About Us
Wall Of Honor | Show Archives
"CHRYSALIS"
(krĭs′ə-lĭs)
(krĭs′ə-lĭs)
Noun
The protective, nurturing shell that enables a caterpillar to grow into a magnificent, soaring butterfly
The protective, nurturing shell that enables a caterpillar to grow into a magnificent, soaring butterfly
|
|
Who Are We?
Chrysalis is a family-oriented Christian youth theatre program that uses the performing arts to help people to come alive and shine their brightest.
What Does The "Chrysalis" Experience Look Like?
We strive to create and maintain a joy-filled, nurturing, respectful environment, free from bullying, backstabbing, gossip, discrimination and cliques. Chrysalis is a safe and supportive opportunity for young people to grow and become the special and unique individuals God made them to be.
Each student is allowed grow at his own pace, while being encouraged and gently guided into new-found confidence, joy, and skill. Our students work together cooperatively as a family, as they learn to communicate clearly and genuinely, to set goals, to overcome obstacles, to take pride in their work, and to discover the beautiful spirit and unique gifts that each of them were created with.
What's Holding You Back? How Our Groundbreaking Approach Helps Students To Soar!
Every single day in the classroom is shaped according to the needs of students individually and as a group. We use their natural creative and playful instincts as we help them explore theatre skills and unlock their fullest potential personally and artistically. It all starts with creating the right kind of environment for students to develop a healthy foundation for learning. We utilize a variety of games and activities to help students to break through any nerves or discomforts that may be preventing them from communicating in a clear, natural, and authentic manner on or off the stage. We help them learn to open up, to be completely comfortable and confident, so they can express themselves freely, clearly, and intentionally. Once students can do that, the sky is the limit.
We strive to create and maintain a joy-filled, nurturing, respectful environment, free from bullying, backstabbing, gossip, discrimination and cliques. Chrysalis is a safe and supportive opportunity for young people to grow and become the special and unique individuals God made them to be.
Each student is allowed grow at his own pace, while being encouraged and gently guided into new-found confidence, joy, and skill. Our students work together cooperatively as a family, as they learn to communicate clearly and genuinely, to set goals, to overcome obstacles, to take pride in their work, and to discover the beautiful spirit and unique gifts that each of them were created with.
What's Holding You Back? How Our Groundbreaking Approach Helps Students To Soar!
Every single day in the classroom is shaped according to the needs of students individually and as a group. We use their natural creative and playful instincts as we help them explore theatre skills and unlock their fullest potential personally and artistically. It all starts with creating the right kind of environment for students to develop a healthy foundation for learning. We utilize a variety of games and activities to help students to break through any nerves or discomforts that may be preventing them from communicating in a clear, natural, and authentic manner on or off the stage. We help them learn to open up, to be completely comfortable and confident, so they can express themselves freely, clearly, and intentionally. Once students can do that, the sky is the limit.
Beauty From Ashes: The Inspiration For Chrysalis
Our program was inspired by God, shaped by the incredible impact theatre had in the life of our founder, Steven Brown. As a young teenager, Steven went through a very dark time as he faced bullying, a severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, and severe depression. It was this experience that gave Steven the seeds for what would later become Chrysalis. When Steven emerged from the depression, he was a shy, awkward teenager, utterly lacking in confidence. He needed a fresh start, and he found it in acting. Theatre provided Steven with a loving, supportive community, and a place to develop confidence and countless important life skills. These experiences incidentally provided a sort of "chrysalis", that helped Steven to blossom from a broken teenager into a joyful, thriving adult. After several years of performing and his first year of directing, Steven was inspired one day to create a youth theatre program that could actively provide this same Chrysalis experience for other young people. Thus, Chrysalis Youth Theatre was born. We started our first class one year later, in 2012. Since that day, we have had the pleasure of providing a safe and supportive theatre experience to hundreds of students in the South Bay.
Our program was inspired by God, shaped by the incredible impact theatre had in the life of our founder, Steven Brown. As a young teenager, Steven went through a very dark time as he faced bullying, a severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, and severe depression. It was this experience that gave Steven the seeds for what would later become Chrysalis. When Steven emerged from the depression, he was a shy, awkward teenager, utterly lacking in confidence. He needed a fresh start, and he found it in acting. Theatre provided Steven with a loving, supportive community, and a place to develop confidence and countless important life skills. These experiences incidentally provided a sort of "chrysalis", that helped Steven to blossom from a broken teenager into a joyful, thriving adult. After several years of performing and his first year of directing, Steven was inspired one day to create a youth theatre program that could actively provide this same Chrysalis experience for other young people. Thus, Chrysalis Youth Theatre was born. We started our first class one year later, in 2012. Since that day, we have had the pleasure of providing a safe and supportive theatre experience to hundreds of students in the South Bay.
IN THE PRESS
NBC Bay Area: Bay Area Proud
-Garvin Thomas
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/South-Bay-Youth-Theater-Company-Born-Out-Of-Young-Mans-Struggle-With-Depression-295855191.html
Bay Area News Group
-Kristi Myllenbeck
http://www.mercurynews.com/campbell/ci_27969822/chrysalis-youth-theatre-helps-transform-young-actors-both
NBC Bay Area: Bay Area Proud
-Garvin Thomas
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/South-Bay-Youth-Theater-Company-Born-Out-Of-Young-Mans-Struggle-With-Depression-295855191.html
Bay Area News Group
-Kristi Myllenbeck
http://www.mercurynews.com/campbell/ci_27969822/chrysalis-youth-theatre-helps-transform-young-actors-both
Our Core Teaching Principles
The Spirit Of A Child
- No matter what age they are, we want to help our students to have the curiosity and the wide-eyed wonder of a child. We want them to be able to play, to have fun as they use their imagination and creativity and playful nature to portray heroes, villains, rocks, trees, dinosaurs, or whatever the situation calls for.
Personal Peace
- We encourage students to be at peace with where they are "in the moment". Not stressing about what may or may not happen next, not worrying about how they look, or what they're wearing, or what others might be thinking about them. Simply being in control of what they can control and letting go of the rest.
Working As A Family
- The discipline to work together with others through all challenges. Peacefully resolve conflicts, work through differences, and conquer obstacles as a team. Can both lead and follow respectfully, diligently, and with humility.
Redefining Success
- Succeeding not by winning or losing, but by learning, innovating, conquering obstacles, achieving goals, and building up those around you. Creating and maintaining an environment where everybody involved can find success. Success measured not in money, fame, or awards, but by personal growth and positive impact on those around you.
The Fruit Of The Spirit
- In all things, choosing to pursue love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, thankfulness, and self-control.
ARTISTICALLY
Finding Your Blank Slate
- Ridding yourself of all tension, emotion, pre-conceived notions, and nervous ticks. Being able to build a character from a state of complete neutrality. Not holding yourself back, not throwing yourself forward, not otherwise getting trapped by yourself.
Healthy Body Conditioning, Awareness, And Control
- Physical exercises through dance and play that naturally build up strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination. Training to isolate movements and be in control of your body. Encouragement to eat healthily and take care of yourself so you can perform to your fullest potential and enjoy life.
Knowledge
- Developing a thorough, well-rounded understanding of theatre history and the various techniques, theories, philosophies, and skills. Learning to discover the history behind the story and character you are working on. Developing the curiosity and and enjoyment of theatre to pursue further knowledge and understanding, seeking to learn not only the "what", but also the "why", the "when", and the "how".
Multi-Faceted Performance Skills
- Able to tell a story through both voice and body. Can be both dramatic and comedic, can play a wide range of characters. Develop a through understanding and control of physical and vocal dynamics.
Authenticity and Passion
- Learning to express oneself clearly, authentically, and with real, genuine emotion.
