After losing his job, former YOUth Works program coordinator begins anew

Due to tough economic times and lack of grant funding, Theater Works cut part of its full-time staff and turned some them into contract workers.

Jim Gradillas, program coordinator for YOUth Works, was one those who lost his job as a result. But under these circumstances, he branched out with his own youth theater troupe.

Gradillas’ Creative Stages Youth Theatre debuted its inaugural season Friday with the first show, “Theatre of Screams,” at the Dramagenics Improv Theatre in Peoria.

“Theatre of Screams,” an original play written by Gradillas, features a “Twilight Zone” theme revolving around six short stories.

“It’s a very interactive show with a scary and eerie experience to it, but it will be fun all at the same time,” Gradillas said.

More than anything, the play will be the public’s introduction to the new group.

When he left Theater Works, many parents of the children with whom he’s worked still wanted Gradillas to teach their kids.

“I really didn’t want to go the contract route at Theater Works, so I went in a different direction after talking to some supporters and parents,” he said.

So Gradillas started Creative Stages Youth Theatre and had the opportunity to begin at Dramagenics, which they’ll share with the improv troupe and a church.

“Our main goal right now is trying to build a small, good youth theater,” he said.
Gradillas said the theater always will be a place for children to learn their craft.

“It’s going to be a place where kids can go, create, learn and call their own,” he said.

Chris Zagar, a Peoria resident, took his 15-year-old, Eric, to a Theater Works summer camp taught by Gradillas two years ago, and Eric and has been doing productions with him ever since.

Zagar said he has noticed a difference in Eric’s skill level since working with Gradillas.

“It doesn’t matter what skill level you’re on with Jim, because he’ll take you to the next level,” Zagar said. “We were shocked when we found out what happened at Theater Works, but it opened up a chance for Jim to branch out on his own and do something else.”

In a hard economy, it’s challenging for an individual start a new theater company, especially trying to buy the rights to perform some of its shows. So Gradillas chose to write his own shows for the inaugural season.

The AriZoni Award-winning playwright has written everything from fairy-tale adaptations to serious subject matter for teenagers, including the highly acclaimed “Life as Joby” and “Signs of Sara.”

“We wanted to focus on originals this year for cost reasons and because it’s more creative,” he said.

“Funny at Birth,” about a boy who uses his humor to deal with life.The season will include “The Humbugs,” a spin-off of “A Christmas Carol,” “Tales from the Brothers Grimm” and

For 20 years, Gradillas has worked Valleywide with youth theater and is an actor with Stageworks, a professional children’s theater with adult actors, in Mesa.

Along with Creative Stages’ regular season, the troupe will offer workshops during the week. Even though another youth theater now exists in the West Valley, Gradillas said he doesn’t consider the group in competition with other organizations.

“What we’re offering is different because they’re all plays right now,” he said. “Kids have a lot of choices and options to choose from.”

Mitchell Vantrease may be reached at 623-876-2526 or mvantrease@yourwestvalley.com.