The Young Americans
Encyclopedia
The Young Americans is a non-profit organization
and performing group based in Southern California
. First founded in 1962 by Milton C. Anderson, the group is credited with being the first show choir
in America, mixing choreography with choral singing. While experiencing national television exposure early on, The Young Americans now teach music to students in the United States and other parts of the world as advocates of music education in their International Music Outreach Tours. The group has approximately 200 young people between the ages of 16 and 25 from nearly every US state and several other countries.
television special in the early 1960s. For the next several years, the group would appear on numerous variety shows, singing and dancing with entertainers such as Julie Andrews
, Judy Garland
, and Bob Hope
.
In 1967, the group was featured in a film, Young Americans, which was awarded a 1968 Academy Award for best documentary
. In May 1969, the film was disqualified because it had premiered in October 1967, and was therefore ineligible for the 1968 award.
, Ed Sullivan Show, Kraft Music Hall
, and their own television special with Lorne Green, The Young Americans began concert tours in the United States and abroad at venues that included Dorthy Chandler Pavilion, Madison Square Garden
and the Hollywood Bowl
. In 1976, the group performed in an outdoor theatre at the foot of the Washington Monument
for the United States bicentennial celebration. In the 1980s, the group continued to tour internationally.
. In the summer months, a cast of Young Americans reside in Harbor Springs, Michigan
to host a dinner theatre at Boyne Highlands (a Boyne USA resort), that has been running for over 30 years.
(formerly: California Pacific College of the Performing Arts) is a performing arts conservatory in the Greater Los Angeles Area
in the United States. It is affiliate with North Central Michigan College
and has an enrollment of about 200 students in dance
, music
, drama
, and teaching methods.
(The Carol Burnett Show
, Mama's Family
), Bob Kevoian
(The Bob & Tom Show
), Marc Cherry
(Executive Producer & Creator of Desperate Housewives
), Stephanie J. Block
(Elphaba in Broadway's Wicked
), Nia Peeples
(TV's Fame
) and Melissa Hayden
(Daytime Emmy winner of Guiding Light
).
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
and performing group based in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. First founded in 1962 by Milton C. Anderson, the group is credited with being the first show choir
Show choir
A show choir is a group of people who combine choral singing with dance movements, sometimes within the context of a specific idea or story.-History:...
in America, mixing choreography with choral singing. While experiencing national television exposure early on, The Young Americans now teach music to students in the United States and other parts of the world as advocates of music education in their International Music Outreach Tours. The group has approximately 200 young people between the ages of 16 and 25 from nearly every US state and several other countries.
1960s
The Young Americans first appeared on a Bing CrosbyBing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
television special in the early 1960s. For the next several years, the group would appear on numerous variety shows, singing and dancing with entertainers such as Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
, Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
, and Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
.
In 1967, the group was featured in a film, Young Americans, which was awarded a 1968 Academy Award for best documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
. In May 1969, the film was disqualified because it had premiered in October 1967, and was therefore ineligible for the 1968 award.
1970s and 1980s
Throughout the 1970s, along with television appearances with Julie AndrewsJulie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
, Ed Sullivan Show, Kraft Music Hall
Kraft Music Hall
The Kraft Music Hall was a popular variety program, featuring top show business entertainers, which aired on NBC radio and television from 1933 to 1971....
, and their own television special with Lorne Green, The Young Americans began concert tours in the United States and abroad at venues that included Dorthy Chandler Pavilion, Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
and the Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
. In 1976, the group performed in an outdoor theatre at the foot of the Washington Monument
Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is an obelisk near the west end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate the first U.S. president, General George Washington...
for the United States bicentennial celebration. In the 1980s, the group continued to tour internationally.
1990s
The International Music Outreach Tour was established in 1992 with the aim to show the importance of school music programs. During 10-week tours, the group will visit 2 schools per week presenting 3-day performance workshops to 4th-12th (USA) grade students (internationally ages 5 – 19) . Now touring 7 times per year, the group regularly travels throughout the United States, as well as overseas in countries such as the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Spain, Gibraltar, the Ukraine, Japan, and Australia.2000s
In addition to teaching on the outreach tours, the group is more recently focusing on the creation of its own college, The Young Americans College of the Performing ArtsThe Young Americans College of the Performing Arts
The Young Americans College of the Performing Arts is a performing arts conservatory in the Greater Los Angeles Area in the United States.-History:...
. In the summer months, a cast of Young Americans reside in Harbor Springs, Michigan
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Harbor Springs is a city and resort community in Emmet County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,567 at the 2000 census.Harbor Springs is in a sheltered bay on the north shore of the Little Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. The Little Traverse Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse on...
to host a dinner theatre at Boyne Highlands (a Boyne USA resort), that has been running for over 30 years.
Conservatory
The Young Americans College of the Performing ArtsThe Young Americans College of the Performing Arts
The Young Americans College of the Performing Arts is a performing arts conservatory in the Greater Los Angeles Area in the United States.-History:...
(formerly: California Pacific College of the Performing Arts) is a performing arts conservatory in the Greater Los Angeles Area
Greater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
in the United States. It is affiliate with North Central Michigan College
North Central Michigan College
North Central Michigan College is Michigan's 12th community college; it was established in 1958 in Petoskey, Michigan.Development of the current campus began in 1962, when the college bought of land, and later 120 adjacent acres on Howard Street...
and has an enrollment of about 200 students in dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
, music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
, and teaching methods.
Alumni
The group has many alumni who have successful careers in film, television and theatre including Vicki LawrenceVicki Lawrence
Vicki Lawrence is an American actress, comedienne, and Billboard Hot 100 #1 singer, who was frequently a game show panelist in the 1970s and 1980s...
(The Carol Burnett Show
The Carol Burnett Show
The Carol Burnett Show is a variety / sketch comedy television show starring Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner, and Tim Conway. It originally ran on CBS from September 11, 1967, to March 29, 1978, for 278 episodes and originated from CBS Television City's Studio 33...
, Mama's Family
Mama's Family
Mama's Family is an American television sitcom that premiered on NBC on January 22, 1983. It was cancelled in May 1984, but NBC would continue to air reruns until September 1985. In September 1986, Mama's Family returned in first-run syndication, where it aired for an additional four seasons,...
), Bob Kevoian
Bob Kevoian
Robert James "Bob" Kevoian is an American radio host of the nationally syndicated radio show The Bob & Tom Show together with his partner, Tom Griswold. The show is broadcast from WFBQ's studios in Indianapolis, Indiana....
(The Bob & Tom Show
The Bob & Tom Show
The Bob & Tom Show is a syndicated US radio program established by Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold at radio station WFBQ in Indianapolis, Indiana, March 7, 1983, and syndicated nationally since January 6, 1995....
), Marc Cherry
Marc Cherry
Marc Cherry is an American writer and producer, best known for creating the show Desperate Housewives.-Early life and career:...
(Executive Producer & Creator of Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
), Stephanie J. Block
Stephanie J. Block
Stephanie J. Block is an American actress and singer. She is most well known for her work on the Broadway stage. She has additionally been nominated for a Drama Desk Award and a Drama League Award. She released her debut solo album through PS Classics in June 2009...
(Elphaba in Broadway's Wicked
Wicked (musical)
Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West , a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard...
), Nia Peeples
Nia Peeples
Virenia Gwendolyn "Nia" Peeples is an American R&B and dance music singer and actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as Nicole Chapman on Fame...
(TV's Fame
Fame (1982 TV series)
Fame is an American television series originally produced between 1982 and 1987. The show was based on the 1980 motion picture of the same name. Using a mixture of drama and music, it followed the lives of the students and faculty at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts. Although...
) and Melissa Hayden
Melissa Hayden (actress)
Melissa Hayden is an American actress. Prior to her acting career, she was a longtime member of the California based song and dance troupe The Young Americans....
(Daytime Emmy winner of Guiding Light
Guiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
).