Youthclusive, a local youth-led and inclusive theatre company, will open its first Summer production Friday at Center Stage Theater—The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
At Youthclusive, the entire “page-to-stage” process is led by youth—created, operated and directed. Kids become casting agents, directors, backstage managers, actors and even marketing managers. This year, Youthclusive successfully expanded from a seasonal program into a free, year-round theater company.
According to Chloe Voigt, who founded Youthclusive with just 14 participants at 13 years old, “Spelling Bee” will mark more than just another opening weekend.
”Santa Barbara young people are building the free, inclusive theatre company they needed,” Voigt said. “And it’s growing.”
Youthclusive’s mission is to create free, youth-led, high quality, and most importantly, inclusive performing arts opportunities for young people in Santa Barbara. Voigt said she was inspired to found Youthclusive when she recognized how many young people were “placed into boxes” in theater programs.
For example, she recalled being typecast for her weight and body size in previous shows. Beyond casting, she also heard from other students who couldn’t participate in theater because their schools did not have arts programs, and they couldn’t afford private programs. They craved a more substantial opportunity to express themselves.
”I began seeing other kids typecast or excluded because of how they looked, who they were, or how much money their families had,” Voigt said. “I decided that if an adult wasn’t going to fix it, I would.”
The inclusive, youth led model has resonated with the arts community. A previous production of “SpongeBob” sold out every performance. Another production of “High School Musical” more than doubled participation in the cast and crews and drew an audience of nearly 500.
This first summer cycle, 75% of participants were new to Youthclusive. Voigt said that number was “especially meaningful” because it meant the inclusive model was fulfilling its goal of opening youth theater to all.
”Inclusion and access are our superpowers because Youthclusive was built by young people who knows what it feels like to be left out,” Voigt said. “We don’t ask young people to change themselves to fit theatre; we build theatre so every young person has a place to create, perform and lead.”
Performances of Spelling Bee will run from Friday, Sept. 4, to Sunday, Sept. 6 at Center Stage Theatre. Adult tickets are $28.50, and youth tickets are $18.50. Twenty free tickets are reserved for K-12 students.
“Spelling Bee” covers themes of identity, family expectations, insecurity, achievement and the desire to belong, all navigated by unconventional young characters.
”They do not fit neatly into one definition of talent or success—the same kinds of boxes Youthclusive was created to remove,” Voigt said.
