Contemporary Youth Arts Company

08/28/2026

tonight, Friday Aug. 28, 7:30

Coming up this weekend you will have the chance to see a beautiful homage to an amazingly talented man who inspired all who had the pleasure to know him:

“The Legacy” A ballet honoring the music of Mark Scarpelli, August 27th & 28th at The Clay Center at 7:30pm

Created by choreographer Rob Royce and long-time Scarpelli collaborator Dan Kehde featuring composer, former music publisher and Scarpelli protege, Tim Cooper. Cooper adapted twelve themes from Mark’s musicals into a 90 minute ballet that will be played by Bernard Di Gregorio and members of the Quartet Classique, all musicians in the West Virginia Symphony. The ballet will showcase 11 performers handpicked by Royce and headed by Mark Krieger, formerly of the Louisville Ballet.

“The story line for the piece follows the internal experiences of many great creative artists—from self doubt to first successes to hard times and finally the triumph of the creative spirit.” Rob Royce explains. “It’s not the story of Mark’s life. It’s the story of the legacy he left. The legacy that we all leave as artists and people.” Meanwhile the music of Mark Scarpelli will echo once again through the Great Hall finding listeners, old and young, for his enduring creative genius.

Tickets and more info: https://www.theclaycenter.org/events/thelegacy082726

08/26/2026

08/24/2026

Coming up this weekend you will have the chance to see a beautiful homage to an amazingly talented man who inspired all who had the pleasure to know him:

“The Legacy” A ballet honoring the music of Mark Scarpelli, August 27th & 28th at The Clay Center at 7:30pm

Created by choreographer Rob Royce and long-time Scarpelli collaborator Dan Kehde featuring composer, former music publisher and Scarpelli protege, Tim Cooper. Cooper adapted twelve themes from Mark’s musicals into a 90 minute ballet that will be played by Bernard Di Gregorio and members of the Quartet Classique, all musicians in the West Virginia Symphony. The ballet will showcase 11 performers handpicked by Royce and headed by Mark Krieger, formerly of the Louisville Ballet.

“The story line for the piece follows the internal experiences of many great creative artists—from self doubt to first successes to hard times and finally the triumph of the creative spirit.” Rob Royce explains. “It’s not the story of Mark’s life. It’s the story of the legacy he left. The legacy that we all leave as artists and people.” Meanwhile the music of Mark Scarpelli will echo once again through the Great Hall finding listeners, old and young, for his enduring creative genius.

Tickets and more info: https://www.theclaycenter.org/events/thelegacy082726

08/10/2026

08/09/2026

Dynamic husband & wife team, Robert Royce and Jesse Tidquist, share a long history of ballet performance, teaching, and choreography. Here, they watch and analyze today's rehearsal for "The Legacy" in the Charleston Ballet studio as they work to iron out and tweak small things before a long two-week break and the dancers return for Tech Week.

08/09/2026

Choreographer Robert Royce (center) holds a post-rehearsal meeting with the cast of professional dancers performing in "The Legacy," a NEW and original ballet based on the life and music of Charleston, West Virginia composer Mark Scarpelli.

Mark Scarpelli was known for his enthusiastic support of young musicians throughout his lifetime, often bringing them into his pit orchestras and rock bands. Many of the musicians in the city today cite Mark as their inspiration to pursue their art throughout their lives. After a long battle with cancer, Mark passed in 2022 leaving a legacy of musical excellence and inspiring creativity.

Today's rehearsal was the final Saturday rehearsal before Tech Week in 2 weeks, and was the first rehearsal that incorporated costumes for the show. The costumes REALLY made this ballet come together for me. I've seen hundreds of performances of various ballets and dances over the years, and this was the first one that LITERALLY brought me to tears, especially with it only being a rehearsal at the studio. I only knew Mark tangentially, although we had met a time or two before his untimely passing, and today's rehearsal moved me to tears with its story and beauty.

You can see this INCREDIBLY MOVING ballet on TWO dates later this month, August 27th & 28th, at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia.

More info about The Legacy Ballet can be found here:
https://scarpelliballet.com/

05/02/2026

This is a powerful piece, performed by an incredibly talented cast. The stories of these brave women need to be told, over and over, until they, and others, get the justice they deserve. Tonight, Saturday, May 2, 7PM, next Friday and Saturday, May 8 and 9, 7PM. Elk City Playhouse, 218 Washington St W, Charleston.https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/cyaccharleston/cyac-presents-implausible-deniability

CYAC will present the drama “Implausible Deniability” at 7 pm May 1-2 and 8-9 on stage at the Elk City Playhouse.

Victims, defenders, and government officials face off in this new adult drama about the largest s*x trafficking ring in United States history, known now as the Epstein Crimes. Placed in a forum setting, actors relive their abuse at the hands of countless perpetrators across the country while law enforcement and attorneys for both sides fight to protect the innocent and expose the criminals. Due to extreme adult situations, descriptions, and language, parental guidance is strongly suggested. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students/seniors and are available at the door or through the link in our bio. Due to limited seating, advance online tickets are strongly recommended.

04/22/2026

A tough subject - but it needs to be told, until there is justice for the victims/ survivors

CYAC will present the drama “Implausible Deniability” at 7 pm May 1-2 and 8-9 on stage at the Elk City Playhouse.

Victims, defenders, and government officials face off in this new adult drama about the largest s*x trafficking ring in United States history, known now as the Epstein Crimes. Placed in a forum setting, actors relive their abuse at the hands of countless perpetrators across the country while law enforcement and attorneys for both sides fight to protect the innocent and expose the criminals. Due to extreme adult situations, descriptions, and language, parental guidance is strongly suggested. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students/seniors and are available at the door or through the link in our bio. Due to limited seating, advance online tickets are strongly recommended.