Classes

Classes This Winter

CYT Classes ensure that your students consistently improve their skills as performers in all theater arts.  CYT Santa Cruz offers classes with a high level of intentionality and excellence. Classes are available for students of any level of experience, with offerings ranging from drama, dance, voice, and improv, to specialty classes like makeup design, puppetry, and more. We encourage each student to take a variety of classes each season.

We're Hiring Teaching Artists!

Join our vibrant, imaginative, inclusive, and uplifting.community of CYT Santa Cruz as a Teaching Artist. Our ~8-10 week long class sessions are held during the school year for students 4-18. We are seeking educators skilled in various musical theater skills including singing, dancing and acting. This also includes specialty production skills like Stage Management, FX design, or playwriting. If you love Theater Arts education, check out our form by clicking the button below, to learn more about the potential of teaching a class at CYT.
Share Your Interest!

Current Classes:

Class: Age: Chapter: Location: Day: Time: Start: End:
Advanced Acting for the Stage 15-18 Santa Cruz
(Winter 2025)		 Midtown Community Center Tue 6:45pm - 8:45pm Jan 07 Mar 04
Advanced Vocals: Musical Theater Ensemble Work 15-18 Santa Cruz
(Winter 2025)		 Midtown Community Center Wed 5:00pm - 7:00pm Jan 08 Mar 04
Advanced: Bringing Wonderland to Life: Production Directing 101 14-18 Santa Cruz
(Winter 2025)		 Midtown Community Center Tue 6:45pm - 8:45pm Jan 07 Mar 04
Beginners Backstage 101 15-18 Santa Cruz
(Winter 2025)		 Midtown Community Center Tue 6:45pm - 8:45pm Jan 07 Mar 04
Beginners LET'S DANCE: Meaning + Movement 8-11 Santa Cruz
(Winter 2025)		 Midtown Community Center Wed 5:00pm - 7:00pm Jan 08 Mar 04
Beginners Stage Combat 101 8-11 Santa Cruz
(Winter 2025)		 Midtown Community Center Tue 4:30pm - 6:30pm Jan 07 Mar 04
Intermediate Acting: Role With It!!! 12-18 Santa Cruz
(Winter 2025)		 Midtown Community Center Wed 5:00pm - 7:00pm Jan 08 Mar 04
Intermediate Dance Audition Prep 15-18 Santa Cruz
(Winter 2025)		 Midtown Community Center Tue 4:30pm - 6:30pm Jan 07 Mar 04
Intermediate Stage Hair & Makeup: A World of Pure Imagination! 12-14 Santa Cruz
(Winter 2025)		 Midtown Community Center Tue 4:30pm - 6:30pm Jan 07 Mar 04
Intermediate, Acting with Shakespeare 12-14 Santa Cruz
(Winter 2025)		 Midtown Community Center Wed 5:00pm - 7:00pm Jan 08 Mar 04
Our Gang: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 4-7 Santa Cruz
(Winter 2025)		 Midtown Community Center Sat 10:00am - 12:00pm Jan 11 Mar 04
Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most frequent questions about our classes

First Class?

First Class?

These steps will help with the Registration Process!

Learn More
Teaching Artists

Teaching Artists

What does it take to be a CYT Teaching Artist?

Learn More

Teachers

A CYT Teacher’s mission is to train and instruct students in such a way as to promote the development of character, self-esteem, and confidence. CYT teachers are qualified and experienced in the area in which they teach. They have been trained in the CYT methods of instruction and agree with the CYT values and outcome goals.  All CYT teachers have been background checked and adhere to our CYT Mission and Values. Our teachers truly care about their students and provide a constructive and fun environment for them to learn.
Current Teachers

Showcase

Parents, friends, and relatives are invited to attend CYT's Showcase performance on the last day / evening of classes, free of charge! Showcase is the grand finale of each session of classes, at which every class makes a 5-10 minute presentation of something they have learned and rehearsed during the session. Don't miss the action!

How to Register

Set up a Family Account before you register for classes:
  1. Click on the "person" icon at top right corner of our website (to right of "DONATE" on any page).
  2. Click on "NEW ACCOUNT" in the pop up window.
  3. Fill out the information required, with the parent's info first.
  4. To add a child to the account, click on the +Family Member button.
If you are already have a Family Account, then (while logged in) follow these steps:
  1. Go to the "Classes" page
  2. First select your "Student's Age"
  3. Click on the Class Name of your choice
  4. Click on the "Register Now" button
  5. Select the family member that will be in the class
  6. You will now have an option to sign up for audition times. Auditions are not required.
  7. If you don't sign up now, you will have that option later in your family account

Current Teachers:

Amber Herfurth

My name is Amber and I am a Santa Cruz native! I spent 13 years in Los Angeles going to school for musical theater and found myself sporadically doing film and television. After having my daughter in 2021, we moved back home to lead a more peaceful existence than what LA had to offer. My love of theater and acting is still strong and I'm always delighted when it crosses my path, especially in teaching form!

Autumn Burchell

Autumn has been a part of the CYT Santa Cruz community since 2011, when she performed in her first show as a little duckling. Twelve years and many adventures later, she is tickled to be returning as a teacher for this generation of students! Autumn has her B.S. in Child Development and a diversity of experiences working with children in early childhood and extracurricular settings. She is energized by finding and facilitating student opportunities to be challenged, victorious and playful. Autumn is passionate about skillful storytelling through the arts and is fascinated by the way our stories point to our Creator.

Brittney Mignano

I am so excited to share my love of the performing arts with the CYT community. My greatest passions have always been my work with children and my work in theater. I've been a nanny for over 20 years, taught at local preschools, worked as a homeschool teacher, led Shakespeare camps, founded improv clubs and performed with a variety of theater companies in Norther CA. Past roles of mine include: Little Red Riding Hood - Into the Woods, Marta-Company, Sara Jane Moore - Assassins, Julia -1984, Wendy - Peter Pan and Juliet - Romeo and Juliet. I'm a California native and received my degree in acting for the stage from the American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York. Off stage I enjoy gardening, baking, volunteering, camping and spending time with my wonderful nephews. My main focus is to continue to support diversity and accessibility in the performing arts community.

Cindy Gorski

Vocal Teacher, Singer, Actress Taught for 40 years Acting, Musical Theatre and voice Worked as a professional Actress and Singer in both Los Angeles and New York

Karriyma Pekary

Actor. Singer. Dancer. Wife. Mother of 3. Lover of Jesus and all things performing arts! After almost 15 years on and behind the stage, I moved over to TV and Commercial acting (as a new mom with less free time) and for the past 5 years have unexpectedly developed a love for on-camera acting! But theater will always be my first love. Happy to be back!

Mindy Brown

Mindy Brown has many years of experience and education working with youth as well as raising her own 2 kids, that are now 12 and 15. She encourages students to try new things and discover their God-given gifts. Mindy’s interest in hair and makeup craft began at age 8, and over the years, she has developed a variety of skills and experience in the field. She has been the parent committee chairperson for CYT’s Hair and Makeup team since 2018 and has contributed to hair and makeup design plans for 13 shows so far. Mindy is looking forward to creating a fun, collaborative, and educational experience for your kids!

Monika Hash

Monika is a CYT Santa Cruz alumni and is so excited to be teaching acting again! Monika enjoys directing shows (you may have seen The Lightning Thief last spring!), reading books of all kinds, writing poetry and plays, and playing board games. She is thrilled to be teaching with CYT!

Nathan McCall

First and foremost, Nathan is a CYT dad (Selah & Dorean) and he's here to join the fun! Second and nextmost, he loves collaborative play - Tough Mudders, role-playing games, music making, and more! Third and midmost, he is most enthused when helping/encouraging someone to choose living as the best version of themself! Fourth and fourmost, he's a veteran summer camp designer/director (e.g., original Secret Agent Camp, Yosemite backpacking trips)! Fifth and postmost, he has dual B.S. in Counseling Psychology and Bible & Theology, with emphases in Early Childhood Education and ending sentences with exclamation marks!

Patrick Pulpan

Hey dancers, my name is Patrick! I'm a bay area native who started dancing at the age of 10 at Elaine's Dance Studio on Soquel. My stage career began in Cabrillo Stage's "CHICAGO" and "Beauty & the Beast" staring as the iconic dancing salt shaker. After highschool, I moved to Los Angeles to attend the American Music and Dramatics Academy, studying music theater. I recently moved back to SC after being in New York City the past four years doing stand up comedy and continued my training. I'm overjoyed to be teaching dance classes this Fall!

Sara Brown

Hello! My name is Sara and I am so excited to be teaching Backstage 101 this session! I have been in CYT Santa Cruz since 2011 and loved every second of it! I started as an actor and moved to the tech side of things just a couple years later. I have been Stage Managing at CYT for the past two years and I can't wait to educate all my students on what I have learned at CYT!