Classes

About CYT Classes - Where the fun begins!

Every session (Fall, Winter and Spring) CYT Baton Rouge offers 10-week theater arts classes to children & youth ages 5 – 18. These two hour after-school classes are held once a week. On the final week of classes, students will display a portion of what they've learned by participating in a SHOWCASE for family and friends.

*AGE REQUIREMENT:
- You must be 18 through the entire session to be eligible to take classes and audition.
- You must be in school (elementary, middle or high school). Once you graduate from high school, you are no longer eligible to participate.

Enrolled students, ages 8 – 18, have the opportunity to audition for a CYT Broadway-style musical!

Younger students may serve as ushers at CYT shows, and students ages 14 and up may work on a backstage crew. You must be enrolled in a CYT class in order to be eligible to audition for a show.

*NOTE If the class your child wants to take is full, please email classes@cytbatonrouge.org. We have waiting lists; also we can potentially create a new class if there are enough students who are interested.
How to register for Classes

Details about this Class session


NOTE: Classes are on Monday nights.

Registration for SPRING 2024 Classes opens February 19 @ 6pm!

SPRING CLASSES start on Monday, March 4 and run for 10 weeks. Showcase is held on Monday, May 13, 2024. 

LOCATION:  Bethany Church: South Campus, 11107 Honore Ln, Baton Rouge, LA 70809

TIMES: We offer two time slots:
Act 1: 4:15-6:30 pm
Act 2: 6:15-8:30 pm

COST:  $210

The Baton Rouge Class Coordinator is Allison Barraco: classes@cytbatonrouge.org

PLEASE NOTE: The enrollment age is the child's age as of the class start date. Special considerations will be made on an individual basis for students who have birthdays soon after the session starts.
How to register for Classes
Click here for information about CYT@school.

Current Classes:

Class: Age: Chapter: Location: Day: Time: Start: End:
4:15 TEEN Stage Management: Scene by Scene 13-18 Baton Rouge
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 4:15pm - 6:30pm Mar 04 May 13
4:15 TEEN Stunts and Combat: Swords, Fists and Daggers 13-18 Baton Rouge
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 4:15pm - 6:30pm Mar 04 May 13
4:15 YOUTH Acting 101: Command the Stage 8-12 Baton Rouge
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 4:15pm - 6:30pm Mar 04 May 13
4:15 YOUTH Muppets Take CYT 8-12 Baton Rouge
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 4:15pm - 6:30pm Mar 04 May 13
4:15 YOUTH Musical Theater: On My Way To Broadway 8-12 Baton Rouge
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 4:15pm - 6:30pm Mar 04 May 13
4:45 Our Gang 5-7 Baton Rouge
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 4:45pm - 6:30pm Mar 04 May 13
6:15 TEEN Improv 2 13-18 Baton Rouge
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Mar 04 May 13
6:15 TEEN Acting 101 - Digging Deep 13-18 Baton Rouge
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Mar 04 May 13
6:15 TEEN Acting Challenge: Les Mis Style 13-18 Baton Rouge
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Mar 04 May 13
6:15 TEEN Musical Theater Dance 13-18 Baton Rouge
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Mar 04 May 13
6:15 TEEN Voice 2-3-4 Duets and More (BOYS) 13-18 Baton Rouge
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Mar 04 May 13
6:15 TEEN Voice 2-3-4 Duets and More (GIRLS) 13-18 Baton Rouge
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Mar 04 May 13
6:15 YOUTH Acting 101: All the World's a Stage 8-12 Baton Rouge
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Mar 04 May 13
6:15 YOUTH Musical Theater Dance: We're all in DANCE together 8-12 Baton Rouge
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Mar 04 May 13
6:15 YOUTH Stunts and Combat 8-12 Baton Rouge
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Mar 04 May 13
6:15 YOUTH Voice 101 8-12 Baton Rouge
(Spring 2024)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Mar 04 May 13

How to Register for Classes


Set up a Family Account before you register for classes
  1. Click on the "person" icon at top right corner of our website (to right of "DONATE" on any page).
  2. Click on "NEW ACCOUNT" in the pop up window.
  3. Fill out the information required, with the parent's info first.
  4. To add a child to the account, click on the +Family Member button.
If you are already have a Family Account, then (while logged in) follow these steps:

Register for Classes
  1. Go to the "Classes" page
  2. First select your "Student's Age"
  3. Click on the Class Name of your choice
  4. Click on the "Register Now" button
  5. Select the family member that will be in the class
  6. You will now have an option to sign up for audition times. Auditions are not required.
  7. If you don't sign up now, you will have that option later in your family account
If you need more information about auditioning and show requirements, please see our "Info Hub" page.

Refund & Late Fee Policy


Refund Policy

  $25    Processing fee on all refunds prior to first day of class or camp.
 
  $20    Additional fee for refunds requested within two weeks of first day of class or camp.
(Please note that we hire our teachers based on enrollment, and if students withdraw within two weeks before classes start CYT still has to pay the teachers that were hired.)
 
  No refunds after the first day of class.
 
  No class tuition refunds for students who audition for a show.
 
Late Fees

  $25    Late registration fee is applied one week before classes start, so please register as early as possible.


 

Current Teachers:

Aidan 1 Iverstine 1

Aidan is an alumnus of CYT Baton Rouge and is currently a student at LSU. He has performed on the CYT stage from the age of 8 to 18 and now performs with CCTBR. He loves making music under his artist name, Lil Scrubbies, and enjoys scuba diving.

Bekah Branton

Bekah has been a part of CYT for the past 5 years. She has had the opportunity to serve as many different rolls on past production teams. Bekah has had the wonderful privilege of directing CYT's Frozen Jr and Finding Nemo Jr. Her favorite place to be is behind the glass on a headset calling show cues as stage manager or walking down Main Street with a dole whip in her hand and Mickey ears on her head in Walt Disney World. Bekah loves to be the organizer of chaos, she adores homeschooling her children, and playing board games with her friends and family. She has been in many stage productions herself and holds a degree in education. Bekah can also be found teaching epic classes at CYT.

Chanler Landon

Chanler is a CYT alumnus, where she has performed in four shows, and just completed her first CCT show. She is overjoyed to be able to be teaching something she loves, with the people she loves, serving the One she loves. She has done musical theatre for 6 years and hopes to share and extend this passion with others. Let’s tell a story!!!

Donna Iverstine

Donna serves as a CYT instructor teaching Dance, Improv, ASL, and Stunts/Combat. She has also served as the Improv Team coach. She’s directed CCT's Godspell, as well as CYT’s Lion King, Jr., Tuck Everlasting, Tarzan, Peter Pan, Shrek the Musical, Mary Poppins, and Beauty & the Beast. Donna has performed with various theater groups and companies, and she currently serves as director for Timbrel Dance Company. She enjoys seeing actors and dancers, young and old, grow in their God-given talents and giftings.

Jordyn Ponvelle 1

Jordyn is an alumnus of CYTBR. She is currently studying psychology at LSU, and this is her 4th year participating in musical theatre! Her recent stage credits include High School Musical: On Stage! (Gabriella Montez), SpongeBob the Musical (Sandy Cheeks), & Grease (Frenchy Facciano). Jordyn also works as a party princess & a tutor! Her favorite bible verse is 2 Timothy 4:17, “But the Lord stood by me & strengthened me.” She thanks the Lord for making this all possible!

Leigh Ann Landon

Leigh Ann Landon has been teaching music for 20 years at the elementary school level. She loves seeing the possibilities of musical adventures come alive in kids as they discover new talents and develop new skills while enhancing a life-long love of music through singing, playing, and performing.

Melissa Beatty

Melissa has a passion for teaching youth theatre. She grew up doing theatre with The Drama Room and with DSACT in her hometown of Denham Springs. She has taught preschool music classes, as well as directed and assistant directed multiple musicals over the years. She joined the CYT family 3 years ago and has taught CYT youth acting classes and youth musical theatre classes. She was the assistant director for CYT's The Lion King Jr and made her CYT director's debut last fall with Charlotte’s Web. She loves sharing her passion for theatre with the youth of CYT. She believes that God had gifted each child with special and unique gifts and loves helping children discover and grow those gifts. She is so honored, humbled and grateful to God for allowing her the opportunity to share the gifts He has given her with CYT!

Nikki Hall

Nikki is a classically trained professional vocalist, actor, and dancer. She has experience in many different styles of singing and performance such as musical theater, choral, opera, pop, country, rock, gospel etc. She has been a voice teacher and audition coach for 11 years and has been in stage productions at Theater Baton Rouge and Ascension Community Theater. Nikki is currently the lead singer for the band “Press 1 for English”, and leads worship at Fellowship Church in Ascension where she’s been a member since 2005. In addition to performing, she was a middle school teacher for 9 years and a preschool teacher for 5. She looks forward to combining her love for performance, teaching, and Jesus to help students learn and grow in their talents and faith.

Rebekah Rainey

A passionate storyteller, Rebekah received her B.A. in Theatre from LSU. She is an energetic acting coach and loves helping kids develop their potential. She has directed several shows for CYT, most recently Anastasia. Some of her favorite past acting credits include Godspell (Disciple), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Narrator), and Shrek The Musical (Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy). Most days you can find Rebekah at a local coffee shop, listening to music and working for CYT! She is grateful to the Lord for this unique creative community.

Tristian Sholar

Tristian is excited to be part of the CYT teaching staff this year. He has been active in the theatre community on stage for about 9 years. In recent years Tristian has served his local church as their youth and children's minister, so he cannot wait to combine his two biggest passions together. His past stage credits include CCT'S The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Quasimodo), The Little Mermaid (Eric), West Side Story (Tony), and Shakespeare in Love (Will Shakespeare). He cannot wait to start creating memories with his class!

Whitney Pace

Whitney is thrilled to be part of the CYT family! Originally from Baton Rouge, Whitney graduated with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance from Belhaven University. After graduating, she danced professionally in both Houston, TX (Ad Deum Dance Company) and New York, NY (Doug Varone and Dancers) for many years. Whitney also has a passion for teaching and creating, and has been blessed with opportunities to share her love of movement and music with friends worldwide. Currently, Whitney is in her third year teaching music for CrossPoint Baptist's Mother's Day Out program and is in training to become a birth and postpartum doula. Her greatest loves, second to Jesus only, are her beloved husband, Adam and her precious son, Asher. Whitney, Adam, and Asher live in Gonzales with their pup, Lily, and are members of the CrossPoint Baptist Church family.