Letter Writing Contest ~ MORE chances to participate!

THANK YOU so much to those who already wrote letters. We are so close to reaching our goal of 50% Vancouver East kids writing letters that we are extending our deadline to next Tuesday. If you bring 10 letters next Tuesday or have already brought letters, I'd like to reward you with a ROOT BEER FLOATafter class next Tuesday (2/22). (Hobbit kids will be gone this week at dress rehearsal.)

If you have 10 completed letters and you bring them today, you are still eligible to win a t-shirt AND get a ROOT BEER FLOAT next week.

IF you'd like to bring 10 ADDRESSES to classes next week, we'll help you write letters after class. For every ten letters you write you receive a t-shirt AND a ROOT BEER FLOAT!!

No class has has 2/3 participation yet to win A PIZZA PARTY! Your participation next week could also help your class win pizza on our Showcase night!

Important Show Ticket Information

The box office committee will no longer be doing ticket exchanges at the door. If you (or your friends or family) need to move tickets to another performance, please call the CYT office by 3pm on the Thursday before the performance. There is a $4 per-order fee to exchange tickets, payable by Visa or Mastercard by phone or in person.

Remember to use your CYT student complimentary tickets online by the Thursday before the performance, as well! You'll find them when you select the performance you want to attend/look for in the drop down menu next to the "CYT Student" ticket type. Complimentary tickets may not be redeemed at the door.

Director's Note

Executive/Artistic Director Update

February 2011

I'm excited to announce that we reached our fundraising goal for our new sound system! The 16 Shure system with all the bells and whistles needed is ready to go out for shows for the next 8 years+. Special thanks to all that gave to the cause, your names are being etched into our Club 20 Memorial plaque for 2010-11.

On the CCT (Christian Community Theater) front, we have our dates set for performance August 6-15 at Washburn Performing Arts Center. We have successfully secured the rights to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Auditions will be held the week of June 6 and are open to ages 8 through adult. Invites your friends, parents, anyone you know that is interested in performing to join us for auditions.

We as a Board are working hard on the process to find the next Executive Director. (Note: For those of you that are newer to CYT, my stay here as Executive has always been set as a term of ten months. The first six months I worked as a full-time volunteer for CYT Vanport and my last four months I will be on paid staff here. At the end of May, my family and I will move back to our permanent home in Chicago to resume leadership for CYT Chicago.) One of my chief goals this school year has been to prepare the CYT Vanport ministry for my eventual replacement. (CYT is at its best when each of us in leadership is seeking out and training our eventual replacement, isn't it? ) Executive candidates are all currently working through a rigorous screening process. Bruce Head has brought in a pro bono hiring consultant to help us gather all the data we need. We covet everyone's prayers as seek to hear God's voice concerning our next Executive Director.

For those of you that have been praying about CYT's finances. I'm pleased to announce that, with the exception of our CYT national fees that accumulated prior to summer 2010, all debts owed have been paid off! Thank you to all that have given your time and resources to make CYT viable again. When you invited a friend to join classes; sold show tickets; donated funds or wrote letters asking for donations; gave in-kind services/items; volunteered your time on a committee, you brought us one step closer to getting back in the black. Winter enrollment is the highest we have ever seen with 500+ students (including 75 in CYT @ school). Praise God!

I'm also excited to share about our Artistic Council. This is a new idea that we are developing to take advantage of the great depth of directing and artist talent we have here in Vanport. Our Council has met only twice but they are already contributing to the artistic/training needs of the program. In the future I see the council becoming a collective Artistic Director to work under our next Executive Director. Our current members are: Anne Dunlop, Starleen Benke, Rhonda Ward, Kristi Foster, Lori Ryan, Jeremy Richardson, Mark Martin, Marla Riley, and Jon Jacquet.

Don't miss our February shows: The Hobbit (Feb 18-27) & Disney's Mulan (Feb 24-27) are brand new productions for CYT Vanport! You won't want to miss our fire-breathing dragon and star-studded cast in The Hobbit! And when you walk through the doors at the Venetian Theater to see Mulan you will not be sorry you made the trip. It's a perfect family outing to see in historic downtown Hillsboro.

Blessings to everyone. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, testimonials or ideas. justin1118@att.net

"Bring a Friend to CYT" Day

Tomorrow, 2/8, is "Bring a Friend Day" to CYT Vancouver East! We hope to see many of your friends attending class with you!

Your friend needs to bring one of the guest cards passed out at class last week with a parent signature on the back.

If your guest is brand new to CYT or has attended a summer camp but never regular classes, your guest will get a $45 off coupon for spring class registration, you will get $10 in CYT bucks mailed to your home and you both will get a free snack at break!

Letters due tomorrow 2/8

Tomorrow is the deadline for turning in LWC letters. Please bring your:

Ten letters

Letters stamped

T-shirt order filled out

You will get free pizza on showcase if 2/3 of your class participates!

For every $75 that comes in from your letters, your name will be entered into the prize drawings.

* CYT for a year

* Free CYT day camp tuition

* Movie and dinner for 4

* Four tickets to the Broadway Rose production of Hairspray

* Four tickets to see the touring Broadway production of Mary Poppins and a limo ride to and from the theater!