The YOUTH MUSICAL THEATRE (YMT) program is an outgrowth of TheatriCamp,
a summer musical theatre camp which was created by theatre professionals
Darryl Johnson and Lori Jaroslow. Darryl and Lori have each directed and taught acting and musical theatre to kids and teens extensively in Southern California and
New York. They are huge fans of musical theatre and love to share this great material with the next generation.
We strongly believe that the arts play an important role in a young person's
development, and that theatrical experience builds confidence & self-esteem,
teaches teamwork, and fosters creativity.
Our programs specialize in providing a safe and fun environment in which young people can learn, play, and express themselves.
DARRYL JOHNSON has been a theatre director in Los Angeles for over 30 years, and has worked at many different venues, including The Road Theatre Company in North Hollywood, the McCoy-Rigby Conservatory Of The Arts, InterAct Theatre Company, the Met Theatre, The Tiffany, The Matrix, Theatre Neo, Fremont Centre Theatre, and Yorba Linda Civic Light Opera. In recent years his attention has turned back to educational theatre and working with kids - from elementary through high school. For over 15 years Darryl served as the director of the Roosevelt Elementary Musical Revue in Burbank, and he has expanded his work to include several other schools in the Burbank, Los Angeles, and Culver City School Districts, including Dolores Huerta Middle School. He and Lori Jaroslow have also worked together on several productions in schools and camps. Darryl is also a filmmaker - he attended the USC School of Cinema and the American Film Institute, has directed several films, and works as a film editor. He currently serves and Production Coordinator and the theatre manager for The Road Theatre Company.
LORI JAROSLOW has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regionally, internationally and at sea. Acting work includes on Broadway: Rizzo in Grease and Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof, directed by Jerome Robbins. Regional theatre and Off-Broadway includes, Grandma Sylvia’s Funeral, Nunsense, Gypsy, Othello and Broads.
As a director, Lori has directed innumerable productions of new and classic musicals and plays, primarily productions performed by children and teens of all ages. Lori co-produced and directed the multi award-winning CD series Tell Me a Story which features such illustrious actors as Len Cariou, Bryce Dallas Howard and Paula Poundstone. The last CD in the series Women of Wonder won the prestigious 2010 Audie Award for best original work.
Also a writer, Ms. Jaroslow has written musical theatre pieces, screenplays, shorts, many personal narratives and is at work on a solo show about substitute teaching in Los Angeles. In 2011, The Road Theatre received an NEA grant on behalf of Ms. Jaroslow’s musical, The Baby Project, an original musical theatre piece written by Lori and composers Fonda Feingold and Noriko Olling. It had a workshop and limited run at The Road Theatre in Los Angeles in 2012. Please keep an eye out for its official birth/world premiere. Lori has taught acting and musical theatre to kids and teens extensively in New York and Los Angeles, including Colfax Charter School in Valley Village. Lori sat on the board at The Academy for New Musical Theatre and New Musicals Inc. for two years.