WEST VALLEY YOUTH THEATER’S SUMMER SEASON IS UNDERWAY

‘Rent’ opens July 20 at Leigh High theater

Ainsley Northrop, Contributor

West Valley Youth Theater (WVYT) is in the middle of its summer 2023 season, which includes four full-scale productions: “Disney’s The Aristocats Kids,” “Mean Girls Jr.,” “The Lightning Thief” and “Rent.” In contrast to many local theater groups, WVYT not only offers summer-long productions but also productions with a day-campstyle rehearsal process.

In June, WVYT’s team of dedicated staff members worked to put on two camp shows in Leigh High School’s theater. Bay Area children aged 7-11 performed in “The Aristocats Kids,” which rehearsed from 9am to 3pm for 10 days. Each day, staff worked with the children, teaching choreography, vocals, blocking and general theater skills.

In addition to directly rehearsing for their performance, campers engaged in group games and crafts. Each child decorated a hand-made foam instrument, which kids danced with while they performed the song “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat.”

“As someone who grew up doing WVYT and really benefited from it, it was amazing to be able to provide an intro to musical theater to these kids, especially the ones who were performing for the very first time,” said Tommy Wilkens, a 2023 Los Gatos High School graduate who directed the show. “I think that the production quality, scale of Leigh High School’s theater, and the resources that we had access to this year were great for the kids because they helped them have a unique, memorable experience.”

At the same time, 11- to 14-yearolds were hard at work preparing for their performance of “Mean Girls Jr.” Although they only had three weeks to patch the show together, the campers showcased immense dedication, challenging themselves to conquer difficult choreography.

“What I really like about coming back to WVYT is that this is somewhere where I learned a lot of things as a young person,” choreographer Katarina Kelly said. “It’s really special to be able to come back with lots of new ideas that I’ve learned from going to college and to be able to give it back to kids who I see myself in. I just love watching [the kids] grow throughout the process. Seeing them take something that was hard for them at the beginning and really be able to execute it well by the end of the process [is inspiring].”

Meanwhile, WVYT held rehearsals for its summer-long productions, which are both directed by Artistic Director Heather Stokes. Performers age 9 to 15 brought “The Lightning Thief” to Leigh High School’s stage from July 13-16. Based on Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson” novels, “The Lightning Thief” follows the journey of three friends as they search for Zeus’ missing lightning bolt and attempt to maintain peace among the Greek gods. This musical features classical Greek mythology and lovely ballads while also incorporating angsty rock music and action-packed battles.

The final show of this summer’s season is “Rent,” which features a cast of local high schoolers as well as recent high school graduates. Written and composed by Johnathan Larson, “Rent” follows a group of friends struggling to make a living in New York City. As they combat the hardships of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, they learn to cherish each other for who they are.

Although “The Aristocats Kids,” “Mean Girls Jr.” and “The Lightning Thief” are already in the books, tickets for “Rent” are still available at wvyt. org/tickets. “Rent” performances are July 20, 21, and 22.

In the coming year, keep an eye out for more WVYT productions as the company continues to extend itself to more Bay Area schools.