Mickey Fundraising for the YT.

This year I learned that there is exactly one theatre company I would cross the country to see.

When I realized it was the first year that I would not be in New York for the CAT Youth Theatre show, I freaked. Since I was 13, I have experienced 15 February shows. I was in 5 as a young person, I have worked on 5 as a Director, and I have seen 5 as an audience member. 

But this time I was completely broke and in California. 

I was supposed to be finding a job to support my husband's acting pursuits. 

I was in debt from getting married a few months before. 

I had student loan bills due.

Did that stop me? Nah. I found a way to make it happen. I had to. I scraped up that last dollar and a few I didn't have and I hopped on a plane.

And was it worth it? Yeah. I saw the show three times in one weekend and my experience deepened each time. The theatre they make is so full. It's rich with content, questions, and perspectives. The young people balance powerful personal declarations with thoughtful contradictions and difficult dilemmas. 

Creating these shows meant the world to me as a young person. It has undoubtedly shaped me as an adult. In the age of cuts to arts funding, I am committed to letting it live on.

Today I am asking you to give a bit to keep the program free for the young people in it. 

Thank you.

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More about the Youth Theatre: 

CAT Youth Theatre is a unique program, using theatre to encourage young people to look critically at the world around them, decide what it is they want their theatre to say, and think about what their role in the world should be. Young people ages 10 and up get amazing opportunities to create original theatre, work with a huge variety of   people who they might never meet, and share their work with their families and peers. Youth Theatre members also get the opportunity to work with students in the Masters in Applied Theatre program, apprentice with the Junior Youth Theatre, and attend a weekend retreat in New Jersey to celebrate the end of the year.

Though CAT is fully committed to keeping the program free for participants, we need to raise funds to make that possible. I want to do my part to make sure that the program is available to NYC young people for years to come.

Join my team and help me raise much needed funds for this incredible organization!

Want to make an even bigger impact? Can you make a recurring donation? Even just $10 a month can make a HUGE difference! 

Learn more about what it means to be a CAT Youth Theatre member here.

About the CAT Youth Theatre

CAT Youth Theatre is a FREE program that helps young  people to thrive – on stage and in life. Members create socially  relevant original plays while learning vital life skills, enabling youth  to become self-confident, compassionate and accountable; to develop  relationships across differences; build community; and be prepared to  act as contributing citizens. 

The collaborative theatre process gives young people the opportunity  to make new meanings from the material of their lives. There are no  auditions – and it’s free to the young people who participate. CAT Youth Theatre is a program of the CUNY Creative Arts Team. It’s only through the support of our family of supporters that this program can remain free- thank you for being a part of our community!

Thank you for joining our team- and me!- as a supporter of the CAT Youth Theatre!