CYS Ensemble
2019/'20 Season
2019/'20 Season
Our 2019/'20 Ensemble production of Richard III featured a company of 14 youth actors and four contributing youth artists, and held a successful three-week run at Raven Theatre. Subsequent touring performances, along with a staged reading scheduled later in the spring were cancelled due to Covid-19.
CYS kicked off the 2019/'20 production season with a staged reading of King Lear, featuring CYS youth artists alongside esteemed professional Shakespeare actors. Directed by Louis Fantasia, the one-night-only event played to a sold-out audience at The Edge Theatre on Chicago's north side.
Summer Shakes, 2019
CYS Ensemble
2018/'19 Season
2018/'19 Season

Set on a modern day college campus, CYS's Othello examined issues of systemic racism, sexism, and abuse, through a contemporary lens that spoke directly to young adults. The production featured the collaborative work of nine youth actors and six contributing youth artists, Ticketed performances and community outreach events were held at Raven Theatre, The School of Theatre & Music at UIC, and Writers Theatre of Glencoe. Following each of the performances, audiences engaged with the Ensemble in some amazing conversations about race, gender inequality, and the impact of theatre and the arts on issues of social justice.
Summer Shakes, 2018
CYS Ensemble
2017/'18
2017/'18

Our 2017/'18 Season production of The Tempest featured an ensemble of 13 youth actors and four contributing youth artists. Performances & community outreach events took place at The Joffrey Ballet's Black Box Theatre, The Old Town School of Folk Music, and the Addison Public Library. The artistic process featured a collaboration with Third Coast percussionist, Peter Ferry, and visiting artists, Lawrence Grimm and Samuel Taylor. Click on the image to view the production program.
Summer Shakes, 2017
CYS Ensemble
2016/'17
2016/'17
Summer Shakes, 2016
CYS Ensemble
2015/'15
2015/'15
Summer Shakes, 2015
CYS Ensemble
2014/'15
2014/'15
Summer Shakes 2014
CYS Ensemble
2013/'14
2013/'14