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West Jordan Journal

West Jordan Youth Theatre gives kids taste of professional shows (and confidence)

Jun 06, 2024 10:03AM ● By Linda Steele

Since 2006 the youth productions have been performing two shows a year, one in the fall and one in the spring. (Photo courtesy Melissa Wamsley)

West Jordan Youth Theatre allows a lot of opportunities for kids outside of school to participate in theater. This is a safe space meant for kids to feel good about themselves, gain confidence and make friends for a lifetime. 

“Gives kids an opportunity to participate in the arts and theater. We work very hard to make it a safe space, a place where they can come and be themselves and figure out who they are,” Chelsea McGee said, president and chairperson of West Jordan Youth Theatre.

Since 2006 the youth productions have been performing two shows a year, one in the fall and one in the spring. The ages of kids that participate in the youth theater is 8-18. If the kids are 18, and they are still seniors in high school they can still be in shows. “It is a fun way to get the younger kids who have never performed and teach them how to perform and be another character on stage,” McGee said. 

The theater focuses on performing full length productions rather than junior versions of the story to help kids gain confidence and get out of their comfort zone. “It’s amazing to see the kids perform and gain confidence,” McGee said. 

The shows have been performed at the Midvale Performing Arts Center. Now the Cultural Arts Society will be performing at a new building being built now. Since they have been performing at Midvale Performing Arts they have sold out every show. It is exciting for them to have the new building because there are 230 seats to accommodate more people. The location of the new building will be between the rodeo grounds and the outdoor West Jordan swimming pool. The theater is excited for any sponsors or people that want to help with getting their new building up and running. It will be called West Jordan Community and Arts Center. 

They average between 80-100 kids to audition per show. About 45 to 50 kids make it because of the size of the stage. “Auditions are very hard, because you have to tell some of the kids they didn’t make it, and it is heart-breaking. We rotate the kids to give all the kids an opportunity to perform,” McGee said. 

The theater has workshops to help kids learn how to perform and improve on their skills for auditioning. 

 The theater attracts kids from West Jordan, South Jordan, Herriman, Lehi, Draper, Murray and Taylorsville to audition and perform in the Youth Theatre. “We are a program that attracts a lot of people, not just from West Jordan,” McGee said. 

For more information about the West Jordan Youth Theater and auditions go to wjarts.org/youth-theater λ