Renaissance Youth Opera Theatre (RYOT)
If your child has ever wanted to get up on stage and be part of the action, the Renaissance Youth Opera Theatre (better known as RYOT) gives performers in grades 2-12 the opportunity to help out in any way they wish.
Whether acting, singing, dancing, assisting with lights, helping to create costumes and props, or building the set, RYOT embraces a child's curiosity and gives students a chance to explore the theatre. Under the direction of Lori Turner, RYOT allows students to interact and learn from professional stage directors, choreographers, designers, and technicians. Students work to put together every aspect of performance twice each year. Tuition for 2012-2013 is $30 per production. Sign-up and auditions for each performance occur in fall and mid-winter.
2012-2013 RYOT Performances
The Pirates of Penzance: January 26-27, 2013
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers: May 4-5, 2013
About the Staff
Lori Turner brings nearly three decades of award-winning experience to her position of Artistic Director of the Renaissance Youth Opera Theatre. She has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City and at the Paris Opera in France, and has made numerous television and film appearances. She began her professional career in Los Angeles where she sang with the Los Angeles Opera, the Roger Wagner Chorale and the Los Angeles Baroque Orchestra. She spent 10 years in Europe as a member of the Royal Flemish Opera in Belgium. Her credits include Le Nozzi de Figaro, Carmen, Nixon in China, Oklahoma, Columbe, The Mikado, Godspell, as well as the motion picture soundtrack for Empire of the Sun. Lori has also frequently appeared as a soloist with the Mansfield Symphony and with the late Tom Croghan.
Jerry has been a fixture at the Renaissance Theatre for the last 33 years, creating the sound design for hundreds of productions, overseeing archival recording, as well as designing, managing and upgrading the theatre’s state-of-the-art audio system. A graduate of Ohio University with a degree in industrial engineering, Jerry was responsible for the reinstallation of the Renaissance sound system – now considered one of the very best of its kind in the country.
Robbie brings a lifetime of experience to his role as resident properties master and costume designer at the Renaissance Theatre. He has been at the helm of the costume and prop department for the Ashland Regional Ballet since 2001 and, at Walt Disney World in Florida, Robbie facilitated their vast merchandise inventory and distribution unit, Merchentainment for several years before returning to Mansfield to pursue his first love - creating and building costumes and properties for stage, dance and ballet productions.
