Auditions for Season 28 productions The Nutcracker and Runs in the Family are just a couple of weeks away, and our Outpatient writers are hard at work at the final drafts of the script. We’re also just about to start rehearsals for our fall production of Love and Information. One of our Outpatient writers is also in Love and Information and is also our YP of the Month for August, so she’s a busy duckling this summer, and we are so thrilled to celebrate this fantastic young person. Not only is she a generous, friendly, and hard-working collaborator, she is also a SMART artist. A smartist. If the next generation of leaders is anything like her, this world is in good hands.

And who is this intelligent, industrious, insightful, and inspiring interpreter of illuminating ideas? August’s YP of the Month is none other than…

Dana Prather!!!!!

Dana was lucky enough to be introduced to the wonderful world of theatre at a very young age, if somewhat accidentally. As a tiny, shy six year old, she was much more interested in playing with her Timbits soccer team than playing a role onstage. However, when her mom signed her up for a summer drama camp rather than a soccer program, her persistent dislike for confrontation worked to her advantage for the first (and probably last) time in her life; Dana attended the camp and quickly became entranced with anything and everything to do with theatre and performance. 

Fast forward a decade later, and Dana found herself at her first CYPT audition, completely unaware of how much her life was about to change. As soon as she stepped nervously into the audition room, she was met with warm greetings and encouraging words. Despite her nerves, she already felt at ease with this wacky, wonderful theatre family, a feeling which has only continued to grow over the last two years. During her time here, Dana has been lucky enough to perform as a lady of the 80s, Nicky, in Grounded, as well as having the chance to revisit her love of soccer as #14 in The Wolves. While saddened by the idea of graduating from CYPT, Dana is excited to say that she’s still got a few more projects cooking; in addition to working alongside the incredible Outpatient Collective to write their show Runs in The Family, she will be returning to the West Village stage in October for Love and Information. 

Though she hasn’t been with the company long, Dana is eternally grateful for her time at CYPT. She is so very thankful for Jamie, Kristin, Gillian, Ajay, and all of the other amazing humans who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make the magic look easy, as well as all of the lovely friends who’ve made this place her home for the past two years. There isn’t enough time or words in the world to express how she feels for these people and this place, so for now she’ll stick with ‘thanks’.  

“So much of the power and beauty of theatre is tied to how fleeting it is. Moments of joy, sorrow, and healing can live and die within those little pockets of time, unknown to the rest of the world. Theatre demands presence in a way that is unlike any other.”

Dana Prather