Yonge Street Players Theatre School
25 Wanless Ave. m4n 1v5 Toronto, ON, Canada

Sept. 17th YSP UPDATE: We have made a decision to hold off on any classes until 2021. It is not with heavy hearts ...but with the well being of all our Players ...& their family & friends that we announce this final decision. Normally, this would be the start of my 33rd year running Improvisation & Acting classes. As I say that last phrase - I am equal parts proud of my Theatre school (the first one in the GTA to teach Comedy to children & teens) Our first studio was in the Old City Hall in North York . My father helped me paint the walls and clean the big beautiful windows! He was a fan from the very beginning back in 1987. I used to see, The Yonge Street Players, as the 'little engine that could'...like the children's story. It has been a remarkable journey! I am not sure what I'll do on Saturdays without teaching my amazing & creative children & teens; all my Players over the years have been such a huge part of my life. I will miss working alongside Ty Kostyk, my son, who attended the school in his car seat and ended up being one of the most talented Players ever (and I say that with objectivity & the support of many of his former classmates & his students at YSP over the past 9 years). His impersonations & intelligent wit makes a family dinner an event to remember ~ but we will miss teaching together ! My daughter Reilly learned to cultivate her own brand of humour at YSP from her early days. I was SO lucky to have them as part of so many of my classes over the years! I thank Jack and my incredible husband, Tony, for cheering us on at YSP! Lastly, I thank all the teens who helped teach our younger Players over the years ~ earning their Volunteer Hours. All of you were amazing role models & I loved seeing you each Saturday morning! So I have no advice except to encourage each Player to remain positive, to use their sense of humour in the tough times & to lift up a friend or a parent or a stranger at least once a day with an act of YSP kindness. What's that ? It could be a post it note, washing a few dishes, making a surprise meal ...or a funny story about your day. Ty & I will stay focused on a return to all things YSP in the future. Even if it's not until next Fall 2021 - we will ONLY return to live classes where we can interact & connect & get back to normal! The lessons we've learned at YSP go far beyond the first beginner exercise of"YES...And or Switch Freeze. YOU are ambassadors or The Yonge Street Players ...lead with your ability to listen & respond with the intelligence and experience that lies within each of you. BELIEVE in the power of laughter. We will check back on our website often & feel free to connect with us at: [email protected] or here on our website. Stay healthy & keep searching for that next character, LISA & TY Hugs x2

GOOD LUCK BACK AT SCHOOL & ONLINE CLASSES THIS FALL! Pack your positive attitude, kindness for others, clean mask & hands & flex your funny bone ! YOU GOT THIS! One step at a time... We will start with our Teens this FALL.... OUR YSP FALL 2020 UPDATE on Virtual classes for TEENS!! Teen On line ZOOM Improvisation classes! WHEN: SAT. SEPT 26th-Oct 31, 2020. TIME: 1-2 PM MAX : 8-10 TEEN Players FEE: 5 weeks for $125.00 + HST (Fees paid by e transfer with Zoom invite) (NO CLASSES over Thanksgiving Long weekend- Oct 10)

Hello Players!!! It’s almost time to head back to school. I will keep the word ‘school’ in that sentence ~ knowing that your home may also be your classroom this Fall!?... When will we return to YSP? That’s a great question and Ty & I would like to answer it ... but we won’t know until we approach the end of September. We may be able to start up our Teen classes on Sat Oct 1 st with social distancing and time outside the studio if we get a warm Fall. Ty and I will reach out in mid - September to advise on a potential start date or a further delay until the Spring time. Nobody knows ~ but we will start with the Teens. We will make a comeback one day and we can’t wait to laugh and shadow high five .... or hug? Who knows .... maybe one day it won’t seem so far off. In the meantime ~ keep sending yourself positive messages and connect with friends to say hi and share the pros and cons of on line learning vs in class ~ and eat healthy and get physical . You’ll need the outlet for all the stuff that you’re probably feeling inside .. and text or call a parent and say how are you doing ? & give them a hug or two. Karma~ it’ll feel good to give bear hug. We miss you all ~ Lisa & Ty

Covid August 1st Update: It’s happening ...Stage 3 brings hope that our classes may be able to resume in September 2020 We will keep you posted on details as we reach mid ~ August.... Please connect with us at [email protected] to ask questions , give us your thoughts and to say Hi! We MISS all our Players & their parents! Stay healthy Lisa