About Us

Mission Statement

To inspire and mentor the next generation of arts creators and enthusiasts by offering brave, creative spaces where young people can express themselves and their ideas.

About CYPT

Calgary Young People’s Theatre (CYPT) was founded in 1992 by Brian Dorscht and Jackie Pontin. Since then CYPT has prided itself on providing numerous development opportunities to young people to explore the performing arts and develop their creativity and teamwork skills through camps, classes, workshops and production opportunities.

CYPT produces a theatrical season made up of 4-5 productions, in which youth ages 8-18 audition for the chance to be a part of a rigorous, playful, professional-caliber process and performance led by professional a. We offer a mentorship program within our productions, giving older students or recent alumni the chance to shadow our production team to learn other theatrical skills including directing, stage management or design.

We pride ourselves on the selection of plays we choose each year that challenge, inspire and entertain our young actors and audiences alike. Over the past few years we have aimed to engage members of the arts community by commissioning original works or adaptations by local playwrights for our season.

In 2010, a new leadership team comprised of Artistic Director Kristin Eveleigh and General Manager Gillian Webster continued to grow the company, founding The Outpatient Collective, a writing ensemble for recent CYPT graduates.  Each year, a new group of graduates collaborate on the creation of a script that will be part of the mainstage season the year after their graduation.

In 2012, CYPT produced the Y-Calgary Festival in collaboration with the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society.

In 2014, CYPT teamed up with local theatre companies Ghost River Theatre and Green Fools Theatre to save the old Dancer’s Studio West Space when that company left, and created a joint venture to open the West Village Theatre, which has remained CYPT’s home venue for mainstage productions ever since. Gillian left the company as GM later that year, but remains an active part of community, serving as a stage manager and mentor. In 2014 Jamie Dunsdon joined the company as Artistic Producer.

In 2015, CYPT launched its inaugural Cannonball Festival of Youth-Led Theatre.  This festival, now an annual event, offers youth the opportunity to direct, write, stage manage, produce, and of course, act, in plays led by them!  The festival usually presents 5 – 10 one act plays, each May.

In 2017, CYPT added an additional mainstage slot to our season, and in 2019, expanded our camps and classes to include a West Calgary location at the SCA Community Association.  In 2019 Zoë Arthur joined the company as Artistic Associate.

During the 2020/21 pandemic, CYPT temporarily suspended its mainstage programming, however continued to offer its classes and camps within careful limitations.  It also produced an online Zoom play, hosted an international creation project with Pretzel Theatre, and produced an online audio experience.

Instructors, Directors & Designers

The instructors, designers and directors that work for CYPT are all dedicated to the theatre arts in a variety of different areas. We employ a diverse mixture of professional actors, directors, improvisers, musicians and playwrights as well as drama teachers and senior university theatre students. Our instructors and directors are all passionate about instructing children ensuring that CYPT offers students a very comprehensive and fun educational experience.

Our Staff

Kristin Eveleigh

Kristin Eveleigh

Executive Artistic Director

Kristin is the Executive Artistic Director at Calgary Young People's Theatre, and has been working with the company as a director with the company since…

Jamie Dunsdon

Jamie Dunsdon

Artistic Producer

Jamie is the Artistic Producer of CYPT, as well as a frequent director, designer, playwright, and props builder.  Jamie is also the Artistic Director of…

Zoë Arthur

Zoë Arthur

Artistic Associate

Zoë is an actor, artist and all-around clown. Since 2019 she has been the Artistic Associate for CYPT, but started her journey with the company…

Board of Directors

Cole Evans

Cole Evans

President

As an alumni of Calgary Young People’s Theatre with over 12 years of involvement (2005-2017), Cole is ecstatic to join CYPT in a new capacity on the Board…

Grace Wilson

Grace Wilson

Secretary

Grace Wilson is an alumni of CYPT and since then has moved to Lethbridge and received her BFA in Art History and Museum Studies. Grace…

Kyle Kubicek

Kyle Kubicek

Director at Large

Kyle Kubicek is a CYPT alumni, an avid theatre consumer, and a lover of live entertainment. Since graduating from CYPT, Kyle has moved to Vancouver…

Michaela Jeffery

Michaela Jeffery

Director at Large

Michaela is a CYPT alumna and active member of the Calgary theatre community. Since graduating from the National Theatre School in 2016, Michaela has split…

David Walsh

David Walsh

Director at Large

David is a senior-executive level CPA known for leading teams in the not-for-profit sector through significant transformational and organizational change.  David is adept at navigating…

Julia Stadnyk

Julia Stadnyk

Past President

Julia has been with CYPT since early 2019 and has enjoyed every minute of working with such a talented, dynamic group of people. Most of…

Would you like to join our Board of Directors?

We are always interested in meeting energetic people interested in joining our board.
If interested, please contact us at cypt@cypt.ca

Production Team

Every CYPT production is led by a team of qualified professional artists.  Here are just a few of the amazing pros who have helped bring magic to our stage!

Ajay Badoni

Ajay Badoni

Lighting Design

Ajay Badoni has been working with CYPT for over 8 year now as a lighting designer, technician, technical director, and mentor and is proud to…

Gillian Webster

Gillian Webster

Stage Manager

Gillian is a stage manager and the former General Manager of CYPT (2010-2014).  She also serves as the Stage Management mentor for our Cannonball Festival,…

Meredith Johnson

Meredith Johnson

Stage Manager

Victoria Krawchuk

Victoria Krawchuk

Costume Design

Brianna Johnston

Brianna Johnston

Fight Choreographer

Brianna is thrilled to be back working with the fab folks at CYPT! An alum of the program herself, she’s always thrilled to come work…

Tonisha Kroeger

Tonisha Kroeger

Stage Manager

Born and raised in Alberta and graduate of Red Deer Polytechnic with a diploma in Theatre & Entertainment Production. Tonisha has built a career in…

Mark Bellamy

Mark Bellamy

Director

Valmai Goggin

Valmai Goggin

Director

Geoffrey Simon Brown

Geoffrey Simon Brown

Director

Ralamy Kneeshaw

Ralamy Kneeshaw

Costume Design

Lauren Acheson

Lauren Acheson

Set Design

Hanne Loosen

Hanne Loosen

Set Design

Jordan Wieben

Jordan Wieben

Costume Design

Nicola Elson

Nicola Elson

Director