December YP of the Month

December YP of the Month

December 9th, 2018

December YP of the Month

Some kids play sweethearts. Some kids play villains. Some kids can do both at the same time! This young lady has been on CYPT stages for years, often in slightly spooky roles, often as a member of a very spooky ensemble of furies or witches or dead kids… and yet no matter how skilled she is at playing the eerie characters, her sunshiny personality never fails to fill our rehearsal hall with joy. She is an extremely dedicated and focused performer and she never fails to surpass our expectations.

And who is this fierce and fantastic filler of follow-spots? December’s YP of the Month is none other than…

Lauren Harris!!!

Lauren Harris has been an arts kid all her life, as much as she likes to deny it. Acting has always been something that she’s passionate about, with some of her premier roles being ‘seven year old bartender’, ‘the iceberg from titanic’ and ‘student’. No matter what she’s doing, she’s just happy to be onstage surrounded by a group of some of the loveliest, most supportive, most ridiculous people out there. The theatre is the best place to get rid of all the nonsense that is inside Lauren and put that energy into creating something, and CYPT is the place she loves to do it most.

Wayward at West Village Theatre in Calgary on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. The Calgary Young People’s Theatre production runs from Nov. 29-Dec. 8, 2018. (Photo by Rob Galbraith/Little Guy Media)

She first got the courage to audition for a show at age 12, when she was lucky enough to be a part of The Curse of the House of Atreus, where she discovered how much fun it is to get out on stage, and she’s been hooked ever since, returning the year later for Poetically Poetical. After a short break, Lauren came back as a witch in Macbeth, and that along with the next show Grounded were two of Lauren’s absolute favourite experiences and she is so incredibly grateful to have been a part of them. CYPT is a place where she has met some of her best friends and favourite people in the world, and she would never give that up for anything. There’s no other place to run around, be ridiculous and laugh at the stupidest things while also creating amazing art, and she is so happy that she’s been able to experience it and be a part of such a wonderful community. The show she is currently in is Wayward, and it’s her favourite role yet.

The witches of Macbeth (2017). Photo by Rob Galbraith/Little Guy Media

Lauren’s favourite things in the world are art and people, and these are two things that collide so well in a space like theatre. CYPT has helped her grow so much as a person, and understand the world and the people around her so much better. She would like to thank Kristin, Jamie, and everyone else at CYPT for always being supportive, wonderful, and kind. This company has changed her life for the better in so many ways.

“Theatre is very strange in the best possible way”

-Lauren Harris

Wayward at West Village Theatre in Calgary on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. The Calgary Young People’s Theatre production runs from Nov. 29-Dec. 8, 2018. (Photo by Rob Galbraith/Little Guy Media)

Cast and crew stage Macbeth at West Village Theatre in Calgary on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017. The Calgary Young People’s Theatre production, which sets Shakespeare’s play among the stone formations of ancient Druids, runs until March 4, 2017. (Photo by Rob Galbraith/Little Guy Media)

Wayward at West Village Theatre in Calgary on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. The Calgary Young People’s Theatre production runs from Nov. 29-Dec. 8, 2018. (Photo by Rob Galbraith/Little Guy Media)