About Michigan Youth Theater

Michigan Youth Theater is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

The history of Michigan Youth Theater (MYT) truly begins with the history of Class Act Drama 4-H Club, founded in 1992. This club was founded to give young people ages 5-19 an opportunity to explore theater arts.   After a number of years, the club had formed a true community of young  artists doing work of a high caliber.  In 2000, Class Act Drama 4-H won the State Award for Project Area, the highest award a Michigan 4-H club can achieve.

Many young artists were interested in a more intensive experience.  Michigan Youth Theater was founded in 2000 to answer this interest for youth ages 12-19. MYT filed as a 501 ( c ) 3 organization in 2001 and this status was confirmed in 2005.

Michigan Youth Theater’s  mission is to develop leadership, teamwork, and communications skills in youth ages 12 to 19 through theater production experiences while providing professional quality, classics-based
live theater experiences and education for community schools and audiences of all ages.

OUR MISSION:
We believe that every young person possesses both the desire and the capability for excellence in their achievements, leading to self respect and respect for others. We believe that training in the theater arts is an invaluable advantage in today's world where communication is key, and where teamwork is what it takes to get the job done. Through the integrated arts discipline of theater performance, youth will develop personal expression skills, a sense of responsibility, integrity, problem solving skills, and time management skills. Theater provides a venue to articulate hopes and fears, share problems and develop plans to overcome them while working cooperatively with others. Through theater young people learn to act on their dreams.

We work hard to make our mission a reality.

We have volunteers and mentors that work towards our common goal. 

We look forward to meeting individuals that share our vision. 

Please contact us if you would like to help be a part of our team.

About Our Artistic Director:

  Lisa Hodge Kander holds a PhD in theatre directing from Wayne State University (WSU). Kander is a graduate of Michigan State University and the Drama Studio of London. She holds a licentiate from the Royal Academy of Music and Drama in London. In 2005, she  completed a month's study at the Moscow Art Theatre School in Russia.

Kander has produced, directed or performed in more than 100 plays. She has over 30 years of experience in theater and more than 15 years experience working with youth in theater. Kander is the founder of Class Act Drama 4-H Club (winner of the 2000 State Award in Project Area) and founder of Michigan Youth Theater (MYT), an all youth theatre troupe and one of the original Sites of Promise for America's Promise of Metro Detroit. Kander is a winner of the 2002 National Points of Light Award for her work in youth theatre. She has directed Class Act and MYT youth in full length productions of Shakespeare, Brecht, Miller, Sophocles and Williams. She has created, directed and toured youth productions of Shakespeare is Fun! and American Folk Tales and Legends to schools, libraries, camps and festivals. Her Class Act and MYT productions have appeared at the Holly Dickens Festival, Waterford Cultural Council, the Michigan Renaissance Festival, and the Detroit Institute of Arts Summer Festival and Noel Night.

Kander has taught theatre workshops for Michigan State University Extension, Class Act Drama 4-H, Rochester College, WSU and Americorps. She currently teaches in the Theatre Department of WSU. She has also written and directed segments of Daedal Doors for Bloomfield Television. She has also written and directed a number of productions for Class Act Drama 4-H and for MYT, most recently Puss in Boots for Class Act (2007) and Nightlight: Vampires Afraid of the Dork for MYT (2009). Most recent directing credits include Proof at WSU Studio Theatre (2006) and Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, or What You Will (2009) and Taming of the Shrew (2010), and Ibsen's Ghosts for Michigan Youth Theater. She is also the originator and first director of the No Feare Shakespeare touring program of Wayne State University.

About Our Strategic Planning Manager :

Megan Callahan has been involved with MYT since June of 2005, when she guest directed and helped create "Clever Girls of Every Age." She is an ex-oficio member of the MYT the board, and is leading MYT's Strategic Planning process:"What Dreams May Come: Envisioning the future of Michigan Youth Theater." She holds a Master of Fine Arts Candidate (Acting)  from Wayne State University. Currently, in her guise as singer/songwriter, she is touring internationally and in the US. She has taught numerous workshops and classes both in Michigan and New Jersey- everything ranging from Theater and Music to Yoga and Reiki!

About our Workshop Leaders:

Daniel Dauphin received his BFA in Radio/TV/Film Communications from the University of South Alabama. Daniel holds an MFA in Theatre from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he taught Acting and Theatre Appreciation during his time as a graduate student. He is also a recognized advanced actor/combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors. He has written several screenplays, both short and feature length, as well as illustrated children's books. Danny works as senior copywriter for MadGenius Advertising and Creative Agency. Recent stage roles include "The Limping Man" in Fuddy Meers at New Stage, "Sid Prince" in Sherlock Holmes at New Stage, and "Riff Raff" in Rocky Horror with Fondren Theatre Workshop.

Megan Donahue is a playwright and actress living in Flint, Michigan. Megan has had several plays produced, notably her full-length drama Touch of the God-Kissed produced by Flint City Theatre and her international entry in the 2010 London Fringe Festival, Forest For the Trees. She has taught numerous workshops in theater, movement and voice. Recent stage roles include Viola in Twelfth Night with Flint City Theatre and Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest. Megan received her BA from University of Michigan.

Henri Franklin is one of our regular MYT Workshop Leaders. 

Henri Franklin is an actor, director and writer, living in Detroit, MI. His most recent television appearance was on Days of Our Lives. He received his BA in Theater from Wayne State University. Henri has taught workshops in movement, improvisation, theater games, acting and stage combat.  Henri is a personal fitness trainer and active in many sports.  He is also a mentor for the Arts League of Michigan.

Beth Kander is a writer and actress living in Jackson, Mississippi. Recent honors include winning the 2009 Mississippi Theatre Association Playwriting Award; being named the 2009 Best Jackson Writer by the Jackson Free Press; having short plays produced by 11:11 Theater in Boston, Planet Ant Theater in Detroit, and the Heartland Theatre in Illinois; and having her full-length play “Unshelved” included in the 2008 Eudora Welty New Play Series. In addition to playwriting, Beth has completed several short films, serves on the board of Fondren Theatre Workshop and performs with the Offkilter Comedy Troupe. Beth works on the creative team of Eyevox film production company. Her undergraduate degree is from Brandeis University, her graduate degree is from the University of Michigan. Her most recent appearances onstage were as "Claire" in Fuddy Meers at New Stage Theatre, and as "Columbia" in Rocky Horror Picture Show with Fondren Theatre Workshop. Her children's book Glubbery Gray-The Knight-Eating Beast is offered in the Fall 2010 catalog of Pelican Publishers.

Frannie Shepherd-Bates is a theatre artist with a die-hard commitment to saving the world - especially Detroit - through theatre. She is a founding member of the Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company and has has directed two shows at the Roeper Middle & Upper School.

 Trained in various forms of sword play, John Lennox, PhD, is a fight director for 'Art of Combat' and teaches stage combat at both Lansing Community College and Wayne State University. He is also in-house fight director for both.

With several years of theatrical production under his belt, John added film to his repertoire, by choreographing the movie 'China'. He also portrayed a fighter who is defeated by the lead, in a tournament at the film's climax. John is currently starring as the title role in "Dog", an upcoming independent film, and is an instructor with the Historical Maritime Combat Association.

 Cory started working with MYT during the 2007 Summer Workshops.  She taught a design workshop and has followed that project up with the design and build of MYT's haunted room within the "Davisburg Rotary House of Horrors". She is attending Wayne State University, pursuing a BFA in scenic design. Currently she is working on designing the Christmas show for the Bonstelle theatre, Black Nativity.

About our Board of Directors:
We have a enthusiastic full board of directors!  Our board contains adults and teen members.  We believe that it is very important for teens to understand the business aspects of our organization.  We hold our annual meeting in January and post the date of this meeting in December.  All active members are invited to attend.  If you are interested in volunteering please contact us at board@michiganyouththeater.org.