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