Annual CYPT Benefit Reunion a ‘Totally Awesome’ Success
It was like, totally, rad. The 2012 Cincinnati Young People’s Theatre (CYPT) Benefit Reunion was held on December 27 at the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts and was an unqualified success – on-stage and off.
The annual event is equal parts fundraiser, entertainment and social mixer for alumni of the venerable 30-year program. This year, in honor of the summer production of The Wedding Singer, the event included a salute to the 80s.
Recognition for distinguished alumni and friends of the program were given in the form of the annual CYPT awards. The CYPT Founder’s Award – given to someone who fundamentally ensured CYPT’s success over its 30 years – was presented to Nicola Burgun for her commitment and dedication as stage manager for the summer show for more than 10 years.
Local teacher and theater instructor Tara Tuttle was awarded the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Life Achievement Award for inspiring the next generation of CYPTers all across the region.
The 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award for Performing Arts was presented to Aaron LaVigne. LaVigne is an accomplished musical theater performer based in New York City. He is currently on Broadway in the musical Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark and has toured nationally in Rent and was a member of the New York cast after that.
The CYPT Hall of Fame Award – recognizing the work during a participant’s years in the program – was presented to Jeni Bayer Schwiers. A mainstay in the “middle” years of CYPT history, Schwiers appeared in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1989), Lil Abner (1990), Mack and Mabel, then as Dorothy in 1992’s Wizard of Oz and the title role in 1993’s Cinderella. She seamlessly transitioned to off-stage work by helping costume and then choreographing many CYPT shows after her teen participation.
Each year, two “graduating” participants of the program are presented with honorary Big Guys scholarships, named after the informal graduate club from CYPT’s early years. For their dedication to CYPT, Megan Anderson and Kelsey Steele were given $500 awards to use toward college expenses this fall.
The annual Name-the-Dressing Rooms promotion generated over $700. The two winners were: Oklahoma (1994) and Les Miserables (2010). Denny Reed and Eric Bricking once again won the annual Name-the-Restrooms auction. And the auction winners of the Walk-on Roles for CYPT 2013 were Paula Gerhardt and Jeff Tuttle.
Through ticket sales, live auctions and other fundraisers during the event, the 2012 CYPT Benefit Reunion Concert raised over $9,700. The proceeds will offset the rising costs of the summer production and help to ensure that anyone who wants to participate in CYPT in the future can afford to.
CYPT alumni and friends should mark their calendars for Friday, December 27, 2013 for the next edition of the CYPT Benefit Reunion.