About
About Young Company
In 1990, OTP volunteer Keli Macintosh saw an opportunity to improve the level of theatrical opportunities for children in the Grand Traverse region. Macintosh and Phil Murphy, along with Jim-Bob and Lucy Stephenson founded Traverse City Children’s Theatre (TCCT) in the fall of 1991. Classroom and rehearsal space was initially provided by NMC and the Stephensons managed the first class activities with a year-long program.
Initially, TCCT hoped to form a separate non-profit organization of its own, but knowing that they would need operating support in the meantime, Macintosh and Murphy approached Old Town Playhouse for assistance. Looking to add an educational arm of its own, Old Town welcomed the opportunity to collaborate. A Board was formed and Keli Macintosh became the first official manager.
History
Fall 1991 - Traverse City Children’s Theatre (TCCT) was formed. Initially housed at NMC .
1993 – TCCT moves to Old Town Playhouse.
1997 – June Neal became TCCT’s first paid manager and added a regular schedule of classes.
Summer 1999 – Missoula Children’s Theatre began an annual one week workshop of an intensive instructional program.
2003 – Workshop was converted to local staffing.
2003 – Luis Araquistan was hired as a full-time director. Curriculum was expanded.
2008 – Mychelle Hopkins joined OTP as Educational Director.
Summer 2010 – TCCT changed it’s name to The Old Town Playhouse Young Company (YC) with programming for ages five to eighteen.
September 2020 – Former TCCT student and current YC instructor, Melissa May, took the reins when Mychelle Hopkins retired.