the ever-growing collection of costumes that will bring Victorian London to life on stage. This was our last chance to rehearse in the theater itself before “tech week” – the crucial final stretch just before opening night, when the magic truly comes together. That’s when lights, sound, microphones, scenery, props, and costumes are all tested, built, or plugged in, giving the cast the full stage experience for the first time. Until then, rehearsals continue at the European School of Strasbourg, where the cast will…

Our upcoming production of Oliver! is just around the corner – and tickets are already selling fast! Don’t miss your chance to join us for this timeless musical filled with unforgettable characters, rousing songs, and plenty of heart. Few shows are as deeply woven into British culture as Oliver! – it’s one of those musicals that feels instantly familiar, whether or not you’ve seen it on stage before. Its songs and phrases have found their way into everyday life in the UK, so much so that you might stumble across a nod to Oliver! in the most unexpected places. Take York, for example: this summer one of our members spotted references to the show on a ‘pub’ menu and even in the name of a…

Get ready, Strasbourg – this autumn, YATS is bringing you Oliver!, and it’s going to be our biggest show yet. We mean that literally: the largest set in our history (built by the brilliant Ben Bentz) and more seats on sale than ever before. Why more seats? Every performance of Shrek the Musical, our 2024 show, sold out two weeks before opening night so to avoid the same last minute clamor for spare tickets we’re expanding capacity to the absolute max. So, for the first time ever, we’re opening up the balcony! That’s right – rows R, S & T are now available, offering: Extra legroom compared to the stalls, a sweeping view of the entire stage, steeply raked seating – so no tall dude…