I have been a part of YSP East since its inception in the fall of 2012. Attending this program dramatically changed my life and my understanding of performance. I used to only perform in a youth orchestra – I loved performing music because I could express myself in a way that I could not express in words. Once I joined YSP East, I started being able to come out of my shell and realized I could express myself in more ways than one. I became more comfortable with communicating with others.
Over the years that I have attended YSP East, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to combine theater and music and become an opera singer. I love this program so much, and it’s not just because of how much it has changed my life. It is also because this program offers the chance to learn and recite the beautiful and poetic language that was written by the greatest playwright that ever lived. You get to do so in a safe environment with other kids and teenagers who love each other, and love what they do in this amazing program. Rarely do other theater companies put on full length productions of Shakespeare, where the actors understand the language and recognize the historical significance of the lines. YSP East is a great community, and I don’t know what I would have done without it.
Liam Shannon
Amherst