Classes

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most frequent questions about our classes

First Class?

First Class?

These steps will help with the Registration Process!

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Teaching Artists

Teaching Artists

What does it take to be a CYT Teaching Artist?

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Our new season opens in August with classes in Theater Arts, and we welcome some amazing new teachers. We are offering classes in Aptos and in Scotts Valley, register soon for the best options. Join us on Saturday August 20 for a Back To CYT event with details about all of the fall events coming up at CYT Santa Cruz. 
Every session we produce a Broadway Style show and this session we are thrilled to offer Newsies! VIsit our show page for details about auditions and rehearsals. 

Current Classes:

Class: Age: Chapter: Location: Day: Time: Start: End:
Acting 101 8-12 Santa Cruz
(Fall 2022)		 ReGeneration Church Thu 4:30pm - 6:30pm Sep 01 Nov 03
Comedy and Improv 10-15 Santa Cruz
(Fall 2022)		 ReGeneration Church Thu 6:30pm - 8:30pm Sep 01 Nov 01
Deep Dive Drama 12-18 Santa Cruz
(Fall 2022)		 ReGeneration Church Thu 4:30pm - 6:30pm Sep 01 Nov 03
Ready, set......Design! 10-18 Santa Cruz
(Fall 2022)		 ReGeneration Church Thu 4:30pm - 6:30pm Sep 01 Nov 03
Teen Dance with Michelle: "Don't Rain On My Parade" 12-18 Santa Cruz
(Fall 2022)		 New Hope Community Church Tue 4:30pm - 6:30pm Aug 30 Nov 03
Teen Voice: Bluegrass ’n’ Flow 12-18 Santa Cruz
(Fall 2022)		 ReGeneration Church Thu 6:30pm - 8:30pm Sep 01 Nov 01
Wiggles Newsies!- Early Dismissal 4-5 Santa Cruz
(Fall 2022)		 New Hope Community Church Tue 4:30pm - 6:00pm Aug 30 Nov 03
Wiggles/Our Gang: Newsies! 4-7 Santa Cruz
(Fall 2022)		 New Hope Community Church Tue 4:30pm - 6:30pm Aug 30 Nov 03
Wiggles/Our Gang: Newsies! 4-7 Santa Cruz
(Fall 2022)		 ReGeneration Church Thu 4:30pm - 6:30pm Sep 01 Nov 03
Wiggles: Newsies!- Early Dismissal 4-5 Santa Cruz
(Fall 2022)		 ReGeneration Church Thu 4:30pm - 6:00pm Sep 01 Nov 03
Youth Dance: Step in Time! 8-12 Santa Cruz
(Fall 2022)		 New Hope Community Church Tue 4:30pm - 6:30pm Aug 30 Nov 03
Youth Voice: Level Up! 8-12 Santa Cruz
(Fall 2022)		 New Hope Community Church Tue 4:30pm - 6:30pm Aug 30 Nov 03
COVID 19 Information

Welcome back to CYT Santa Cruz, we look forward to sharing our 2022-23 Season with each one of you. We will continue to protect the health and safety of every participant as we operate under the current Day Camps guidance. Because we are an after-school enrichment program and not an accredited school nor a licensed child-care facility there is no specific guidance that fits our program precisely. Therefore, we have been advised to follow the Day Camps Guidance.  

We have designed our Fall session to have large classrooms, outdoor areas, and/or larger spaces to allow more room for physical distancing, we continue using enhanced cleaning and sanitation measures, among other modifications designed with your safety in mind. We will respond to any changes in the guidelines as it becomes necessary.

I truly believe that God sent me to CYT as a kind of a Guardian Angel to help me with my task of overcoming anxiety.

Katie G., CYT Student

Teachers

A CYT Teacher’s mission is to train and instruct students in such a way as to promote the development of character, self-esteem, and confidence. CYT teachers are qualified and experienced in the area in which they teach. They have been trained in the CYT methods of instruction and agree with the CYT values and outcome goals.  All CYT teachers have been background checked and adhere to our CYT Mission and Values. Our teachers truly care about their students and provide a constructive and fun environment for them to learn.
Current Teachers

Showcase

Parents, friends, and relatives are invited to attend CYT's Showcase performance on the last day / evening of classes, free of charge! Showcase is the grand finale of each session of classes, at which every class makes a 5-10 minute presentation of something they have learned and rehearsed during the session. Don't miss the action!

How to Register

Set up a Family Account before you register for classes:
  1. Click on the "person" icon at top right corner of our website (to right of "DONATE" on any page).
  2. Click on "NEW ACCOUNT" in the pop up window.
  3. Fill out the information required, with the parent's info first.
  4. To add a child to the account, click on the +Family Member button.
If you are already have a Family Account, then (while logged in) follow these steps:
  1. Go to the "Classes" page
  2. First select your "Student's Age"
  3. Click on the Class Name of your choice
  4. Click on the "Register Now" button
  5. Select the family member that will be in the class
  6. You will now have an option to sign up for audition times. Auditions are not required.
  7. If you don't sign up now, you will have that option later in your family account

Current Teachers:

Abigail Bjorkman

Abigail has 13+ years of dance experience, in all different styles like ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, tap, and more! And Abigail is very excited to bring her love of dance to CYT.

Alice Letona

Alice joins CYT with teaching, theater and artistic experience. She has helped with set and set dressings on several shows, and was the Artist of the Timoune tree for Once on this Island!

Brittney Mignano

I am so excited to share my love of the performing arts with the CYT community. My greatest passions have always been my work with children and my work in theater. I've been a nanny for over 20 years, taught at local preschools, worked as a homeschool teacher, led Shakespeare camps, founded improv clubs and performed with a variety of theater companies in Norther CA. Past roles of mine include: Little Red Riding Hood - Into the Woods, Marta-Company, Sara Jane Moore - Assassins, Julia -1984, Wendy - Peter Pan and Juliet - Romeo and Juliet. I'm a California native and received my degree in acting for the stage from the American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York. Off stage I enjoy gardening, baking, volunteering, camping and spending time with my wonderful nephews. My main focus is to continue to support diversity and accessibility in the performing arts community.

Brooke Cohen

Brooke Cohen is happy to be a part of the CYT team! She has grown up in Scotts Valley and got her start in theater as a freshman at Scotts Valley High where she acted, choreographed, stage managed, and student directed. She went on to study early childhood education and has a passion for connecting with children and helping them grow. This lead to her teaching preschool for several years. Her love of theater reignited when she enrolled her daughter in our program and found joy in connecting with the CYT community. She jumped at the chance to bring her love of educating children and musical theater together and can’t wait for a great session!

Isabella Steigman

Hello! My name is Isabella Steigman and I am a local CYT alum! I have studied music and theatre for almost a decade. Throughout my vocal career so far I have studied under Dr. David Dehner, Emily Sinclair, Susanne Mentzer and many more. My base training is in classical music but I will always be a musical theatre kid at heart. I regularly sing for local churches and events around the Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. I am so excited to return to CYT as a teacher for fall session!

Joseph Pickens

Joseph grew up singing in choirs from a young age, and as a teenager performed in a total of seven productions with CYT Santa Cruz, including lead roles in "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," "Bye Bye Birdie," and "The Sound of Music." Since then, he has sung with the UC Davis Chamber Choir, Brandeis University Chamber Choir, Twin Lakes Church choir, and performed in CCT's production of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." Last Fall he vocal directed for CYT's "A Christmas Story." Joseph is also an engineer, woodworker, and a dabbler in many worlds.

Michelle Bjorkman

Michelle is excited to be joining the CYT family as an instructor, having graduated with honors from SJSU with a B.A. in Child Development, and a concentration in theater and dance. During her 30+ years in the arts, she has worked with performers of all ages, directing and choreographing dozens of productions in professional, children's, community, and educational theater environments. She has served the Christian community as an elementary school teacher and is now currently homeschooling her own four children. Michelle has also worked locally as a dance company manager and class instructor, specializing in Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Modern, and Zumba dance fitness. Each summer, she looks forward to the highlight of leading weekly dance parties for the Mount Hermon Family Camps.

Mikey Bruce

Mikey Bruce was raised in Quincy, California, but also frequently visited the Santa Cruz area growing up and eventually moved to Scotts Valley in 2016. During his senior year of high school, he spontaneously auditioned for the Spring production of "Guys and Dolls" scoring the main role of Nathan Detroit. During that production, members of CYT encouraged him to audition for their shows. Starting that summer, Mikey performed "Hunchback of Notre Dame", "Seussical". and "Cinderella". After his last show, Mikey stayed involved in acting though improv at Cabrillo college and teaching the Our Gang class for Tuck Everlasting. With the theatre world starting up again, he is stoked to share his excitement and passion about musical theatre!

Sophia DeLeon

First time teacher at CYT! I am currently going into my final year at CalState Fullerton where I've been studying theatre as well as film!