OHIO YOUTH ENSEMBLE STAGE (OHYES) ANNOUNCES AUDITIONS FOR “PIRATES OF PENZANCE” MUSICAL The Ohio Youth Ensemble Stage (OHYES) announces auditions for The Pirates of Penzance, a farcical musical by Sir William Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan. The production will be directed by Nate Sayatovich and produced by Ansley Valentine. Auditions are scheduled for Sunday, May 7th 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Monday, May 8th 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Summa Lake Medina Healthcare building located at 3780 Medina Road (across from “Yours Truly” on Route 18) in Medina. Auditions will be in the Main Floor Conference Room. Audition appointments can be made online at https://ohyes.acuityscheduling.com/. The production will be presented June 29th, 30th, July 1st in Medina. Any school-age students from elementary through high school may audition. Auditioning students do not need to prepare anything in advance. Auditions consist of reading from the script and learning a song. First-time participants are encouraged to audition. There is a $100 participation fee for any student in the cast. The fee helps to defray some of the program costs, and every child receives a t-shirt and two tickets to the production. There is financial assistance available for any child who demonstrates a need. A new adaptation scaled for student actors, The Pirates of Penzance brings to life a gang of swashbuckling pirates, dainty maidens, bumbling police officers and one very fast-talking Major General in a 70-minute musical romp that will delight the whole family. The Ohio Youth Ensemble Stage was formerly called Summer Youth Musical. Past productions include Alice in Wonderland and Shrek the Musical Jr.. Students from Cuyahoga, Medina and Summit counties regularly participate in the program. For more information about the production, contact Ansley Valentine at (330) 899-7150 or email at ansleyvalentine@gmail.com. *ABOUT THE DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER* Nate Sayatovich works in the education department at Cleveland Play House, the recent recipient of the 2015 Regional Theatre Tony Award. Ansley Valentine teaches acting at Indiana University, and received the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Gold Medallion for his efforts to promote quality educational theatre across the country. The two have collaborated on a number of youth theatre productions including *Little Mermaid*, *Willy Wonka*, *Pinocchio *and others. *ABOUT THE OHIO YOUTH ENSEMBLE STAGE (OHYES) * Ohio Youth Ensemble Stage (OHYES) is a program for children from elementary through high school age. The program offers theatre classes, and a fully-produced musical production each summer. Participation is open to all students, regardless of ability, and financial assistance is available to those who qualify. We encourage first time participants and believe that *every child* should have the opportunity to experience the performing arts. The program is funded by participation fees, corporate and local sponsorships.