For young people, getting a sense of what it means to be a human being is a vital part of growing up. And the students involved in Flint Youth Theatre (FYT) this season are taking an innovative approach to exploring their humanity.  

“Young people have a lot to say,” says FYT Artistic Director Samuel Richardson, who has introduced a new staged reading series into the FYT season at the Flint School of Performing Arts. “We are bringing topics to life and providing the space for these young people to talk about things that are important to them.”  

The student-led series kicked off on Sept. 4 with a reading of The Amazing Lemonade Girl by James DeVita. The play, inspired by the true story of Alexandra Scott who died of cancer at eight-years-old after raising millions of dollars for cancer research, was one of two plays in the three-show series chosen by FYT students.  

“This process – from choosing the plays to rehearsing and performing them – gives students an opportunity to talk about important topics and examine them from different perspectives,” says Richardson. “It creates conversation and reflection on why people think and act the way they do.”  

“It’s important to remember that bad things happen, but good things happen, too,” says Olivia Bicknell, an FYT student who served as technician for the reading of Lemonade Girl. “And doing shows like this helps you remember that no matter what happens, everything is going to be fine.”  

Anyone who has survived their teenage years – or those of their children – knows what a confusing and emotional time it can be. Providing a creative space to encourage their young minds and hearts, shift paradigms and reflect on their experiences is invaluable to how they shape their identity in the context of the world around them.  

“Doing shows like this is an enlightening experience,” says N’Dia McNeal, who read stage directions for Lemonade Girl, and reflects that staged readings are an equally unique experience for the audience.  

“I like narrating,” she says. “It gives the audience insight into what the characters are doing and thinking, and it helps them engage more with the play.”  

FYT will continue the series with a reading of the classic radio play War of the Worlds: The 1938 Radio Show by George Orwell on Jan. 15, 2025. Bulletproof Backpack, another topical piece selected by students, will follow on Feb. 19, 2025, and discusses the tough subject of growing up in a world where senseless violence is a real and persistent threat to school-aged kids.  

Alongside these readings, FYT will also present a one-act production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on Dec. 6 and 7, adapted for the stage by Don Quinn from C.S. Lewis’s beloved novel. The traditional production offers a comprehensive rehearsal experience, covering all aspects of theatre from stage direction to technical elements. Meanwhile, each staged reading involves a commitment of less than a month, including auditions and four rehearsal sessions – just enough to supplement the downtime between FYT’s larger productions in December and April. 

Of course, staged readings are not completely new to FYT, but a nod to its past at the Elgood and Bower Theatres, where such performances were once a staple. However, the new model focuses exclusively on young participants, giving them the opportunity to take on roles they may not get to explore in a full production. This evolution from the earlier format, which eventually became the Flint Repertory Theatre’s New Works Festival, aims to breathe new life into the important tradition. 

“Theatre for young audiences is meant to engage students from birth through college,” says Richardson. “That means that we produce family friendly productions like Jack and the Beanstalk or The Princess and the Pea (FYT’s summer 2024 productions), but it also means we discuss subjects that our participants are really thinking about and want to discuss. And all of these have a place.” 

Catch all the FYT performances this winter:  

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 
Dec. 6 & 7
MacArthur Recital Hall 

War of the Worlds (staged reading)
Jan. 15, 2025
Dort Music Center, Room 174 

Bulletproof Backpack (staged reading)
Feb. 19, 2025
Dort Music Center, Room 174