GET TO
KNOW US
OUR
MISSION.
Delta Youth Theatre is proud to present a pre-professional youth theatre program. The program is designed for an ensemble of dedicated students who want to learn from professionals and to have fun in a focused and safe environment. Students will rehearse and perform a musical that requires strong singer-actor skills. Students will be encouraged to discover their own unique talents and how these can be translated into a dynamic stage performance.
OUR
HISTORY.
Before becoming Delta Youth Theatre, DYT was made up of a group of young and talented students and two retired professional theatre performers who said, "yes let's!" After the success of their first show and the community support, it was clear that this company could be something special. Check out our list of past productions dating back to 2015. Delta Youth Theatre is proud to be a part of the thriving performing arts community of Delta and to present two shows a year.
OUR
COMPANY.
Delta Youth Theatre has an innovative four-cast show model which maximizes opportunities for its students. At DYT we value all of our performers. We look to challenge all performers equally and we try to strike a balance between using the talents and skills that they bring while encouraging them to lean into their areas of growth.
OUR
STAGE.
Delta Youth Theatre began performing at the historical Metro Theatre in Vancouver, BC. As the company grew in numbers, the need for a larger space, closer to home became necessary. Thus, the curtain opened at the Genesis Theatre in Ladner, BC. Finally, Delta Youth Theatre made a successful debut into the realm of outdoor theatre thanks to the ingenuity and creativity of a resilient production team and the gracious hosting of the South Delta Baptist Church.
DIRECTOR.
MEET THE
Tony Barton is a professional entertainer, educator, producer and director of AEB Productions. Born in the Chicago area, he received his Bachelor in Music Education with an emphasis in choral conducting from Illinois State University and taught elementary music in Tennessee before embarking on a Masters Degree in Voice Performance at the University of Las Vegas. As a young man Tony was always interested in lighting and legos. He almost blew up the family garage at the age of 10 while taking it upon himself to create a light show out of christmas lights and styrofoam coffee cups covered in tin foil for a buddy's mom's puppet show. As a college student, Tony worked as a technical apprentice at the Braden Auditorium and as a young adult he learned the craft of finish carpentry and worked in a cabinet shop 'between shows.' Delta Youth Theatre takes advantage of Tony's experience as a professional performer as well as his unique gifts of design, construction, education, music education, leadership and technical theatre expertise.
A powerful performer in his own right, Tony's vocal command and versatility enable him to successfully work in multiple genres including Opera, Musical Theatre, Pop, Country, Rock and Jazz.
Tony’s acting and singing styles have equipped him to play a wide range of characters and leading-man roles. Some of his most memorable theatre roles include: Mark in Rent and Picasso in Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Weathervane Theatre), Etienne in Naughty Marietta (Musicals Tonight, off-Broadway), Leon Dupuis in the premier of Madame Bovary (8th Avenue Theatre, off-Broadway), Father in the Chicago premier of Ragtime (Light Opera Works), Hank Williams in Hank Williams: Lost Highway (Albany Repertory Theatre, NY), Teddy/Tony Giovanni/Marty/Repo Man in Full Monty (Maltz Theatre, FL), the Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance (Music by the Lake, WI) and Curly in Oklahoma (Chemainus Theatre Festival). Opera roles include: Figaro in both The Barber of Seville and the Marriage of Figaro. He received a fierce standing ovation for his performance of Papageno in Mozart’s Magic Flute. In 2003 Tony played “Blue” in the off-Broadway company of Blueman Group.
Throughout his career, Tony has shared the stage with artists such as B.B. King, Barbara Streisand, Michael W. Smith, R. Kelly and opera legend Sheryll Milnes.
Tony has written, produced and starred in four productions including BLUE EYES TOO, a tribute show dedicated to the life and music made famous by Frank Sinatra, SHARP DRESSED MAN a show that makes you move, JINGLE, the perfect Christmas Gift, and RING OF FIRE, a tribute to Johnny Cash and June Carter. These successful shows continue to garner rave reviews wherever they play.
DIRECTOR.
MEET THE
Tracy Neff is a Delta native who has always been drawn to the performing arts, teaching and her hometown. As a youngster, Tracy was always singing with her grandma, making up shows and intensely bossing people around so "Delta Youth Theatre" has not only realized all of her special skills but it has become a vehicle for her to share her passion with students who want to learn the craft of musical theatre and who are dedicated to excellence.
Having received her BFA in musical theatre from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Tracy performed in the US and throughout the lower mainland for 10 years before deciding to return to school for her BEd. She developed a thriving private voice studio through the Delta Community Music School and worked in local high schools and churches as a teacher and performing arts/music specialist. She has also been on faculty at the Delta Film Acting Academy, Arts Umbrella, Gateway Theatre, Studio West Dance and The Arts Club Theatre Company.
Professionally her roles have included a Witch in Macbeth (BOCO), Joanna in Godspell (BOCO), Gracie in The Music Man and Philia in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Quisisana), Sandy in Grease (TUTS), Hope in Urinetown (Firehall Arts Centre), Amy in Company (Arts Club), Bet/Charlotte in Oliver (Vancouver Playhouse), Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls (Gateway Theatre), Laurie in Oklahoma (Chemainus Theatre Festival), Olive in The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee (Belfrey/Arts Club), the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Western Canada Theatre) and Eliza in My Fair Lady (Royal City Musical Theatre).
She has written and performed many musical reviews including her one woman show, "My Dreams of The Big Apple and a Coffee To Go!" Tracy and her husband perform various big band shows including a Christmas show called "Jingle" as well as "Ring of Fire," a tribute to Johnny Cash and June Carter.
Tracy received a Jesse Award Nomination for her portrayal of Amy in Company (Arts Club), an Ovation Award for her portrayal of Hope in Urinetown (Firehall Arts Centre) and is the proud recipient of Delta's 2011, "Mentor of the Arts" award. The people who made the greatest impact on Tracy's professional journey have been her incredible teachers, both locally and abroad. Her singing grandmother Kathleen Sinclair, local voice teacher Ann Golden Fisher, dance instructor George Ellenton, high school music teacher Andrea Andersen, choir directors Perry Ehrlich and Simon Isherwood and many more. It takes a village to raise an artist and Tracy is proud to be part of the village supporting local talent.
