For some people, theatre is a fun pastime.  And that’s great.  For others, though, it’s woven into the fabric of their DNA, it’s what fuels them personally, socially, intellectually, and artistically.

I think the latter is true of our January YP of the Month.  A leader in our ranks, this young artist absolutely breathes theatre.  She’s been performing with us since 2015, and in that time has become a fixture on our stages.  She’s hard-working, smart, and gives 120% of herself to every project every time.  Literally, she actually gave up her hair on our last show because the character required it.  Coming up next, she’ll be Assistant Directing our production of Snow White, and even though she’s graduating in a few months, I’m sure she’ll remain part of our community for years to come. We adore this adventurous young woman, and can’t wait to see what fantastic things lie ahead on her path.  We know there are many.

And who is this ambitious, affectionate and absolutely amazing actor and artist? January’s YP of the Month is none other than…

Sarah Shepherd!!!

It’s strange for Sarah to look back on the beginning of her acting journey. Back to the small (yes, even smaller than she is now), anxiety-ridden kid who was scared of everything, but willing to give theatre a try. Anyone that attended an acting camp at CYPT at the end of the summer of 2015 might remember her and her performance as the Nurse in a modern spoof of Romeo and Juliet.

From there, Sarah has fallen in love with the community at CYPT. Over the last few years, Sarah has played a host of characters, including a bumbling prison guard in Atlantis, the deadly sin of Envy in Life in the Realm, a cool thane named Angus in Macbeth, a frustrated stage manager in Tech Week, a well-meaning, but kind of dumb gossip in Unity (1918), and most recently, the no-nonsense captain of a girls indoor soccer team in The Wolves. She also had some wonderful backstage experiences as the assistant stage manager in Peter Pan, and is currently flexing her directing muscles as the assistant director in Snow White. Most recently, she has had the pleasure of working with her close friends as the costume and set designer for a show in this year’s Cannonball festival, The Wake.

Sarah in  Unity (1918). Photo by Rob Galbraith/Little Guy Media

It’s hard to say exactly where Sarah would be in her life without CYPT, or for that matter, theatre. But she knows for sure she likes where she is. She has considered branching out and auditioning for other theatres, but something about CYPT has kept her coming back every year. Between the amazing people she gets to spend hours and hours with, the love and support that comes from the rest of the community, the cool and innovative shows she has gotten to take part in, there truly is no place like this.

In her free time Sarah enjoys other forms of art like painting, writing, and when she feels like embracing her inner grandma, embroidery. She also enjoys going on about how much she misses past shows. She can be found saying the phrases “Man, I miss Unity” or “I wish The Wolves wasn’t over” or shedding a tear with other 2019 graduates over leaving this fantastic community behind.

“I love theatre because it makes me feel so intensely present. It’s electric. It’s magic.”

-Sarah Shepherd

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)

The Wolves at West Village Theatre in Calgary on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018. The Verb Theatre and Calgary Young People’s Theatre co-production runs from Oct. 4-13, 2018. (Photo by Rob Galbraith/Little Guy Media)

Actors perform Unity (1918) at West Village Theatre in Calgary on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. The Calgary Young People’s Theatre production runs until Oct. 28, 2017. (Photo by Rob Galbraith/Little Guy Media)

Actors perform Tech Week during the Cannonball Festival at West Village Theatre in Calgary on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. Written and directed by Mya Welsh, the play is one of four youth-developed productions that close out Calgary Young People’s Theatre’s 25th season. (Photo by Rob Galbraith/Little Guy Media)

The Wolves at West Village Theatre in Calgary on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018. The Verb Theatre and Calgary Young People’s Theatre co-production runs from Oct. 4-13, 2018. (Photo by Rob Galbraith/Little Guy Media)