About CYT

What is Christian Youth Theater?

Christian Youth Theater (CYT) is an after-school theater arts training program for students ages 4-18. Since its founding in 1981, CYT has grown to be one of the largest youth theater programs in the nation, with Branches across the country training thousands of students a year.

Each Branch’s yearly calendar is comprised of three ten-week sessions: Fall, Winter, and Spring. These sessions involve after-school classes in theater arts with the opportunity to audition and perform in a Broadway-style musical or work behind the scenes. Additionally, CYT offers a Summer session consisting of camps, workshops, and performance opportunities.

CYT stands at the forefront in its commitment to the highest ethical, moral, technical, and artistic standards of excellence. Instructors are professionals, qualified in teaching and/or performing, who understand our mission statement, values, objectives, and goals.

Mission & Values

Mission
Christian Youth Theater develops character and creativity through quality theater arts training that brings families and communities together while reflecting Jesus.

Values
  • Character over competition:  Our intentional focus is on knowing Jesus and becoming more like Him. We earnestly desire growth in love for God, in the knowledge of His love for us, and in a humble life that pours out love towards others.

  • People over programs:  We exist for our communities: those we know and those we have yet to meet. The people. We were created for companionship, and at CYT we long to see strangers become neighbors and neighbors become community. This is our calling. We love God, and we love and value His people. We see and welcome people for who they uniquely are and not just what they can do for our organization.

  • Service over spotlight:  We believe in serving others in sacrificial and tangible ways. CYT exists for opportunities to know and see needs, and to meet them as the body of Christ. We see leadership through the lens of servant leadership, as best demonstrated in the person and work of Jesus. We aim to work slowly and mindfully to see the needs that walk through our doors. We would take servanthood over spotlights any day.

  • Excellence over ego:  We value giving God our first and our best. Excellence is our simplest expression of giving the gifts and talents God has blessed us with back to Him. We don’t seek perfection as a means of outward praise, but excellence as a form of worship from a heart of gratitude and diligence. Being excellent in all we say and do is a way we can be faithful to God’s calling on our lives and in our work.
CYT is passionate and committed to supporting, sustaining, and encouraging a safe, creative community where all are welcome, seen, and valued. All those participating at CYT are charged to hold to their personal convictions while simultaneously demonstrating grace and compassion to ALL they encounter, regardless of religious or political differences.

CYT is an educational nonprofit not associated with any specific church or denomination. All are welcomed and encouraged to participate and are not required to adopt any specific religious beliefs.

CYT is committed to creative and diverse programming, the continued development of
practices and strategies that serve many unique needs, and the continued improvement and
expansion of diversity in and for the CYT community.

“There are a lot of kids learning integrity who will bring it into their communities later in life.”

CYT Director

Impact

Every year CYT National works with local communities to bring Branches to new cities. As CYT grows, so does the impact of our organization on future leaders of our nation and world.
More About CYT's Impact

Current Staff Members:

Tyler Hutchinson

Interim National Director
Having served as Artistic Director of CYT Indy, along with founder and Artistic Director of CYT Dallas, Tyler's journey has extended past the local branch level. He has worked with CYT National in various capacities, contributing his expertise and vision to several national initiatives. As Interim National Director, Tyler is eager to collaborate with Branches across the nation, fostering stronger connections, and working together to elevate CYT to new heights.

Tiffany Hochkeppel

Branch Support Manager
Tiffany is a former educator of ten years who now serves as the Branch Support Manager for CYT National. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in English and Speech from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She also earned her Masters in Special Education with a Concentration in Gifted Education from Northwestern State University. She has served as a Board Member of the Iberia Performing Arts League, a teacher/director/choreographer at CYT Lafayette, and a teacher for Wonderland Performing Arts. She also founded the Southside Drama Department at Southside High School, a new high school in Youngsville, Louisiana, and served as the Fine Arts Department Chair and on the Lafayette Parish Arts Advisory Council.

Kristen Downing

Communications Manager
Kristen is honored to serve as the Communications Manager for CYT National. She originates from the Chicagoland area, has worked at Disney World, professionally trained in improv at the world-renowned Second City, and has choreographed and directed for many schools and theater companies since 2007. Kristen earned her B.A. in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Speech/Drama and minored in Biblical & Theological Studies from Biola University. She started her personal CYT journey as a student in the foundational years of CYT Chicago in 1998. She has served as a Teaching Artist, Artistic Team member, and camp leader with various Branches since 2006. Kristen is passionate about CYT’s mission, values, and the opportunity to witness students and families begin their relationship with Jesus while supporting the arts in the same space.

Paul Stine

Design Manager
Paul is a creative producer, choreographer, and performer based out of SoCal. In addition to studying musical theater and dance since the age of 7, Paul has worked in media creation as a video editor, graphic designer, and branding specialist for multiple organizations over the last decade. Since 2014, he has been a choreographer and show producer at LEGOLAND California Resort and is also a Standby performer at the Disneyland Resort. Paul joined CYT San Diego in 1999 as a student, continued working on dozens of artistic teams for stage productions, teen camps, and after school classes, and eventually joined the CYT National Staff in 2019. Paul has a passion for storytelling and hopes to inspire people through both online design and creative content.