THE GATEWAY TO YOUR FUTURE
what is the program?
The Gateway Leadership Training Program is an immersive education in a series of fundamental and essential life skills which combined make for a good leader. The program runs through Suffield Youth Theater, and allows students to assume positions within the company that require the use of these life skills.
Suffield Youth Theater
Suffield Youth Theater or SYT is a local theatrical troupe which was founded in May of 2015 by a group of eighth grade students. Despite their age, the students managed to establish the group as a prominent player inthe creative arts world. SYT has produced 6 mainstage shows in a year and a half, and hosted a theater workshop. The group is also incorporated as a tax-exempt, non-profit organization. The mission of SYT is to empower students to use their creativity and talents to create quality theater.
Suffield Youth Theater & Gateway Leadership
Every part of SYT is managed by students. Not only are shows entirely student cast, directed, designed, etc.…but all the business management, financial management, marketing, and every other aspect of running a company, is spearheaded by the students as well. Gateway Leadership allows all people, regardless whether or not they have a specific interest in theater, to get hands on experience dealing with real problems, making real decisions and leading real people.
“What’s really unique about Gateway is that we are giving students actual responsibilities and the authority to make actual decisions that will have a real impact on the company, all under guidance and supervision of course…But there’s something much more valuable about learning by doing instead of learning by being in a classroom and taking notes. And you don’t have to like theater to be into it, there are so many skillsets needed to run a company that a student could be part of the program and never even walk on stage.”
~Dominic Colangelo, SYT Artistic Director and Gateway Mentor
how it works
Students are placed in a specific Focus Area based on what interests them. There are three Focus Areas in the program, Business, Marketing and Theater. These three areas represent the three major areas of expertise that go into running SYT, and students will become experts in managing their specific Focus Area.
In the actual management of Suffield Youth Theater there is a Business Director, a Marketing Director and a Theater Director. All of these directors are students who have learned the ins and outs of their jobs through actual experience in their field.
Business Focus Area
Students in the Business Focus Area will learn to:
- Keep good financial records, understand how to use programs like Excel and QuickBooks.
- Host business company meetings that are productive and well planned.
- Effectively meet with other businesspeople, how to prepare, what to wear, what to say, how to impress.
- Understand the basics of the legal side of the company—what forms need to be filed, how often and what costs are associated with them.
- Create and manage a budget that both allows the company to expand and keeps it financially secure.
- Manage inventory, control assets, know what the company has, what it needs, and what it wants.
- Coordinate with the Marketing Director to find and apply for grants that could benefit the company.
- Effectively lead one’s peers. Be authoritative and firm when necessary and relaxed and fun when possible. Find a balance between being too strict and too lenient.
Marketing Focus Area
Students in the Marketing Focus Area will learn to:
- Reach out to and get a response from local news outlets (newspapers, radio and TV stations, etc.) in order to advertise for upcoming productions or other events the company is hosting.
- Organize fundraisers, donor galas and maintain contact with the company’s donor pool using creative concepts to keep them interested in the group.
- Create media to advertise for company functions (Posters, Flyers, Email Advertisements yard signs and more).
- Create an effective social media presence for the company. How to gain followers and keep them interested with consistent and exciting posting.
- Learn how every company function (from public events to private meetings) can be used for positive marketing value and PR through involvement in planning for all events.
- Coordinate with the Business Director to find and apply for every Grant that could benefit the company.
- Design the company’s website and keep it updated.
Theater Focus Area
Students in the Theater Focus Area will learn to:
- Create a performance season by choosing and designing shows for every year based on actor and audience base, and what has been popular in the past.
- Direct a production, hold auditions, find a cast and crew, find and meet with designers to plan for and construct a set, block scenes with actors and create a rehearsal schedule.
- Run the light and sound board, work with microphones and other technological aspects of theater.
- Give a speech before and after each performance welcoming the audience, providing background to the production and getting the audience excited to see the play—then thanking them for coming and giving other announcements.
- Communicate with the cast and crew in ways that will get fast positive responses using effective writing techniques.
- Effectively lead one’s peers. Be authoritative and firm when necessary and relaxed and fun when possible. Find a balance between being too strict and too lenient. Create your vision for a play without jeopardizing the respect of your peers.
Mentors, Not Teachers
Gateway students will be assigned a one on one mentor who is an expert in their Focus Area. These mentors are the current Business, Marketing and Theater Directors of Suffield Youth Theater. The program does not entail mentors sitting with their students in a classroom and describing what qualities make a good leader, but rather teaching by example. Students will be incorporated into every part of their mentor’s job. They will attend all business meetings with them, write emails, design marketing campaigns, plan for rehearsals and more.
As time progresses, students will begin to take on some of their mentor’s responsibilities. They might lead a business meeting, take point on creating a theatrical season or organize fundraisers. When this begins to happen depends on the individual student. The experience is customized to give students the most beneficial education in their Focus Area, and in leadership in general.
Why join?
Suffield Youth Theater’s Gateway Leadership Program is not only beneficial to students by teaching them fundamental life lessons and skills (which can be applied to any field one ends up working in) but also allows for students to simply have a lot of fun. At Suffield Youth Theater, we believe that you do not need to be an adult to have adult experiences. If your dream is to manage a business, be an excellent advertiser or run a theater then this program is for you.
Resume Builder
Wherever life takes you after high school having an experience like Gateway under your belt makes you much more attractive to potential employers, colleges or groups like the National Honors Society.
All Gateway students are encouraged to speak proudly about their immersive education. Each Gateway mentor will write a letter of recommendation for their students, if the students wish. Not only will the program train you for the future, but it will help you get there.
How to Join
Here’s the best part about Gateway, it’s free. At Suffield Youth Theater, we believe that every person deserves to have the opportunity to take part in our group in whatever capacity they would like, without having to worry about financial challenges. That is why we do not charge for participation in our productions or events, and that is why Gateway is free. No application fees, no participation fees, nothing.
Requirements
In order to join the Gateway program, you must be:
- Between the ages of 12 and 16
- Living in Suffield or the surrounding towns
The Application Process
Eligible candidates are accepted into the program through an application process. Not all who apply will be accepted, but don’t be discouraged!
The process is simple. Applicants must fill out the Gateway Application Form. Enclosed in the Application is the Special Interests Quiz, which will help us determine what Focus Area to place you in.
All accepted applicants will be able to choose a different Focus Area than the one assigned if they wish.
In addition to these two forms, applicants will be required to arrange for an interview with the current Directors of Suffield Youth Theater. During this interview the team will get to know you better and help answer any questions you may have about the program. There will be two parts to the interview, one with the applicant and one with the applicant’s parents.
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