"Nifty Fifites" Tickets On Sale Now!




Get out your poodle skirts and comb your hair into a duck-tail! Over sixty performers for The Kiel Area Youth Theatre are taking you back to "The Nifty Fifties" with their third summer production!

Tickets are now on sale! Tickets can be purchased Mondays through Thursdays between 5 and 8 PM at Kiel High School, and will be available at the door before performances. Online ticket purchases can be made by clicking the link below.  Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students 12 and under.


Performances will be at 6:00 PM on July 14, 15, 21, and 22 as well as 2:00 PM on July 16 and 23. All performances will be held at the Castle Theatre in Kiel High School.

Gracie Stanley has gotten herself in hot water by promising to deliver her distant cousin, rock star Ziggy Springer, for the high school Hippity Hop at Louise's Luncheonette. Ziggy's manager doesn't want his client performing anywhere without pay, so Gracie and her friends have to produce a double — and fast!

They use a singing soda jerk and plan to have him perform in the dark! It won't be easy for Gracie to get away with this one with her rival, snooty Muffin Mansfield, waiting for her to flop.

Meanwhile, Louise has her own problems. The building's owner forbids the dance and plans to turn the eatery into a dry cleaner. With all of this happening, Gracie's brother is living in terror because he's smashed up a Harley belonging to Sinbad Gallucci, a bad dude.

For more information, please email info@kielayt.org or call 920-286-1252.

Get Ready for a "Nifty" Experience!

The first show is right around the corner and we are eagerly preparing some exciting things for this years Nifty Fifties Experience!

Concessions:  This year we will again be offering warm chocolate chip cookies!  In addition to some fun 1950s and show specific themed treats, we will be selling popcorn, juice, and hot dogs!  We thought this would be a great option for families after the later performances!

We will also be selling flowers and Break-A-Leg treats for your young actors.  If you would like to save some time and print a copy of the break-a-leg form to have filled out ahead of time, please click here!

Stop at our photo stand to get your child's picture on a button!  These priceless keepsakes will be offered as a button, magnet, or keychain this year!

NEW THIS YEAR:  RAFFLES

While you are there, take a chance at one of our 1950s themed bucket raffles!. Drawings to be held after the final performance.

Look for our volunteers selling chances at a 50/50 raffle.  One lucky winner will be drawn at each performance!
Thank you to all who support our theatre group in so many ways!  This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. Please invite/bring family, friends and neighbors to support your cast member!  Profits from these events go to help purchase/rent equipment and put on a quality show from year to year.  Extra Show Flyers are available on the front ticket table at each rehearsal. Please post a flyer anywhere we may have missed!

Looking forward to seeing you all at the shows!

Our 2017 Production Is...


PRESS RELEASE:
December 28, 2016

Over 100 people came to the Kiel Area Youth Theatre's second annual "Reveal Party" on December 28 at Anchor Lanes in Elkhart Lake for the announcement of their show selection for the group's summer 2017 production, titled "The Nifty Fifties - A Musical Tribute to the 1950s."


The show synopsis is as follows:

Gracie Stanley has gotten herself in hot water by promising to deliver her distant cousin, rock star Ziggy Springer, for the high school Hippity Hop at Louise’s Luncheonette. Ziggy’s manager doesn’t want his client performing anywhere without pay, so Gracie and her friends have to produce a double — and fast! They use a singing soda jerk and plan to have him perform in the dark! It won’t be easy for Gracie to get away with this one with her rival, snooty Muffin Mansfield, waiting for her to flop. Meanwhile, Louise has her own problems. The building’s owner forbids the dance and plans to turn the eatery into a dry cleaner. With all of this happening, Gracie’s brother is living in terror because he’s smashed up a Harley belonging to Sinbad Gallucci, a bad dude.

"The Nifty Fifties" will be led by Director Hilary Mayer, and she will be joined by Music Director Christine Clements, Choreographer Jessica Schrage, and Production Stage Manager Heather Winter as the musical's production staff.

Auditions will be held on April 10 and 11 at the Kiel Middle School. Rehearsals will begin on May 22 and will be held Mondays through Thursdays until the performances, which will be July 14 - 16, and July 21 - 23 at the Castle Theater at Kiel High School.

The Kiel Area Youth Theatre is a 501c3 nonprofit organization which promotes and provides the opportunity for Kiel, Wisconsin area youth to participate in fun and positive theatrical experiences in order to share their creative talents and performance abilities with the community. With the assistance of many incredible volunteers, the enthusiasm and cooperation of wonderful parents and talented young actors, and the overwhelming support of the community, this organization has grown very quickly into a vehicle of the promotion of the arts and a sound establishment which will provide children enrolled in four-year-old kindergarten through eighth grade the chance to develop and showcase their artistic abilities and talents for the Kiel area for the foreseeable future. More information about the group and its upcoming show can be found by visiting kielayt.org.

If you are interested in contributing to or being involved with the Kiel Area Youth Theatre, please feel free to send an email to info@kielayt.org, or please call Victor Schueller at 920-286-1252.

Meet our 2017 Production Staff!

We're so excited to have assembled a talented and experienced production staff for our 2017 show, "The Nifty Fifties!"  We're welcoming back some familiar faces, and welcoming some new people to the Kiel Area Youth Theatre.  Here's a look at our crew that will be leading the way this coming summer...

Director - Hilary Mayer


 Hilary is thrilled to be the Artistic Director of "The Nifty Fifties." Originally from Sheboygan, Hilary has been a part of over 50 productions both on and off the stage, including "Avenue Q," "Bare: A Pop Opera," "Annie," "Seussical," and many more. For the last six years, she has worked with Pankratz Arts Exchange and performed in their summer song and dance revue shows. She attended Berklee College of Music in Boston for Music Therapy & Musical Theatre Performance, and is back in her home state and excited to work with the Kiel area youth, their families, and a "nifty" creative team!

Production Stage Manager - Heather Winter


Heather is a graduate of New Holstein High School and recently relocated back to the area after living in Minneapolis and Chicago. She holds a Musical Theater Bachelor of Fine Arts from Rockford College and has experience working with children in the arts with such companies as the YMCA, Northern Lights Playhouse, CLIMB theatre, and more. In Minneapolis & Chicago, Heather performed as an actress, singer, and director for the past 17 years. She’s delighted for the opportunity to play at KAYT and get to develop friendships and establish roots in the community. Heather has one son, a first grader at Zielanis; her husband, Jason, works at Kohler Co.

Music Director - Christine Clements 


Christine Clements has been an elementary music specialist for over 13 years. She graduated from Lakeland College in 2003 with a triple degree in General, Choral, and Instrumental Music Education grades kindergarten through high school. Christine has also completed some graduate work through Silver Lake College in their Kodaly Program and hopes to complete her Masters in Music or Ethnomusicology.

Mrs. Clements first began her involvement in theatre and music in high school, participating in musicals as well as joining the Kiel Municipal band. While in college, she continued participating in theatre productions alongside her music studies. She acted played roles in some plays, but also really enjoyed backstage roles.

Besides teaching music at Zielanis Elementary School, Christine enjoys being involved in many areas of the community including Kiel Municipal Band, Kiel Area Youth Theatre, and Girls Ministries at her church. She also enjoys being a mom and helping her husband home-school their three children. In her free time, Christine enjoys reading, walking, swimming, biking, and baking. Above all else, Christine loves working with children. She finds their excitement and energy most contagious!

Choreographer - Jessica Schrage


Jess is excited for the opportunity to again assist in KAYT’s third summer production. The kids did a wonderful job in KAYT’s second production, “A Pirate’s Life for Me!,” which Jess helped choreograph. Jess and her husband have 3 kids, and their oldest much enjoyed participating in KAYT’s first two productions. Jess is a registered dietitian nutritionist, working casually at this time. Most of the time Jess much enjoys being home with their youngest munchkin. Aside from spending precious time with her family, Jess is still an active performer herself, having performed in various music revues and musicals since her college days, as well as assisting choreograph on occasion. Jess was most recently cast as Rona Lisa Peretti in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, produced by Pankratz Arts Exchange, Inc. during spring of 2016. Jess is looking forward to seeing some familiar, smiling faces, as well as welcoming some new faces to the KAYT family!


Please join us in extending a warm welcome to this talented crew as we look forward to our 2017 production!

Be sure to join us on April 10 and 11 for auditions for our upcoming production, "The Nifty Fifties!"  Keep checking back at kielayt.org for more information regarding our 2017 show.  

If you'd like to receive updates on upcoming events, auditions, performances, or any other announcements regarding the Kiel Area Youth Theatre, please join our mailing list by clicking here.


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If you have any questions about the Kiel Area Youth Theatre, or if you'd like to know more about how you can support us, please e-mail us at info@kielayt.org.