Classes

Registration for Spring 2024 classes is now OPEN! 
Audition and show information can be found be on the SHOWS tab.

Students are required to be enrolled in a CYT class in order to audition for the season production. 
Classes are 9 weeks and are generally held in the evening from 6pm-8pm unless they are dance classes (5pm-7pm). All classes conclude with a Showcase to show all the skills they have learned!  Showcases are held at Austin Baptist Church

Production rehearsals are held on Saturdays from 9am-3pm for the first 6 weeks and transition to 9am-4pm the last 4 weeks before the show opens.  

See the Shows page for Audition information.

 

Current Classes:

Class: Age: Chapter: Location: Day: Time: Start: End:
Begin "Tapping into your Potential!" 10-18 Austin
(Spring 2024)		 Hope Chapel Mon 5:00pm - 7:00pm Apr 08 Jun 10
Emerald Encore: A Wicked Musical Theater Workshop! 11-18 Austin
(Spring 2024)		 Hope Chapel Fri 9:30am - 11:30am Apr 12 Jun 07
Filmmaking as a Performing Artist! 13-18 Austin
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany United Methodist Church Thu 6:00pm - 8:00pm Apr 25 Jun 06
Hit The Stage: Pop/Rock Musical Performance Lab! 11-18 Austin
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany United Methodist Church Thu 6:00pm - 8:00pm Apr 11 Jun 06
It's a Hard Knock Life: Musical Theater: Annie! 8-13 Austin
(Spring 2024)		 Hope Chapel Mon 5:00pm - 7:00pm Apr 08 Jun 10
Musical Madness: Best of Broadway- Voice! (Friday Homeschool class) 8-11 Austin
(Spring 2024)		 Hope Chapel Fri 9:30am - 11:30am Apr 12 Jun 07

CYT’s Triple Threat

Each class will be infused with character development and arts training for each student. Our goal is that every student leaves our classes feeling more confident in who they were created to be as well as their performing arts skills. CYT is recognized for excellence in theater arts training. Our uniqueness, however, goes beyond our programming and instead lies in our dedication to CYT’s Character, Culture, and Craft. These three elements comprise CYT’s Triple Threat.

CYT Character

CYT believes in building character on and off the stage, and that character is rooted in CHRISTIAN values such as love, joy, peace, kindness, perseverance, and dedication. Every instruction is rooted in these values.

CYT Culture

CYT’s culture is one of inclusiveness. We welcome all and remain committed to providing a vibrant and fun atmosphere with our focus on YOUTH. With this commitment comes a promise of providing family-friendly productions that are appropriate for young audiences.

CYT Craft

CYT is committed to providing excellent training in our THEATER craft by staying informed of National VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) standards. CYT hires qualified Teaching Artists and Artistic Teams who consistently elevate our students’ knowledge of theater arts.

Have Questions?

Don't worry, we have answers! Just follow the link below to read through our Frequently Asked Questions. You can also send an email to webmaster@cytaustin.org and we will get back to you promptly!
 
Classes FAQ

Inquiring about scholarships?

CYT is pleased to offer financial assistance to families who would otherwise not be able to participate in our programs.  Click below for our scholarship application.  Please fill out the form and return it to webmaster@cytaustin.org.  Decisions will be made one week prior to class start.
Class Scholarship Application

I cannot even begin to describe the impact that CYT has had on my life. There I was, welcomed with open arms, despite all of the flaws I thought made me so undesirable.

Alexandra Gandy, CYT Student

Current Teachers:

Alyson Pirotina

I have been teaching piano and voice since 1999 at my home studio in the Round Rock /Cedar Park area. I specialize in teaching very young children and children with special needs. Over the last ten years I have been involved with teachers all over the world training in Speech Level Singing. I am a Level One certified instructor with Institute for Vocal Advancement (IVA) and a professional vocalist with the National Pastoral Musician (NPM) organization. I have performed in many musicals and theater groups since middle school. I have taught musical theater camps in the summer in addition to working with various homeschool cooperatives in the Austin area. My husband Fred and I own an after-school enrichment program in Northwest Austin. We have one daughter, Bianca, who is studying for her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy at Texas Tech University.

Carol D'Avila

Carol Feille D’Avila owned and operated The AustinConservatory of Dance/of the Arts in 1991 which began as a neighborhood studio offering classical ballet, coupled with training in jazz, modern, character and tap dance. The program expanded to include a Musical Theatre curriculum in the late 90’s. Carol is also the Executive and Artistic Director of The Austin City Ballet 501©3 for 22 years and is a registered Member of The Royal Academy of Dance. After dancing with the North County Ballet Company in high school in California, under the direction of Victor Moreno of The Ballet Russe, she studied drama and dance at The University of Southern California, and graduated with a B.A. in Fine Arts Interdisciplinary from the University of California at Irvine. She is a member of the Round Rock Council of the Arts and served as President for 2 years. Carol has had the opportunity to choreograph for the musical GREASE at the Georgetown Palace Theater in the fall of 2021. She is feeling grateful to have had a career in her dream job, and plans to keep going until she can’t!

Cassidy Fraley

Born and raised in Bakersfield, CA, Cassidy got her start in Theater at the age of 9 when she played Grandma Fa in the local youth theatre summer program. The first time the audience laughed, Cassidy was hooked. She majored in Musical Theater at Texas Christian University, and in her sophomore year, was encouraged by staff and friends to go to New York City and go after her dreams. Cassidy has been taking voice lessons since the age of 12, and loves learning the possibilities of what the human instrument is Capable of. Some of her favorite roles include Fiona in Shrek, Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, Lily in the Secret Garden, and Miss Andrews in Mary Poppins. Since moving to Austin in August, Cassidy has been the Music Specialist for Challenger School in Avery Ranch, and she loves teaching her students all about what true musicianship looks like. Prior to her move, Cassidy owned her own private voice studio, Performer Up Studios. When not working, Cassidy loves to serve at Celebration Church, sharing her love of Jesus with others, and playing board games with her friends.

Cathie Sheridan

CATHIE SHERIDAN is an award-winning Austin singer, actor, dancer, music director, and choreographer. Over her 40+ year career, Cathie has created a wide variety of leading ladies in both professional and community theatre productions such as Unexpected Joy (Joy), Sister Act (Mother Superior), Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett), Urinetown (Pennywise), Man of La Mancha (Aldonza/Dulcinea), Cats (Grisabella), Steel Magnolias (M’Lynn Eatenton), Death and the Maiden (Paulina Salas), Hairspray (Velma Von Tussle), Sweeney Todd (The Beggar Woman), Cabaret (Fraulein Kost), Anything Goes (Reno Sweeney), Nunsense (Sister Mary Hubert), Forbidden Broadway (20+ celebrities), All Shook Up (Matilda Hyde), and Into The Woods (Witch and The Baker’s Wife). In 2014, she “nearly blew the roof off the Dougherty Arts Center” as Margaret White in Austin Theatre Project’s production of Carrie the Musical, earning her the Best Featured Actress in a Musical award from both Broadway World Austin AND Central Texas Excellence in Theatre. She’s been fortunate to share Austin stages with Broadway veterans, Rebecca Luker, Jim Watson, Patrick Cassidy, Ruth Williamson, John Leslie Wolfe, and others, as well as understudying Stephanie J. Block as Nancy in Oliver! Cathie is also a private voice teacher in North Austin. When not teaching or performing, Cathie enjoys spoiling her grandchildren who lovingly refer to her as Glamma, and hanging out at home with her # 1 fan, her German Akita Shepherd, Chief!

Julie Novak

Julie Novak has been teaching and directing theater in a school and community setting for over 20 years. While teaching at the renowned Valley Christian Conservatory, in San Jose, California, she developed her own theater arts curriculum for students 6-8 grades and a curriculum for students 6-12 grade while teaching and directing at Summit Christian Academy in Austin, Texas. Julie has directed plays, musicals, one acts, musical reviews, competition scenes, concerts and benefit shows too numerous to count! She has been trained in a multitude of acting techniques, such as the Wheeler Recording Method, On Camera Acting, Improvisational Acting, various vocal genres and public speaking. Outside of her teaching career she has worked as an acting coach, speaker, ghostwriter, vocalist and done voice over studio work. Her greatest love is working with young people in the arts and helping them develop confidence and belief in their personal gift set. Julie began CYT Austin In January of 2015 after she felt called to take her passion to speak life and encouragement into young people through the arts, outside the walls of a school and into her community.

Kimberly Hauser

Kimberly Hauser is a professional actress (stage & film) and an independent filmmaker. She's been involved professionally in the performing arts for the past 7 years, but has been involved in theater since 2009. She' earned her BA in Communication from ACU and is a conservatory trained actress (Carol Hickey Acting Studio). She's trained extensively in both Austin and Atlanta, and will soon be expanding her artistic journey to Vancouver, B.C. Kim is an award winning filmmaker and loves to empower others to live their own full and creative lives! She's worked with CYT Austin for many years in a variety of roles (Teaching, Backstage Managing, HYPE Advisor, Camp Counselor, Social Media Coordinator, Marketing Coordinator) and looks forward to the growth and journey ahead with everyone in the CYT Austin Family.