Alumni Spotlight: David Crane
“My years at YMTC completely set the stage for my life as an artist in the theatre. The professional, playful and joyous atmosphere of those productions and workshops are what made me fall in love with this art form and this community. Without YMTC my life would be fundamentally different (and I probably wouldn't be an actor!)
“After graduating from high school, I migrated south to study musical theatre in UCLA's School for Theater Film and Television (TFT). After graduating, I continued my education, studying Viewpoints with Steppenwolf Classes West and Clowning at The Clown School, while simultaneously joining the great huddled masses of LA Actors pursuing a career in Film/TV/quirky internet videos.
“After (very moderate) success in that realm, I decided I missed the theatre too much and have since spent the majority of the last two years gypsying across California from production to production, including a stop as the evil DJ in YMTC's Don't Stop Me.
"Some other recent credits have been Sacramento Theatre Company (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change and The Glass Menagerie) and the Mountain Play of Marin (West Side Story and Hair). Coming up, I'll be appearing as Aaron in the world premiere of The Prince of Egypt at Theatreworks Silicon Valley! www.davidtcrane.com
“After graduating from high school, I migrated south to study musical theatre in UCLA's School for Theater Film and Television (TFT). After graduating, I continued my education, studying Viewpoints with Steppenwolf Classes West and Clowning at The Clown School, while simultaneously joining the great huddled masses of LA Actors pursuing a career in Film/TV/quirky internet videos.
“After (very moderate) success in that realm, I decided I missed the theatre too much and have since spent the majority of the last two years gypsying across California from production to production, including a stop as the evil DJ in YMTC's Don't Stop Me.
"Some other recent credits have been Sacramento Theatre Company (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change and The Glass Menagerie) and the Mountain Play of Marin (West Side Story and Hair). Coming up, I'll be appearing as Aaron in the world premiere of The Prince of Egypt at Theatreworks Silicon Valley! www.davidtcrane.com
Alumni Spotlight: Shelby Stewart
Shelby earned a BFA in Theatre Performance from Chapman University in 2016. Since graduation, she has been working in the Bay Area as an actor and teaching artist.
“In the last year, I performed in Oklahoma! at Altarena Playhouse, The Taffetas at Altarena Playhouse, Grease at Contra Costa Musical Theatre, and Hair at Mountain Play. During Hair I reconnected professionally with both Dave Möschler and David Crane. I was also an understudy at Bay Area Children’s Theatre and performed as Gertrude, Mayzie, and Sour Kangaroo in Seussical. I currently work as a teaching artist for Bay Area Children’s Theatre teaching children from kindergarten through 5th grade.
“Training with Jennifer, Dave, and Pam was a huge blessing. During my three years at YMTC, I performed in nine musicals. Under Jennifer’s direction, I not only learned how to be a thoughtful and engaged actor, I also learned directing skills. I use Jennifer’s “stage picture” directing style everyday in my work at Bay Area Children’s Theatre. Dave is a musical genius. I learned how to sight-read and how to be a better musician by singing under Dave’s direction. Pam’s choreography helped me become a better mover and dancer. I feel especially lucky that I learned the original choreography in A Chorus Line. I grew as a performer because Jennifer, Dave, and Pam treat the students like professionals.
“The best way to learn and grow is to push yourself and YMTC helped me do just that. YMTC helped me become a versatile actor by performing in a variety of genres of musicals from Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along to the rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar to the beautiful epic, Ragtime.”
www.shelby-stewart.com
“In the last year, I performed in Oklahoma! at Altarena Playhouse, The Taffetas at Altarena Playhouse, Grease at Contra Costa Musical Theatre, and Hair at Mountain Play. During Hair I reconnected professionally with both Dave Möschler and David Crane. I was also an understudy at Bay Area Children’s Theatre and performed as Gertrude, Mayzie, and Sour Kangaroo in Seussical. I currently work as a teaching artist for Bay Area Children’s Theatre teaching children from kindergarten through 5th grade.
“Training with Jennifer, Dave, and Pam was a huge blessing. During my three years at YMTC, I performed in nine musicals. Under Jennifer’s direction, I not only learned how to be a thoughtful and engaged actor, I also learned directing skills. I use Jennifer’s “stage picture” directing style everyday in my work at Bay Area Children’s Theatre. Dave is a musical genius. I learned how to sight-read and how to be a better musician by singing under Dave’s direction. Pam’s choreography helped me become a better mover and dancer. I feel especially lucky that I learned the original choreography in A Chorus Line. I grew as a performer because Jennifer, Dave, and Pam treat the students like professionals.
“The best way to learn and grow is to push yourself and YMTC helped me do just that. YMTC helped me become a versatile actor by performing in a variety of genres of musicals from Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along to the rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar to the beautiful epic, Ragtime.”
www.shelby-stewart.com