BRADFORD YOUTH PLAYERS
BYP Registered Charity Number: 1102702
Act 2 is open to anyone from age 14 (school year 10) to young adult. Members do not need any previous performing arts experience, and there is a strong emphasis on allowing young people to develop their own skills, abilities and personalities in the context of staged dramatic and musical theatre performances. Act 2 meets regularly on Thursday evenings (7.30-9.30pm) between September and July at BYP's base, Little Lane Church Community Hall.
Act 2 perform a musical in a local theatre each summer, and present a range of fundraising events throughout the year such as one-night-only events and straight plays. This year we will also be looking at a number of theatre skills, providing members with greater all-round training in the arts, crafts and techniques of the theatre.
In 2009/10 the group presented fully-staged productions of Little Shop of Horrors and Rent (Bradford amateur premiere production!), and this year Act 2 will stage Musical of Musicals, the Musical!. More information on this fantastic show, including details of auditions for principal parts, can be found through the link to the left of this text. This year the group participated in the first regional NODA Spotlight on Youth event at Bradford's St George's Hall alongside a number of other youth organisations from across Yorkshire. Act 2 proudly led one of the full ensemble numbers, Rent's "Seasons of Love", which featured two of our members as soloists. We staging a one-night-only event in November and have another at the end of February which we will be sharing with BYP Encore (a group for BYP Alumni) at which members can perform songs, dances, monologues, sketches, scenes, comedy routines, and just about anything else you can think of.
Tickets for the 2010-11 programme are available in the Online Bookings section of this website.
Ian has been musical director of Act 2 (formerly BYP Seniors) since 2004, and took over as section leader in summer 2007. In addition to his theatrical work with BYP, he is MD for some other performing societies in West Yorkshire. Ian's 'day job' is as a Research Assistant in the School of Music at the University of Leeds, where he is also doing a PhD investigating the role of the orchestrator in the contemporary British film industry.
A former youth player herself, Kathryn returned to Act 2 (then BYP Seniors) as choreographer for Fiddler on the Roof in 2009, returned again for RENT the following summer as director and choreographer, and was appointed section deputy leader and drama coach in June 2010. An extremely active member of the amateur dramatics circuit in the region, Kathryn brings to BYP a unique combination of boundless energy(!), practical experience and, having been a member herself, a real understanding of the BYP philosophy.
Dave has been involved with BYP since taking on the position of rehearsal accompanist for West Side Story in 2006. A firm favourite with the members ("Dave, Dave, give us a wave!"), we are delighted that he has been able to join us for our summer musicals each year, more recently as accompanist & assistant musical director. Dave is currently undertaking a PhD in the School of Music at the University of Leeds, looking at aspects of music psychology and film music.
Act 2 has a Members' Committee which assists in the running of the section, contributing to areas such as funding and publicity, and ensuring that the views and opinions of the members are known, understood and acted upon as appropriate. Elections are held towards the end of each year, and members are eligible for re-election to the Committee.
Committee members are an invaluable help to the section youth leaders, and provide an essential line of communication with the club members as a whole. Also, every member of the committee has the chance to improve and develop their general, transferable skills, helping further educational and employment prospects.
Details of the 2010/11 Seniors Members' Committee can be found here.
Act 2 presented a One-Night-Only Cabaret on Saturday November 6th at 7.30pm. The event was held at BYP's base in Little Lane Church Community Hall (BD9 5HD), and featured a range of acts performed by group members. The show was seen by a good audience, who were treated to all manner of songs, scenes and sketches. There were also a couple of group numbers, one of which was choreographed largely by the members themselves. A good night was had by all.
Act 2 presented a Cabaret Night with BYP Encore on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 February 2011 at BYP, offering members the chance to showcase the skills developed throughout the first part of the year. There were notable musical and dramatic solos and duets performed by various group members, some of whom took to the stage with BYP for the first time. All performances were warmly received by enthusiatic audiences.
Auditions for principal parts in Musical of Musicals, the Musical! were held in December, and again emphasised the breadth of talent in the group. We would like to thank everyone who auditioned - we know it takes a lot of confidence to do it, and everyone did well. After much discussion, we are delighted to announce the following principal cast for the show (smaller roles will be filled in due course):
For Corn:
June: Yasmin Tordoff
Big Willy: Richard Bartlett
Mother Abby: Nicola Parry
Jidder: Chris Avery
For A Little Complex:
Jeune: Laura Mills-Whittaker
Big Willy: David Coverdale
Mother Abby: Jodie Lowe
Jidder: Isaac Eloi
For Dear Abby:
Junie-Faye: Yasmin Tordoff
William: AJ Toothill
Aunt Abby: Laura Mills-Whittaker
Mr Jitters: Chris Avery
For Aspects of Junita:
Junita: Demi Thompson
Bill: David Coverdale
Abigail von Schtarr: Jodie Lowe
Phantom Jitter: Isaac Eloi
For Speakeasy:
Juny: Nicola Parry
Vily: Chris Hyland
Fraulein Abby: Rachel Greiff
Jutter: Richard Bartlett
Act 1 Narrator: Rachel Greiff
Act 2 Narrator: Jonnie Taylor
Act 2 will present the Bradford premiere of Musical of Musicals, the Musical! at Dixon's City Academy on 21-23 July 2011. Rehearsals for the show will take place during normal Act 2 sessions on Thursday evenings, 7.30-9.30pm, with some additional sessions on Sundays (3-6pm) as the show approaches. Any young person aged 15 to young adult is welcome to take part in the show chorus, and anyone (of any age) who would like to be a volunteer helper for the production (front of house, backstage, lighting, stage crew, etc.) should contact Ian Sapiro.
Dates: Thursday 21 - Saturday 23 July 2011
Start Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Dixon's City Academy, Ripley Street, Bradford, BD5 7RR
Tickets: Adults - £9; Concessions - £7; Students and Young People - £5 . Discounts are available for groups of adults and concessions. Tickets will be available online through this website in due course, and early booking is advised since previous summer shows have been very heavily sold with few seats remaining on some nights. For further information email Ian Sapiro .
Musical of Musicals, the Musical! has a simple plot: the young girl cannot pay the rent, but the evil landlord demands it. She turns to a mother-figure for advice, but cannot resolve this problem. Ultimately her boyfriend pays the rent for her. However, that's not quite the whole story, since this plot is related five times, once each in the style of five famous Broadway musical creators...
Corn
In the style of Rodgers & Hammerstein: Oklahoma!, Carousel, The King and I, South Pacific and The Sound of Music.
In Kansas in August, Jitter threatens that June will have to marry him if she can't pay the rent; Big Willy is torn between his desire to marry her himself and his desire for the freedom of his carnival-barker lifestyle, and Mother Abby advises her to "follow her dream", leading to a lengthy dream ballet and a happy ending.
A Little Complex
In the style of Stephen Sondheim: Sweeney Todd, Company and Sunday in the Park with George.
In a New York apartment complex full of neurotics, Jitter is a mad artist/landlord who plots to murder his tenants, including bird-obsessed, indecisive June, deep-thinking composer Billy and pessimistic alcoholic Abby, for throwing his artwork out with the trash. After many overly-complex lyrics and dissonant music, he does.
Dear Abby
In the style of Jerry Herman: Mame, Hello, Dolly! and La Cage aux Folles.
Aunt Abby is an unconventional Manhattan socialite, adored by her neighbours, and her advice solves everyone's problems. In between costume changes, Abby manages to match-make her nephew William and her geeky friend Juney-Fae and convince the stuffy Landlord Mr. Jitters to embrace his true self and become a drag queen. Much dancing follows.
Aspects of Junita
In the style of Andrew Lloyd Webber: Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Joseph and Phantom of the Opera.
In this sung-through pop opera, Junita hopes that becoming a superstar, despite her lack of talent, will allow her to get out of paying her rent from the mysterious Sir Phantom Jitter. As her boyfriend Bill bemoans the lack of communication in their relationship (due to the fact that they literally cannot talk), and fading diva Abigail von Starr advises her to go over the top, Junita falls under Phantom Jitter's spell, only for an errant Chandelier to bring things literally crashing down to a spectacular climax.
Speakeasy
In the style of John Kander & Fred Ebb: Chicago and Cabaret.
In a speakeasy in 1930s Chicago, where half the characters are German, Fräulein Abby advises Juny to turn to prostitution to pay her rent; her boyfriend, Villy, is both gay and in jail, and is of no help; and the activity is presided over by the creepy emcee/landlord Jütter. All sing about how depressing life is and dance around in skimpy clothing.
Jump to: 2011;2010;2009; 2008; 2007
February 2011 - BYP Seniors is rebranded as Act 2 following a restructing of BYP's provision to ensure we continue to meet the needs of all young people.
July 2010 - Kathryn Tonks appointed Deputy Leader and Drama Coach with BYP Seniors.
April 2010 - Val Brogden leaves BYP Seniors to become leader of the new BYP Drama Club, established with funding from the Bradford and Keighley Youth Parliament, with which we wish her all the very best. Kathryn Tonks takes on responsibility as director for RENT.
February 2010 - Kathryn Tonks returns to the Seniors staff to work as choreographer for RENT.
September 2009 - Rachel Shaw joins the Seniors staff part-time to work as choreographer on our production of Little Shop of Horrors.
July 2009 - Kristen Vogelsang leaves BYP after completing her Masters course and moving away from the area. Val Brogden joins the Seniors' staff as our new drama coach.
May 2009 - BYP Seniors perform at the Vinvolved awards in Bradford, previewing some of Fiddler on the Roof ahead of their summer production.
February 2009 - former member Kathryn Tonks returns to BYP, joining the Seniors' staff as choreographer (part-time) for Fiddler on the Roof.
October 2008 - BYP Seniors upper age limit raised to 25.
July 2008 - A Chorus Line receives excellent reviews from NODA. The first Maggie Awards are presented.
June 2008 - Steph Cull leaves BYP Seniors as her family relocates to Wales. We thank Steff for her valuable contribution to A Chorus Line, and wish her and her family all the best for the future.
March 2008 - Six members of BYP Seniors take part in a masterclass session on 'Performing through Song' with West End performer Jon Robyns. Jon originated the parts of Princeton and Rod in the West End production of Avenue Q, and is currently playing Marius in Les Miserables at the Queen's Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, London.
February 2008 - BYP give World Premiere production of a new play, Dotty, by Robert Coke-Woods.
January 2008 - Steph Cull (choreographer) and Dave Ireland (rehearsal accompanist) join Seniors staff.
November 2007 - BYP Seniors receive £2,950 funding from Bradford Youth Grantmakers
October 2007 - BYP Seniors receive £40,900 funding from the Youth Opportunities and Youth Capital Funds
July 2007 - Kristen Vogelsang appointed Drama Coach with BYP Seniors.
July 2007 - Marguerite Jennings retires from BYP after 30 years' service. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours. Ian Sapiro takes over as Seniors section leader.
