ASSOCIATE ARTISTS--A FEATURE OF MENTOR-BASED TRAINING

 July 27, 2009 

Managing Artistic Director Shaun T. Evans and Associate Stage Manager Jennifer Faulhaber joined Associate Artists Anneke Street, Dirk Stenger, Josh Pinkowski, Austyn Myers, Brandon Pohl, Miranda Nuevo and Luke Marinkovich  at the CYC Theatre Associates' meeting.  Together, they reflected on last season and began to discuss the upcoming season.

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 CYC Theatre's Associates Program

 California Youth Conservatory Theatre is a training-oriented organization which strives to emulate professional theatre in its programming as much as possible.  Our organization strives to build marketable skills in its students and recognizes the skill and achievements of its members.  The Associates Program is designed to allow the exceptional students in our organization to better prepare for careers in entertainment by applying the lessons and skills they have learned to helping teach and coach beginners.  As they spend time doing this, they are encouraged to work in local professional theatres and eventually serve as paid performers in our shows.  Every member of our organization may apply for status as an Associate Artist once they have accomplished the prerequisite goals.  

 

Level I Associate Artists

  • Are asked to assist the Director in helping beginners and fellow cast members with music, staging and scenework.
  • Are asked to assist the new members with the company rules and procedures.
  •  Receive a 50% discount on tuition/production fees.

Level II Associate Artists

  • Are asked to assist the Director in helping beginners and fellow cast members with music, staging and scenework.
  • Are asked to assist the new members with the company rules and procedures.
  • Are not required to audition--but may come directly to callbacks by expressing an interest in being considered for a certain role.
  • Pay no tuition or production fees to participate in our programming.

Level III Associate Artists

  • Are asked to assist the Director in helping beginners and fellow cast members with music, staging and scenework.
  • Are asked to assist the new members with company rules and procedures.
  • Are not required to audition--but may come directly to callbacks by expressing an interest in being considered for a certain role.  In some cases, Level III Associates may be pre-cast or even involved in show selection and casting.
  • Are--through demonstrated skill and achievement--regarded as professional actors and are paid (the non-union stipend for non-union actors) to perform in our productions.
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              BRANDON POHL

                   Level III Associate Artist

Brandon is thrilled and honored to be back working with CYC Theatre again; a company whose success and reputation he helped form.  He was the original 'leading man' of CYC Theatre--having played the lead or principal roles in CYC's first four productions when CYC first came to be in 2003.  He was also the first performer to be promoted to the position of Level III Associate Artist with CYC back in 2005, when the Associates program first started.  He was last seen with the company as Tateh in Ragtime (in which production he also served as Choral Director), and with previous performances as both Seymour and The Dentist in opposite casts of the same production of Little Shop of Horrors, Valjean in Les Miserables, and Huckleberry Finn in Big River.   Since his last production with CYC Theatre, he has performed at Grossmont College as Johnny Angel/Mrs. Halo in SUDS: The Musical  and at the Welk Resort Theatre as The Fiddler/Bottle Dancer in Fiddler on the Roof.  He is currently starring as the title character at Disney's California Adventure in Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular.  "Without CYC Theatre, I would not be able to call myself a professional actor today. I have grown as an actor, as well as a person, and learned so much from the company. Thank you Shaun and CYC." 

                                                               

                                                                        

              JOSH PINKOWSKI

                   Level I Associate Artist 

                                                                      

17-year-old Josh Pinkowski is one of the most versatile youth actors around.  While participating for only a short time in CYC Theatre's programming, Josh has distinguished himself as a hard-working and instinctive performer.  Audiences are generally shocked to find out how young he is after seeing his work on stage--and directors find his humility and work ethic very refreshing.  Josh led the cast of the world's first-ever youth theatre production of the full-score (unedited) RENT as Mark Cohen.  Josh also appeared with CYC Theatre in Big River as both Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer in opposite casts.  Recently, in our 2009 production of Les Miserables, Josh played Thenardier and five other supporting characters!  Josh has also appeared in State of the Union and in Pride and Prejudice.  

  

        AUSTYN MYERS*

          Level III Associate Artist

 

Austyn is thrilled to be working at what he loves, sharing in the process of creating characters, building relationships and being a part of growing a prestigious theatre company. Austyn made his film debut as Josh Morrison in the motion picture Meet Dave opposite Eddie Murphy which opened in theatres nationwide July 2008.  His acting career began right here with CYC Theatre in a production of Les Misérables as Gavroche.  Soon after, he was selected to tour with the Broadway national tour, again, in the role of Gavroche.   Myers traveled with the company for eleven months, culminating with an eight week run opening the revival at the Broadhurst Theater on Broadway.  CYC performers of all ages enjoy working with the tremendously talented, but very humble and personable Austyn.  Recently, Austyn led the cast of CYC's Seussical the Musical as the Cat in the Hat.  Last summer, Austyn realized a life-long dream and brought the character of Huckleberry Finn to life in CYC's Big River.   a Other appearances with CYC include Ragtime and A Night on Broadway.  He has been blessed to work with The Old Globe Theatre in the new musical, First Wives Club; Lambs Players Theater in The Secret Garden and North Coast Rep in A Christmas Carol .   His absolute favorite role of all time is "Uncle Austyn" to his niece and four nephews. Austyn thanks the many talented friends he has had the pleasure to learn with along the way. His true friend and mentor Shaun Evans for giving wings to his passion, the best pop ever for hours of line reading, perfecting and unending pride, and his wonderful loving, supportive family for always believing in him.

*Member, Actor's Equity Association, the Union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States 

 

            MIRANDA NUEVO

         Level I Associate Artist

Miranda is the youngest non-union Associate Artist at CYC and one of the finest actresses of her age anywhere.  Miranda has appeared as principal characters in Les Miserables (including a striking portrayal of Fantine in the Junior Cast of the 2009 production of Les Miz), The Secret Garden, Annie, A Night On Broadway,  Big River and Seussical.  Audiences have remarked on Miranda's realism and natural believeability on stage.  Miranda is regarded as one of the most professional-minded and mature child actors in San Diego.   Stay tuned for big things in this young performer's future!

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

     LUKE MARINKOVICH 

               Level III Associate Artist

Luke was recently seen as Jimmy in the critically acclaimed Victoria Martin: Math Team Queen for which he won a San Diego Critics Circle-Craig Noel Award for Featured Actor in a Play.  Under the direction of Shaun Evans, Luke has appeared as Roger in the world's first-ever youth theatre production of the full-score RENT, Archie in The Secret Garden and Younger Brother in Ragtime. Other credits include Les Misérables (Valjean), Cabaret (Emcee), Spring Awakening (Hanchen) and others. He also recently received the 1st Inaugural Patte Scholarship Award for Promising Young Theatremaker in honor of Dr. Floyd Gaffney.  This fall Luke will start his second year at NYU/Tisch studying Musical Theatre.  His thanks go to his family and friends, and God for his many blessings.

 

 

                                                                        DIRK STENGER  

                       Level III Associate Artist

Dirk’s passion for theatre developed early in life. He attended the fine arts school F.A.M.E. starting at the age of eight and has been involved in local theatre ever since.  His past roles with CYC Theatre include Valjean in Les Miserables, Daniel in Once On This Island, The Lion in The Wiz, Dr. Neville Craven in The Secret Garden, Marius in Les Miserables, Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde in Jekyll & Hyde, and Younger Brother in Ragtime.  Other memorable roles include the title role in Hamlet, Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man, The Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast and Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady.  Dirk has worked with San Diego Lyric Opera, 6th @ Penn Theatre, CCT on Mt. Helix and can currently be seen as the star of the Johnny Thunder Show at Legoland. 

    

                                                                                                                               ANNEKE STREET 

  Level I Associate Artist 

Though she feels that teaching is her true calling, she has always loved theatre and music.  Her previous roles with CYC include Cosette in Les Miserables,  Rose in Jekyll and Hyde, the Lord High Underling in The Wiz, Grace Farrell in Annie, and a storyteller in Once On This Island.  Other roles include Rapunzel in Into The Woods, Road Dancer and Glinda in The Wiz, Mrs. Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank, and (her favorite) Marian Paroo in The Music Man.  In addition to theatre, Anneke is an alumnus of the San Diego Children's Choir after singing with them for ten years.  She thanks Shaun for his instruction and insight, CYC Theatre for all of the opportunities and friendships she has gained through them, and her family and friends for always believing in her.