All Dance and Drama classes, Jim’s Jazz Band and Choir were sent letters confirming show details during the Easter holidays, but if you are unsure as to when your class is rehearsing please see the posters below:

1st JUNIOR SHOW Sunday 20th May

SENIOR SHOW Sunday 27th May

2nd JUNIOR SHOW Saturday 23rd June

Jasspa has run JYT for ten years and in that time has hosted many exciting projects with different Directors. Due to maintenance works there will unfortunately not be the facilities for JYT to host a full course at JAGS this summer. But this is not the end of JYT!!

So, from summer 2012 JYT will take on a new form. Jasspa Youth Theatre will become South London Youth Theatre (new working title) – under Spencer James’s direction.

Although this youth group will no longer fall under the Jasspa umbrella, Spencer James and the JYT team are committed to continuing this exciting company.  SLYT intends to use the Prissian Theatre at JAGS for this year’s production, with rehearsals located nearby.  If the theatre is not available we will be looking at a space with the same audience capacity of at least 200 seats and within Central London.  Provisional dates for the 9 or 10 day workshop are Wednesday 22nd August – Sunday 2nd September, with a weekend break for the August Bank Holiday.  PLEASE NOTE that these dates are provisional and we would advise that nobody should rule themselves out based on any potential conflicts within this period.

There will be some exciting changes and additions to the strong structure that has been built up over the years by Simone Waller, Will Feasey and other members of the JYT team, including….

·         an increase in the age range to include ages 13-21.
·         a weekly SLYT class taking place on Monday evenings at JAGS from 7.30-9.30pm weekly.
           (There is no requirement to attend the weekly class in order to take part in the holiday production.)

Spencer and his team are busy choosing this summer’s production and would be particularly interested to hear YOUR ideas for the Summer show.

Auditions for SLYT will commence in June, but Spencer would like to hear from you now if you are interested in joining this year’s company.

To express your interest in taking part in this summer’s production or to share ideas for this year’s production please contact Spencer James at spencer@gleekschool.com or on 0203 566 9710.

There will of course be a continuing close relationship between Jasspa and Spencer’s team; we all look forward to a successful, new look Youth Theatre!

JYT works with a combination of regular and guest directors, all of whom come from a highly diverse and talented backgrounds and  work very closely together on each JYT project. This summer the JYT includes:

Spencer James – Senior Director
Spencer trained at GSA Conservatoire and on the 3 year Musical Theatre course Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, gaining his B A Honours degree in 2003. Professional theatre credits include lead roles in Bye Bye Birdie (Conrad Birdie), The Wiz (Scarecrow), Aladdin (Genie), Chicago (Billy Flynn) and most recently he created the role of Shere Khan in a new musical adaptation of The Jungle Book. In January 2010 Spencer established ToneAcity, the first professional Glee Club in London, and shortly after this founded Harmony High and The Highlights in the heart of Dulwich, where Spencer is a well-established teacher and Director.  His glee clubs have gone on to appear on Don’t Stop Believing (Channel 5) and Comic Relief Does Glee Club (BBC1). As a Director and Choreographer Spencer has worked on productions in New York, Bangkok, Italy, and on numerous youth productions in the UK, including We Will Rock You, Children Of Eden, Bugsy Malone, Joseph, Chicago and A Chorus Line. Spencer is thrilled to be taking on the role of Director for the Jasspa Youth Theatre in Summer 2011.

Simone Waller – Choreography and Director

Simone began her career as a dancer in London’s West End where she performed for 15 years. She furthered her training at the Poor School and went on to work successfully as an actor for a number of years. More recently Simone has been lecturing, choreographing and directing for a variety of professional schools. Her experience is extensive, including teaching for Guildford Conservatoire and E15 Drama School, managing and lecturing drama courses at Islington college, designing the BA Musical Theatre course at Kingston College, and working on freelance professional projects. She is currently undertaking a Masters in Performance at Goldsmiths University.  She has been Choreographing and Directing for JYT for six years and is excited to be working with the company again on this latest production.

Will Feasey, from JAGS will also be joining the directorial team, plus a  guest Musical Director who will shortly be announced!

Auditions for SLYT will commence in June, but Spencer would like to hear from you now if you are interested in joining this year’s company.

To express your interest in taking part in this summer’s production or to share ideas for this year’s production please contact Spencer James at spencer@gleekschool.com or on 0203 566 9710.

For students thinking of joining the Youth Theatre for the first time it may be helpful to see how last year’s auditions were organised. Please find below last year’s information:

Entry is by audition and whilst no previous experience is required to try out,  a flair for performing is essential. There is no charge for the audition and new students are most welcome.

First Round:  7th June
Re-calls: 14th June

Audition Criteria: For the first round auditions we want to see potential and personality!  We need a diverse cast of performers capable of conveying a range of emotions, whether that be through drama, dance or singing.

DRAMA – Please choose one of the following speeches below to present in the drama workshop, you will be asked to present some or all of your speech.  Alternatively, if you would like to bring a Shakespeare piece, we would love to see 12 lines maximum from any speech, or a Shakespeare Sonnet.

1. Ti-Moune (A young peasant girl)
I…I am Mademoiselle Ti-Moune.  I.  I was the one who danced at the ball.  I wore a beautiful dress.  The people applauded!  The gods sent me.  They want me to be with him.  Daniel needs me.  He loves me.  Without me, he’ll die.  Tell him I am here.  Tell him Ti-Moune is waiting for him.

2. Andrea (A rich and wealthy girl)
Well, its very clear, she’s in love with you.  If you care Daniel, if you care at all, you must tell her!  My dear Mademoiselle, I have something to say, something I fear was left unsaid…Many thanks for all you’ve given Daniel, but I fear you’ve been misled.  My dear Mademoiselle, you dance beautifully, I pray you’ll dance for Daniel and me when we are wed.

3. Daniel (A rich boy)
Where did you come from?  You’re not supposed to be here!  And what are you talking about, saving my life?  You think that your peasant superstitions can do what doctors can little girl?  A pretty Ti-Moune sent by the gods.  What harm can it do?  Stay.  Make me forget this pain.

4. Papa Ge (God of Death)
There were promises made in the darkness, promises made in your sleep.  Promises the gods demand you keep!  You gave him a love that he would soon betray.  You gave him life, and now I am the price that you’ll pay.  Sure as the grave, you must accept your fate, now your life is forever mine!

DANCE – At the first round auditions you will be taught a short piece of choreography in the style of the show.  We will need strong dancers to tell our story, but nobody should be put off if dance is not their strongest suit.  Accomplished dancers or movers with acrobatic/gymnastic ability will have the chance to show this off should you proceed to the recall audition. We mostly need to see an ability to pick up choreography with style and confidence, or at least the will to!

SINGING – Please prepare a song that shows off your vocal style, lasting no longer than 1 minute 30.  With clever and thoughtful editing this should tell us as much as we need to know about your singing at this stage.  The most important thing is that you prepare a piece that tells us about you, so whether you love Snow Patrol or Disney, Stephen Sondheim or Adele, show us your style and vocal range!  Please bring an edited/cut CD with your name marked on it and have the track number listed on the CD, or bring marked piano sheet music.  Alternatively, you can sing a cappella if preferred.

Provisional dates for the 9 or 10 day workshop this summer are Wednesday 22nd August – Sunday 2nd September, with a weekend break for the August Bank Holiday.  

PLEASE NOTE that these dates are provisional and we would advise that nobody should rule themselves out based on any potential conflicts within this period.

Fees are yet to be finalised but will be similar to previous JYT courses. The summer 2012 course cost £300 – this included tuition from 10am – 6pm daily, costumes, venue and lunch.

Each project has a specific age range and previous projects have included pupils aged 8-18.

Since JYT’s formation musical productions have included:

• The Wizard of Oz (2003)
• Annie (2005)
• Bodywork (2006)
• Bugsy Malone (2007) 
• Thoroughly Modern Millie (2010)

JYT students come from all over South London as well as from Jasspa.

Many JYT members have successfully auditioned at national level for NYMT, NYT and have subsequently gone on to work in the profession.