Thank you!

Posted by Randy David Monday, February 22, 2010 3:10 PM
A big "THANK YOU" goes out to those that made the "Mouse Races" fundraiser for Young People's Theatre a success. It was overwhelming to how many businesses and individuals so generously donated prizes and money to help the Young People's Theatre in their time of need.

While I'm not sure what the final outcome was for the evening in terms of dollars, I do know a good time was had by everyone who attended and a lot of funds were raised. The next step, of course, will be to attend one of the upcoming performances of Disney's Beauty and the Beast in March at St. Charles Community College. I will be posting specifics later but the shows will be at 7PM on March 19, 20, 26 & 27 and at 2PM on March 20, 21, 27 and 28.

We hope to see you there!

Weasel Stomping Week Again!

Posted by Randy David Wednesday, February 10, 2010 5:56 PM
It seems as if it was only yesterday... Yes, it's that time of year again when the University of Meat-chicken takes on my beloved UN-Omaha Mavericks. This year, I think we have the firepower to really take it to them. Dean Blais will have the boys primed and ready to go.

In case you don't understand the this deep seated hatred for the Meat-chicken hockey team, watch the video as my friend, Rick explains...




Here is the play he was describing:



UNLEASH THE FURY!

Beauty vs. Beast: Save the YPT from the Economy

Posted by Randy David Sunday, January 31, 2010 2:09 PM 0 comments

Let me start by saying I may not be the best person to put this story forward. I have been around Young Peoples’ Theatre of St. Charles for only the last three years. The program is celebrating its 20th year and is now affiliated with St. Charles Community College.



There are many youth theater programs but this one is special. They take the time to teach each child and help them develop their skills. At the same time every child feel like a star because they find small ways to give them a special moment on stage, even when they are part of the chorus. The children’s ages range from 8-18 so there's a wide variety of maturity levels.


There's a reason I feel the need to express this. Each Saturday, there is a parent meeting to discuss what is going on with the current production. The crew, sets, costumes, marketing, are handled by parent volunteers, so there are many people that help make the shows successful. Many of us spend upwards of 50 hours per show, not including duties during performances. At yesterday’s meeting we were discussing a "Mouse Races" fundraiser we were planning for February 20th. This one is pretty large in its scope. Many people almost came to tears when hearing about the way funding has all but dried up. Unless this fundraiser is huge a success, the program will be forced to change things in any number of ways. One would be to charge higher fees for each child. which are currently at $100-150 per show, this will allow fewer low-income families to participate and put a larger burden on families with multiple children involved. They will also consider smaller shows with fewer children, cutting back from three shows per year to one or two or worse, eliminate the program.




In my limited time around the YPT program, I have seen many of the children mature, not just on stage but off stage as well. Being part of a team environment does wonders for these young people. Many of the high school graduates of the program, have gone on to college scholarships in theater. Most make special trips back each year to watch the performances and encourage the younger children. The YPT program is true gem of our community.


Some ways you can help: The most fun would be to attend the "Mouse Races" event on February 20th or if you prefer, donate prizes for that event. Email me at randav2@gmail.com and I can help with that. You can also make a direct donation at the main webpage for the program here. And of course, buy tickets for the upcoming performances of Beauty and Beast. I'm sure we will be able to sell-out all eight shows with your help. A very deeply talented cast will make this one of the best amateur productions in St. Charles this year.

Thanks for your help!

Triplets Separated at Birth?

Posted by Randy David Monday, January 11, 2010 7:52 AM

I ran across these three photos in different places recently. I noticed a striking similarity. Were these three separated at birth?

You decide: