Youth Players Program

Welcome to the 2021-22 Season!

Please click here for the latest updates on COVID-19 Protocols

Registration is now open! Click here to register! 

Wondering if the Youth Players Program is for you?

*Do you love theatre?
*Are you between the ages of 12 and 16?
*Are you interested in all aspects of theatre…..acting, directing, design, stage management, technical theatre etc.?

If you answered yes to any one of these, then the Youth Players Program Program is perfect for you! The program runs from November 2nd, 2021 to March 27th, 2022.

About the Program

Theatre; Just Because is once again proudly producing the 2021-22 program hosted at the Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts and presented by the Friends of the Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts. This program gives new and experienced theatre artists the opportunity to develop and hone their skills in a fun and safe environment.

The 2021-22 T:JB Youth Players program will provide a broad foundation of the various elements of theatre arts. Students will receive education in acting, directing, design, and technical theatre. This experiential education will culminate in a final production of Almost, Maine by John Cariani. 

About the Play

A woman carries her heart, broken into nineteen pieces, in a small paper bag. A man shrinks to half his former size, after losing hope in love. A couple keep the love they have given each other in large red bags, or compress the mass into the size of a diamond. 

These playful and surreal experiences are commonplace in the world of John Cariani’s Almost, Maine, where on one deeply cold and magical Midwinter Night, the citizens of Almost – not organized enough for a town, too populated for a wilderness – experience the life-altering power of the human heart. 

Relationships end, begin, or change beyond recognition, as strangers become friends, friends become lovers, and lovers turn into strangers. 

Propelled by the mystical energy of the aurora borealis and populated with characters who are humorous, plain-spoken, thoughtful, and sincere, Almost, Maine is a series of loosely connected tales about love, each with a compelling couple at its center, each with its own touch of sorcery.

2020-21 Youth Players Program Schedule
Tuesdays 6:00pm-8:00pm / Sundays 2:15pm-5:15pm

Fee Schedule

Fall Dates:
Tuesday November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Sunday November 7, 14, 21, 28
Tuesday December 7, 14
Sunday December 5, 12, 19

Winter/Spring Dates
Sunday January 9, 16, 23, 30
Tuesday January 11, 18, 25
Sunday February 6, 13, 20, 27
Tuesday February 1, 8, 15, 22
Sunday March 13, 20
Tuesday March 8, 15, 22

Performance Schedule (Times TBD)

About the Instructors

BAILEY YARKIE

Bailey Yarkie is an educator and theatre artist in Wood Buffalo. She has received nominations for theatre awards by the ACWB, and is an advocate for arts and theatre in the community. Bailey has been involved with Theatre; Just Because as an actor and assistant director for the last four years. Bailey has appeared as an actor in The Awesome 80’s Prom, as well as Ahoy! A Pirate’s Life For Me! Bailey has been an acting facilitator for the Theatre; Just Because Youth Players Program for three years, including High School Horror Story, An Evening of Commedia and Almost, Maine.

Outside of Theatre; Just Because, Bailey has filled numerous roles in other theatrical productions with Keyano Theatre, such as performing in Spoon River Anthology, and assistant stage managing Nurse Jane Goes to Hawaii. Bailey has also worked on independent projects for the ADFA, such as an actor in Not I, and Stage Manager for The Myths and Bricks Project. Bailey has been working as a supervisor for Theatre Alberta’s Artstrek summer youth intensive for three years. Finally, during the day, Bailey is a teacher with the Fort McMurray Public School Division.

EMMA CARTER

Emma Carter is an interdisciplinary artist originally from Fort McMurray. In 2019 she completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria, where she double majored in Writing and Theatre. She is a published poet, playwright, and essayist. In 2017, she was one of the RMWB’s Artists in Residence, where her work focused on the intersections of poetry and visual arts.

Program Rules:

• Please bring a water bottle 
• No hoodies or shirts with inappropriate/offensive slogans. Participants must wear a clean pair of indoor shoes. Participants must wear pants they can move in – leggings/tights are acceptable. Tight/restrictive jeans are not encouraged.
• Lateness/Absence: All participants are expected to arrive between 5 and 10 minutes prior to rehearsal. All classes/rehearsals begin precisely on time. Three absences are grounds for dismissal from the program. Unexcused lateness will be treated as an absence. Any foreseen absence should be shared with the instructors at least with one month’s notice.
• Materials: Participants will be expected to bring their own notebook and pencil for every day in the program. Depending on the nature of the participant’s character in the production, they may be asked to pull from their own wardrobe for the costume collection. Participants will be provided with a script that they will be expected to bring every day in the program.
• Safety: Theatre; Just Because is dedicated in maintaining a safe working environment which includes respecting the physical, mental, and emotional boundaries and well-being of the participants and instructors alike. More information about the Theatre; Just Because Harassment Policy can be found online (theatrejustbecause.com).