Mission Statement: To empower young

people through performance arts,

education and the creation of
outstanding theatrical and musical art.

Lake Superior Mia Cinelli: LSYT Alumna

Youth Theatre Lake Superior Youth Theatre
first learned in Youth Theatre: how
Its always interesting to hear what
participants of LSYT think of the program.
From the youth working behind the scenes
that can put together technology better
than most adults that I know to the youth
who were afraid to speak in public who can
now speak in front of 800...the impact
varies but has one common thread of
staying with them throughout their lives.
We asked several members of our youth
theatre program from the past and present
to give us their take on what the youth
theatre program means to them.
Throughout these pages are what they said
in their own words. Enjoy!
We look forward to another amazing year
of LSYT! We hope that you are able to
assist us with continuing a great program in
Marquette. Thank you for all of your
support. Weve enclosed a donation
envelope. Please inquire if you would like
to purchase a program ad for our upcoming
production of Mary Poppins.
Sincerely, Nikke Nason
Executive/Artistic Director

(formerly Marquette Arts & Culture

Center Youth Theatre) was a
hugely influential program in my
life. As a teenager performing in
musicals, I had an interest in
costume design, and was
encouraged to design costumes for
numerous Youth Theatre
productions throughout highschool, and later college; I was
supported in an incredible handson learning experience. This
helped me develop a love for
design, which I studied in college
and graduate school. Now, as an
Assistant Professor of Art &
Design, I still use all of the skills I

to design with specific budgets and

deadlines, speak confidently in
front of large groups, and work
collaboratively with others to
achieve a common goal. I feel so
fortunate to have had these
experiences, and am delighted to
see kids involved with Youth
Theatre today-- I have no doubt it
will positively shape their lives,
too.
- Mia Cinelli, MFA
Assistant Professor of Art & Design
Defiance College

Mia (center) was not only in the 2004 youth

theatre production of Seussical but she also
designed most of the costumes as a sophomore
in high school. Those costumes were used for
the MSHS production of Seussical and several
were used in our 2014 LSYT production.

If it weren't for Marquette's Lake

Superior Youth Theatre program, I
wouldn't be the person I am today. My
LSYT family has helped me overcome
so many personal obstacles, as well as
transforming me from a shy young girl to
the confident performer and speaker that
I am today. Plus, it has given me the
opportunity to teach kids and work with
with artists of all ages that inspire me to never quit, no matter what life throws at
you. When I find success in the real world, I'll have the LSYT program to thank!
- Mallory Grugin, 11th Grade, Marquette Senior High School

HEAR FROM MORE CURRENT

AND PAST MEMBERS OF LAKE
SUPERIOR YOUTH THEATRE
INSIDE!

CURRENT ALUMNI
Ethan Bott

David
Bashaw

Kristin Anderson
Mother of Tia Anderson
& LSYT Hair Mom

LSYT has made such a

wonderful impact on mine and
my daughter Tia's lives. We
have this amazing extended
family and always look forward
to each show and being around
them. My daughter is in
Negaunee school district so she
looks forward to shows and
rehearsals bc she gets to see all
of her amazing LSYT (Marquette
school district) friends/family...it
truly brings communities
together. I have fallen in love
with my fellow hair moms and
Nikke Nason and the other kids
parents. Just so beyond blessed
thankful for this organization!

su

CURRENT MEMBERS: WHAT WE THINK!

Tia Anderson
5th Grade Negaunee Middle School

Grace

Feliz, 10th Grade, Marquette Senior High School

2014 Expands Youth Theatre to Include

ABOUT ME 5th Grade Artist in Residency Program &

8th Grade and Under Musical

Name Jeremiah Ogawa

Age 13
Grade 8th
School Bothwell Middle
School
What I like best: Lake

Superior Youth Theatre

has helped me grow into
a better person. I have
Social Anxiety and acting
has helped me develop
skills I would have never
had before. Working with
cast after cast made me
realize that theatre is
about team work and
expressing yourself.
Acting and singing has
helped me be a confident
and made me feel
inspired. Hopefully, one
day I will be a big star.

The Marquette Area Public Schools (MAPS) received a grant from the Michigan
Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA ) for LSYT to conduct an Artist
In Education Residency Program. This
program was to teach theatre and dance
Check out the inspiring video
by creating a self- written and produced
about the 5th Grade Artist in
play pertaining to history, culture, arts and
Residency program on our
literature to all 5th grade students (180
website at www.lsyt.org or on
students) as part of the MAPS core
standard curriculum and the Michigan
YouTube at
Standards, Benchmarks, and Grade Level
http://youtu.be/Xj42C9PhBQo
Content Expectations for Visual Arts,
Music, Dance, and Theater. The Artist In
Education Residency was led by Lake Superior
Youth Theatre Artistic Director, Nikke Nason, and Jill Grundstrom, NMU
Dance Instructor and Lake Superior Youth Theatre Choreographer.

PAST ALUMNI
YOUTH THEATRE
GUIDING A CAREER
CARRIE SEAVOY &
RACHEL WILKINS
Photo below of Carrie and
Rachel in the MACC Youth
Theatre Disneys High
School Musical in 2007

LSYT is really the

reason why Im in
education. While I was
still in high school, I got
experience teaching my
peers and mentoring
kids younger than me.
This unique experience
helped me get into
college and inspired my
major. Now, I have the
opportunity to share the
skills Ive learned
through Nikke and
LSYT with high
schoolers in Chicago.
- Carrie Seavoy

LSYT PRESENTS
Disney and Cameron
MacIntoshs

MARY POPPINS
February 27-March 1
March 6-7
www.nmu.edu/tickets

I first started working the

youth theatre program when I
moved to Marquette in 8th
grade. The directors and my
fellow actors took me right into
their family and I still keep in
touch with many of them to this
day even though we live in
many different places. As I got
more involved with the
program I was trusted with a
lot of responsibility in assistant
director, assistant music
director, and music director
roles. These opportunities
gave me an incredible chance
to stumble, pick my self up,
learn from my mistakes and
become a better director. I am
now in my second year as a
high school choir and theatre
teacher in Elkhart, IN. I am
truly grateful for the
opportunities I had to be able
to grow so early in my theatre
experience.
- Rachel Wilkins

FROM:
Lake Superior Youth Theatre
(LSYT)
P.O. Box 741
Marquette, MI 49855

TO:

2014 LSYT Events & Performances

Lake Superior
Youth Theatre
(LSYT)
Board of Directors

Dr. Sheetal Acharya,

Sue Acocks, Gerry Anderson,
Dr. Stephen Grugin,
Lisa Jahnke, Monica Nordeen,
Karl Numinen, Julie Peterson,
Tami Seavoy,
Dr. David Shahbazi,
Ansley Valentine
Student Representatives:
Emma Bradley, GlenEllen
Lehmberg

2014 NUMBERS
Youth participated in play, camp, or other
performances onstage or offstage

657
Youth Audience Members

1.

Seussical Jr.

2.

Kids Sing Broadway

3.

5th Grade Play

4.

Blueberry Talent Show

5.

Narnia

6.

City Band

6437

7.

Narnia

8.

The Music Man Jr.

Audience Members

9.

Haunted Hayrides

11,635

10.

Halloween Spectacle