Christian Youth Theater

CYT's mission is to "develop[] character and creativity through quality theater arts training that brings families and communities together while reflecting Jesus.

"[5] Christian Community Theater was founded by Paul and Sheryl Russell and Marjorie Blyth in San Diego, California.

2015); Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2013); Spokane, Washington (1998); Lake Charles, Louisiana (2017); Colorado Springs, Colorado (2020); Dallas, Texas (2016); Sacramento, California (2012); Atlanta, Georgia (2003); Vancouver, Washington (2013); Houston, Texas (2006); Nashville, Tennessee (2012); Fredericksburg, Virginia (2006); Chicago, Illinois (1997); Tucson, Arizona (2005); Phoenix, Arizona (2006); Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (2007); San Antonio, Texas (2011); San Diego, California (1980); Santa Cruz, California (2011); Livermore, California (2014); Clearwater, Florida (2024); and Lafayette, Louisiana (2009) CYT has grown to be the largest youth theater training program in the nation, training thousands of students each year.

In July 2020, multiple students from the San Diego branch came forward with allegations of sexual abuse by CYT teachers.

[6][7] The San Diego branch closed for a time, before restarting production less than a year later, with Russell family still in leadership positions.

As of April 2022, Janie Russell Cox, the daughter of founders Paul and Sheryl, is still listed as CYT San Diego's Artistic Director and regularly directing plays.

[10] In March 2022 another lawsuit was filed on behalf of six plaintiffs detailing the abuse of at least 10 children between 1991 and 2011, and that Christian Youth Theater's culture "normalized grooming behaviors in which adults were able to target children, gain their trust, and slowly and incrementally push the boundaries further to the point of sexual abuse."