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Welcome To Chrysalis!

Here you will find creative arts ministries designed to help you come alive and shine your brightest

We offer a variety of arts-based activities, including classes, camps, theatre productions, and online learning resources.

Our programs are modeled after the greatest artist and creator of all; the same artist who created the stars and the flowers and every living thing. Here at Chrysalis, you will find an experience bursting with life, light, beauty, passion, purpose, creativity, and unconditional love.

Our activities are vibrant and interactive and engaging, based around the natural childhood instincts of playfulness, curiosity, creativity, and healthy human interaction. Our participants learn by creating and interacting and discovering. We sing and dance and act and build and play games and have a boatload of fun. Students develop problem-solving skills, creative thinking, social skills, audition/interview/presentation skills, empathy, teamwork, self-respect, respect for others, learning skills, physical strength/flexibility/grace/coordination/stamina, and so much more!

Chrysalis started in 2012 as a youth theatre program, and it is now in the process of expanding. Future opportunities could include a Middle/High School Academy Of The Arts, dance and music lessons and presentations, choirs, film-making, equestrian arts, and so much more. We are constantly working to develop and grow and find new ways to create and learn and teach, to help people come alive and shine their brightest.

Read on for more about Chrysalis!

Dare to be vulnerable in your art. Art at its best is expression, not imitation. True expression, true art, is raw, authentic, and real. That's not possible without vulnerability.
Develop daily healthy physical habits (healthy breathing for singing, body for dance, general health, etc).
Pursue skill, artistry, and craftsmanship. You are not a robot to be programmed, or a dancing monkey to be trained and put on display. You are a human being with a unique personality, a unique spirit, a unique look, unique passions and pains and memories. You have unique beauty to share, a unique way of expressing yourself through art. Pursue that. Nobody liked Van Gogh's paintings when he was alive. He couldn't sell a single one for any price. But now he is considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time. What a shame it would have been if he had quit painting, or if he had just done the kind of painting that other people wanted him to do.
Challenge yourself each and every day. Never stop seeking to improve your craft. Don't settle for less than the best you can do each day. Your best today may not be your ultimate best, and that's ok. Just keep doing your best each day.
Learn contentment. While you continue improving, be at peace with what you've already done, the level you've already reached. Too many artists strive so relentlessly for a perfect standard they can never reach, and they never stop to appreciate what they already have. It's hard to be truly happy without contentment.
Never lose your childhood spirit of playfulness, passion, curiosity, and wonder. Art can be hard work, but it should also be fun, joyful, exuberant. The minute you become too "grown up" to play, to be curious, to explore, to imagine, to pretend, to delight in the simple things: that's the minute the most wonderful part of you dies. That's the minute you stop living and you start simply existing. It's possible to get it back, but it's better to not lose it in the first place.
Stay curious. Never stop exploring. Keep your mind open and keep learning.
Think for yourself. Create, explore, discover. Don't just do things because others do, because that's the way things have always been done. Explore new methods, invent new techniques, create new art. Find your own voice, your own inner artist.
Don't be a sellout. Protect your body, your values, your beliefs, your soul. Never sell yourself, no matter how much is offered in return. Build the right foundation and support system and protect it at all costs. You are not an object to be used, you are not a zoo animal for people to pay money to look at, you are not a race car to be driven as hard as possible until it falls apart and gets thrown in the scrap heap. The cost of success in the arts and entertainment world can be very high, and the pressure can be enormous. Don't be a sellout. Cling to what is right. Be brave enough to walk away from even the best opportunity. No job, no role, no career, no amount of fame or money is worth selling your body, your health, your friendships, your values, your beliefs, or your very soul.

"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." -Philippians 4:8
Stay humble, stay human, appreciate each moment/experience/opportunity/teacher/etc.

We can't all be movie stars or Broadway performers. But at the same time, maybe that's a good thing. There are so many "stars" who are broken, miserable, unhappy, unable to live a normal life. The price of fame or "success" is too often the need to sacrifice your very soul. So how cool is it that you can do what you love at your own level, be it community theatre or indie film-making or anything else, without having to make that sacrifice? Perform on the street if you have to. Because ultimately what is important is for you to do what you love, to give voice to that passion, that voice inside you, to share your gifts, your stories, your own individual light with those around you, to appreciate that in others.

The size of your audience or your building or your budget is not important. What is important is the process and the story, the impact. You could completely change or save the life of one person, a person who may never have the chance to see a Broadway show or watch a big-budget film. You might have an amazing voice or personality or talent that would be completely lost in a Broadway chorus, but could shine brightly in a smaller venue. You might never get a chance to have your plays performed on a professional stage, but maybe a local youth theatre or college would love the chance to bring your words to life. A professional producer might want you to sell your body to promote your work, or might force you to do work that is more likely to sell, instead of allowing you to express yourself in your own way. It might be a thrill to perform a dazzling concert in front of thousands of people, but in that massive crowd and all those lights, you look a lot smaller, and the individuals in the crowd disappear into a generic screaming horde. It might be better to stay small, to perform at local clubs or hospitals, where you can do what you love and express yourself in your own way, without losing the human connection and the chance to see the impact you're having.

So don't get a big head. Don't become too big or too important for the little things, because many times people look back and realize that the little things meant more to them than any of the big ones. Famous people often wish they could do normal things like going to the grocery store or going out to dinner, without getting mobbed by fans or heckled by haters or attacked by the angry or deranged. They'd give anything to be able to stay home with their husband/wife/kids instead of traveling all the time doing press interviews and photo-ops. They wish they could go back to doing small theatre performances or whatever, instead of being forced to appear in endless bland big-budget sequels and remakes and cash grabs. Once you become famous, once you sell your soul, there is no going back. You become a commodity, something to be used, to be bought and sold. People couldn't care less who you actually are inside, they just want to be able to claim they got a photo with you, or that you wrote your name on their hat, or that you attended their charity dinner, or to get their 90 seconds of attention for filming you at a time you did something embarrassing or broke down or something. They just care about your name, your face, the fact that you are famous. You become a shell, not a real human being. You lose the ability to have normal, healthy relationships. Every move you make is put under a microscope, whether it's pumping gas, using the restroom, or having dinner with a friend. You don't know whether people like you because of who you are, or just because you're famous/wealthy. Those close to you could get ruthlessly slandered and harassed by the press at any time and for any reason. Being famous and successful can be very miserable, very lonely, very degrading. Maybe you want that kind of a life, who knows. Maybe you can make it work where millions of others couldn't. Maybe you can be one of the rare people to break the trend of darkness.

The point is, don't spend your whole life just trying to get to Broadway, or just trying to become a famous movie star or pop star. You might not get there, and you might not like it if you do. So appreciate what you have right now. Perform in the small shows. Perform on the street. Whatever it is that allows you to be yourself, to use the gifts and dreams and passions that are inside you bursting to get out.

Every participant and guest shall be welcomed with kindness and respect. They shall be properly introduced, given a tour, and helped to feel at home. Nobody should ever leave feeling unwelcome, unappreciated, or alienated. Each of us has a part to play in this.
Respect others, just as we respect you. Respect their comments, opinions, ideas, belongings, personal space, and the time they are working/presenting. Do not put them down, do not treat them as less than you, and do not gossip about them. We're aware that respect can't be demanded, and to some degree it has to be earned. However, you have to give respect in order to receive it. Nobody with even a shred of character will respect a person who disrespects others. But people of all walks of life respect a person who treats everyone with respect, whether they deserve it or not. A person with kind of character is very special. A person with that kind of character will ultimately find doors opened to them which are not opened to others. People place a tremendous value on respect. It's hard to succeed in any business without it.
Respect yourself. Don't put yourself down, don't belittle yourself. Take care of yourself, dress neatly. Be humble yet confident. The Great Creator does not make mistakes. YOU are not a mistake. You are special, there will only ever be one of you. So try to be the kind of person you would respect, the kind of person you would look up to, the kind of person you would want to remember. Measure yourself not by achievements, but by your impact on those around you. Be a light, a friend. Think of this: if you had a million dollars you had to give away to only one person, would you choose to give it to somebody who looks and acts trashy and slovenly? Probably not. So respect yourself more than that. Don't be that trashy, slovenly person.
Respect the facilities/equipment/etc. Leave things as you found them or BETTER (clean, all trash dealt with, everything put away neatly, etc)
Respond to adults/authorities with respect (I.E. “Yes, Sir/Ma’am”)
Make eye contact when speaking or listening to others
Follow along when we are reading/working together
Class transitions will be swift, quiet. and orderly
Congratulate others (sincerely). Delight in the success and growth of those around you
Use good manners (I.E. Say please/thank you/excuse me when appropriate, cover your mouth fully with your elbow when you sneeze, etc)
Follow any and all specific protocols for each classroom/teacher/theatre/etc
If anyone is bullying/mistreating you, let your leader know (NO bullying, teasing, etc, will ever be tolerated. We’ve got your back!)
Surprise others with random acts of kindness
Do not ask for/expect a reward, but show proper appreciation if one is given
Be as organized as possible
If you arrive late, do not disturb the ongoing activities. Slip in quietly, put your stuff away neatly, and go promptly to your place and join in diligently. Don’t interrupt, draw attention to yourself, or disturb the class. Make sure to apologize to the teacher and anyone else directly impacted (i.e. another actor) during a break or after class
Bring a bottle of water to class. You may not leave to get water during class, only when the class is taking a break
Keep yourself and the bathrooms clean and germ-free
Respect students who have been pulled aside (no staring/pointing/whispering)
Always keep yourself under control (no shouting/running/screaming/etc except as directed)
Be polite to others (pick up things that are dropped, hold doors for people, say excuse me, etc)
Make a great first impression. Be prepared. While on field trips and at Chrysalis, enter buildings/buses/etc quietly and respectfully
Be aware of your surroundings, and be respectful of anyone else sharing the same space
You may bring snacks/food to class, as long as it doesn't cause distractions or delay (no crinkling noises, no trash left out, etc.)
A fun rule specific to each teacher/director.
When the usual teacher isn’t present, continue to treat leaders with the same level of respect, all rules/standards still apply

GENERAL LIFE STANDARDS:

These are general life standards that we recommend, as they will help you to make your story extraordinary.

Stand up for what you believe in
Be positive and enjoy life
Live life so that you will have no regrets (don’t be ruled by fear, doubt, etc, but make wise decisions)
Learn from your mistakes and move on, letting go of shame/regret/anger/etc
Don’t become a slave to anything or anyone (addictions, debts, regret, people who seek to use you, etc)
Have the courage/wisdom to flee from toxic situations/things/relationships/etc. You have so much good inside you. Don’t let that get sucked out of you or used against you.
Always be honest/sincere (unless being honest will put you or somebody else in danger)
Carpe Diem (sieze the day). Do the very best, be the very best, that you can each and every day. Every day is different, your abilities will change. But strive to make the most of every day. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. You might never get another opportunity like the ones you have today. So make the most of what you have today.
Live to the highest standard. Seek to do more/better than expected, not less. Be above reproach. Don’t risk your career/future by putting yourself in compromising situations. Strive to set a good example for others.
Be extraordinary, dream big (don’t just do what everybody else does, think for yourself, create your own magic, your own adventures, your own fun)
Be a light, a shining beacon of warmth and hope that others are drawn to, a light that shines into the darkness and reveals the best in those around you. Love unconditionally. Be vigilant and wise to guard that light, your heart, from darkness.

Your life is a story.

Your story is special. There will never be another one exactly like it, just as there will never be another person exactly like you.

Your story is priceless. It is the only one you will ever have on this stage, a one-time-only appearance in which you get to play the starring role.

Your story is an important piece of a much bigger story, the incredible story in which each of us plays a part.

Your story is being written at this very moment, with every breath you take. You have the opportunity to shape that story, with every decision you make. Your story can drift aimlessly, devoid of life or color or purpose, littered with wasted potential squandered in the pursuit of things that are empty. Or, your story can soar to incredible heights, filled with an ecstatic beauty all its own.

At Chrysalis Arts Ministries, we provide activities and learning opportunities designed to help you to develop personally, so you can shine bright on the stage that matters the most, and artistically, so that your story may be filled with passion, light, and beauty.

Come to Chrysalis and make your story extraordinary!

Many people spend their whole lives with their spirit stuck in the caterpillar phase of development, simply existing.
Many people crawl through lives that are ultimately as dry and unsatisfying as the dust of the ground.

At Chrysalis Arts Ministries, we help people to move beyond that, to develop healthily, to let their walls come down so their true colors can shine forth and they can emerge from their shells and soar as the beautiful, shining souls they were made to be.

Make Your Story Extraordinary!

Chrysalis Arts Ministries is dedicated to helping you with your personal development, with helping you to blossom and thrive.
Although we may cover a wide range of subjects and activities, what we do is ultimately not about facts or figures, it's not about the Bible, it's not about winning or losing, it's not even about scripts or dance steps. Chrysalis is about YOU. Everything that we do is specifically geared towards supporting you in your own individual path of development.

We do strive to create incredible works of art, but we recognize that even the best Broadway-caliber shows are fleeting and will soon be forgotten. The value of you, your spirit, your potential, your story, is far greater than even the highest-quality show. Many theatre programs achieve high-caliber performances, but at what cost to you? What value is a great performance when 75% or more of the cast receives zero individual training, zero personal or artistic development, and has to spend hours sitting around offstage doing nothing while the stars get all the individual attention? That's precious time wasted in your most vital development years! Most theatre programs simply utilize the existing talents of their performers. They don't actually take the time to develop their individual students. That's why you often see the same people get all the lead roles, and you rarely see youth performers progress from the chorus to the starring roles. Even the leads receive very little training, as most of the rehearsal time goes towards memorizing dance steps, acting movements, and the basic notes of the songs. It's a tragic waste.

Unlike most arts programs, YOU are our number one priority.

We don't just feed your brain; we also nurture your soul, your spirit, your imagination, your physical abilities, your social skills, and so much more! We are dedicated to helping you to blossom into your inner butterfly, beautiful and strong and dynamic, able to soar and thrive so that you can make your story extraordinary, so that you can shine bright on the stage that matters the most.

As a society, there are many things we do very well, but providing mechanisms for personal development is not one of them. The proof of that is cruelly obvious here in the Bay Area, where students at the best schools in the country and employees at the best tech companies in the world are throwing themselves off bridges and in front of trains. It's even more obvious down in Hollywood, where the world of movie stars is a train-wreck of broken people. Our museums are full of monuments to people we now worship, but whom we once proclaimed to be failures.

It's a tragedy of epic proportions that you can attend classes or church services for years and fill your brain full of knowledge, yet never once encounter a program designed to help you develop personally as an individual, designed to help you blossom and thrive. You can earn pockets full of cash and a brain full of knowledge, yet be utterly destitute in personal development. You can achieve everything, from fame to wealth, and still be the most empty and miserable person in the world. Why? Because people take personal development for granted. There are precious few programs in place designed to help you with that. There are billions of dollars poured into treatments for every ailment known to man, yet there is no treatment in place for a broken spirit or a lonely soul.

That changes now. Come to Chrysalis Arts Ministries and discover just how incredible your story can be.

The way that we teach is participatory and interactive, utilizing the natural abilities you already possess to help you unlock your inner potential.

Your life is a story.

Your story is special. There will never be another one exactly like it, just as there will never be another person exactly like you.

Your story is priceless. It is the only one you will ever have on this stage, a one-time-only appearance in which you get to play the starring role.

Your story is an important piece of a much bigger story, the incredible story in which each of us plays a part.

You are a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, lovingly created and perfectly cast in your role by the greatest artist and creator of all.

At Chrysalis, we use the arts to help you prepare for your role, so that you can shine bright on the stage that matters the most.

Your story is being written at this very moment, with every breath you take. You have the opportunity to shape that story, with every decision you make. Your story can drift aimlessly, devoid of life or color or purpose, littered with wasted potential squandered in the pursuit of things that are empty. Or, your story can soar to incredible heights, filled with an ecstatic beauty all its own.

What will your story be?

"Chrysalis" (Noun): The protective, nurturing environment that enables a caterpillar to develop into a magnificent, soaring butterfly

What Will Your Story Be?

Chrysalis is now preparing to blossom and sprout new programs over the next five years, under the umbrella of a program to be called “Chrysalis Arts Ministries”.

Introducing Chrysalis Arts Ministries...

Chrysalis was started in 2012 as a youth theatre program. We are now working to launch a new expanded network that includes the youth theatre, as well as three new programs that are being built around work we've already created to supplement our youth theatre program.

CHRYSALIS YOUTH THEATRE will continue to grow and expand, starting with our next musical which is tentatively scheduled for January-March, 2018.

CHRYSALIS ARTS ONLINE is a distance learning program utilizing technology to bring our special arts learning opportunities straight into the hands of young people all over the world.

CHRYSALIS ARTS ADVENTURES is an outreach program, focused on bringing Chrysalis to communities in need. This could include retirement homes, low income communities, refugee camps, and juvenile halls.

CHRYSALIS ACADEMY OF THE ARTS will likely start out as a six week summer camp program for several years. We plan to develop and expand this program over these first few years, and then launch it officially as a fully-accredited private school.

We invite you to consider looking over the rest of our website, so you can come to a fuller understanding of what Chrysalis is all about...

Every person's life is a story, in which they play the starring role. Unfortunately, too many of these stories end up empty, full of wasted potential, devoid of purpose and passion, lacking in true beauty and light. We are committed to using storytelling in the arts to help people of all different types and backgrounds to naturally unlock their potential and inner light, in much the same way that a chrysalis (cocoon) helps a caterpillar become a magnificent, soaring butterfly.

In short, we are committed to helping people to truly LIVE, to live and to love fully and freely, with passion and purpose, with beauty and authenticity.

Your story is important. It is the only one you will ever have on this stage, a one-time only appearance in which you play the starring role. Your story is special. There will never be another one exactly like it, just as there will never be another person exactly like you. Your story is a very special piece in which you can shine bright as part of the greatest story of all, the incredible story in which each of us plays a part. You were cast in this story by the greatest artist and creator of all, the greatest director. You are perfect for this role.

What will your story be?

Each of us has been given a starring role in the greatest play of all. This play is being written every day by millions of people all over the world. What will your story be?

Chrysalis Art Ministries provides interactive personal development opportunities that use the arts to enable people of all different types and backgrounds to naturally learn about about themselves, about each other, about life, and about art. These experiences improve awareness and identity, unlock potential, develop talents, build employability, enhance quality of life, and contribute to the birth and realization of dreams and aspirations.

Like a cocoon or "chrysalis", our experiences provide each person with a safe environment to develop at their own rate, helping to set free the magnificent, soaring soul within them, and equipping them with all the basic skills and character qualities they will need to succeed in life. Our students grow through play, through hands-on learning, personal interactions with others, study of theory and strategy and technique, observation of others, and discussion and feedback. Our methods help students to develop personally, artistically, and professionally, so they can live happy, vibrant, and successful lives at home, on the stage, at school, in the professional world, and wherever else life may take them.

In short, we are committed to helping people to truly LIVE, to live and to love fully and freely, with passion and beauty and authenticity.

Learn To LIVE, Dare To Be Extraordinary!

Each of us has been given a starring role in the greatest play of all. This play is being written every day by millions of people all over the world. What will your story be?

Chrysalis Art Ministries provides interactive experiences and activities that improve awareness and identity, unlock potential, develop talents, build employability, enhance quality of life, and contribute to the birth and realization of dreams and aspirations.

In short, we are committed to helping people to truly LIVE, to live and to love fully and freely, with passion and beauty and authenticity.

Think of Chrysalis like a training simulator, but instead of training for a moon landing or football career, we're providing experiences that enable people of all different types and backgrounds to naturally learn about about themselves, about each other, about life, and about the arts. Like a simulator or a cocoon(chrysalis), our experiences provide each person with a safe environment to develop at their own rate, equipping them with everything they will need to able to succeed. Our students grow through hands-on learning, personal interactions with others, study of theory and strategy and technique, observation of others, and discussion/feedback. These experiences help them to develop personally, artistically, and professionally, so they can live happy, vibrant, and successful lives at home, on the stage, at school, in the professional world, and wherever else life may take them.

Chrysalis was started in 2012 as a youth theatre program. We are now working to launch a new expanded network that includes the youth theatre, as well as three new programs that are being built around work we've already created to supplement our youth theatre program.

Chrysalis Arts Online is a distance learning program utilizing technology to bring our special arts learning opportunities straight into the hands of young people all over the world. This started as an instructional audition songs learning page on the website of our youth theatre program. This page quickly became one of the top audition songs web pages on the internet, routinely showing up in the top five search results for audition songs on Google, with thousands of views every month from students, teachers, and artists all over the world. We've since launched an entire website around this kind of teaching, and we're expanding it all the time. We plan to release our mobile app in the near future, and we have longer-term dreams f It also includes an outreach program,

Don't be a sellout. Protect your body, your values, your beliefs, your soul. Never sell yourself, no matter how much is offered in return. Build the right foundation and support system and protect it at all costs. You are not an object to be used, you are not a zoo animal for people to pay money to look at, you are not a race car to be driven as hard as possible until it falls apart and gets thrown in the scrap heap. The cost of success in the arts and entertainment world can be very high, and the pressure can be enormous. Don't be a sellout. No job, no role, no career, no amount of fame or money is worth selling your body, your health, your friendships, your values, your beliefs, or your very soul. Cling to what is right, and be brave enough to walk away and leave your future intact.

"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." -Philippians 4:8

There are very, very few people who achieve fame or wealth and maintain their personal value, their foundation. Fame and wealth too often come at the expense of your soul. There are very few Dick Van Dykes and Julie Andrews, and far too many Lindsey Lohans and Shia Labeoufs. Don't be a sellout. Protect yourself at all costs, even if it means giving up your career. The more you pursue the arts, the more pressure you will be under to compromise. Don't do it. Don't even consider it. Make the decision here and now that, as much as the arts may mean to you, there are things that are more important. Be willing to walk away, to quit entirely, to turn down the job of a lifetime, in order to save yourself. It is possible to be a tremendous artist without compromising, but it takes very little to start down a slippery slope that will ultimately leave you broken, miserable, lonely, and quite likely meeting a tragic end. You don't want to be a Lindsey Lohan or an Amanda Bynes, you don't want to be that person who wakes up one day and realizes they have become their own worst nightmare. You don't want to look around and realize that people all over the world are looking at you in a way that you don't like, and it's too late to go back and change it. Lots of people want to be a movie star or a Broadway star or a famous athlete. But only about 0.5% of them end up happy and successful and go on to happy and successful retirements. Most of them end up getting used and discarded like yesterday's trash. Many do ultimately reach the height of achievement, but at a terrible cost that they will suffer for the rest of their lives. Movie stars are a clear example of this, but it applies equally across the board. There are ballet dancers only 30 years old who can't walk anymore without excruciating pain. There are NFL football players just 30-40 years old whose bodies are so broken they can't even play with their kids, whose brains are so damaged they can't even remember they have kids. There are people who get directly abused and spend their whole lives suffering as a result. There are countless singers who push too hard, who work themselves too hard, and their voices are completely destroyed by the age of 40. There are countless people who start out fine, achieving, going to fancy parties, etc, and they end up hopelessly addicted to alcohol or drugs.

Everyone starts out saying "that won't happen to me". Yet this is exactly where the vast majority of them end up. The price of success is very, very high, and it gets even higher if you don't proactively work to protect yourself. If you're willing to be pushed to do things you know will hurt your body, don't be surprised when you end up broken. If you live the party lifestyle, don't be surprised if you end up like Johnny Manziel. Ask almost any old celebrity or past famous athlete, and they will tell you their list of regrets, their list of pains, their list of things they wish they could back and do differently. Protect yourself. Don't be a sellout. If you're going to do something, think long and hard about whether it's worth it. Maybe you're ok with this choice now, but will you still think it's worth it when you look back in 20 years? If you have kids someday, is this something you'd be ok with them seeing? Nowadays, with the internet, you can't hide your past. Do you want your kids to find articles, pictures, or videos of you doing this, saying this, wearing this? Don't be a sellout. Be brave enough to walk away and leave your future intact.
Dare to be vulnerable in your art. Art at its best is expression, not imitation. True expression, true art, is raw, authentic, and real. That's not possible without vulnerability.
Develop daily healthy physical habits (healthy breathing for singing, body for dance, general health, etc).
Pursue skill, artistry, and craftsmanship. You are not a robot to be programmed, or a dancing monkey to be trained and put on display. You are a human being with a unique personality, a unique spirit, a unique look, unique passions and pains and memories. You have unique beauty to share, a unique way of expressing yourself through art. Pursue that. Nobody liked Van Gogh's paintings when he was alive. He couldn't sell a single one for any price. But now he is considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time. What a shame it would have been if he had quit painting, or if he had just done the kind of painting that other people wanted him to do.
Challenge yourself each and every day. Never stop seeking to improve your craft. Don't settle for less than the best you can do each day. Your best today may not be your ultimate best, and that's ok. Just keep doing your best each day.
Learn contentment. While you continue improving, be at peace with the art you've already done.
Never lose the childhood spirit of playfulness. Art can be hard work, but it should also be fun, joyful, exuberant. The minute you become too "grown up" to play, to be curious, to explore, to imagine, to pretend, to delight in the simple things: that's the minute the most wonderful part of you dies. That's the minute you stop living and you start simply existing.
Stay curious. Never stop exploring. Keep your mind open and keep learning.
Think for yourself. Create, explore, discover. Don't just do things because others do, because that's the way things have always been done. Explore new methods, invent new techniques.
Stay humble, stay human, appreciate each moment/experience/opportunity/teacher/etc.

We can't all be movie stars or Broadway performers. But at the same time, maybe that's a good thing. There are so many "stars" who are broken, miserable, unhappy, unable to live a normal life. The price of fame or "success" is too often the need to sacrifice your very soul. So how cool is it that you can do what you love at your own level, be it community theatre or indie film-making or anything else, without having to make that sacrifice? Perform on the street if you have to. Because ultimately what is important is for you to do what you love, to give voice to that passion inside you, to share your gifts, your stories, with those around you.

The size of your audience or your building or your budget is not important. Look instead at the size of the impact. You could completely change or save the life of one person, a person who may never have the chance to see a Broadway show or watch a big-budget film. You might have an amazing voice or personality or talent that would be completely lost in a Broadway chorus, but could shine brightly in a smaller venue. You might never get a chance to have your plays performed on a professional stage, but maybe a local youth theatre or college would love the chance to bring your words to life. A professional producer might want you to sell your body to promote your work, or might force you to do work that is more likely to sell, instead of allowing you to express yourself in your own way. It might be a thrill to perform a dazzling concert in front of thousands of people, but in that massive crowd and all those lights, you look a lot smaller, and the individuals in the crowd disappear into a generic screaming horde. It might be better to stay small, to perform at local clubs or hospitals, where you can do what you love and express yourself in your own way, without losing the human connection and the chance to see the impact you're having.

So don't get a big head. Don't become too big or too important for the little things, because many times people look back and realize that the little things meant more to them than any of the big ones. Famous people often wish they could do normal things like going to the grocery store or going out to dinner, without getting mobbed by fans or heckled by haters or attacked by the angry or deranged. They'd give anything to be able to stay home with their husband/wife/kids instead of traveling all the time doing press interviews and photo-ops. They wish they could go back to doing small theatre performances or whatever, instead of being forced to appear in endless bland big-budget sequels and remakes and cash grabs. Once you become famous, once you sell your soul, there is no going back. You become a commodity, something to be used, to be bought and sold. People couldn't care less who you actually are inside, they just want to be able to claim they got a photo with you, or that you attended their charity dinner, or to get their 90 seconds of attention for filming you at a time you did something embarrassing or broke down or something. They just care about your name, your face. You become a shell, not a real human being. You lose the ability to have normal, healthy relationships. Every move you make is put under a microscope, whether it's pumping gas, using the restroom, or having dinner with a friend. You don't know whether people like you because of who you are, or just because you're famous/wealthy. Those close to you get ruthlessly slandered and harassed by the press. Being famous and successful can be very miserable, very lonely, very degrading. Maybe you want that kind of a life, who knows. Maybe you can make it work where millions of others couldn't.

The point is, don't spend your whole life just trying to get to Broadway, or just trying to become a famous movie star or pop star. You might not get there, and you might not like it if you do. So appreciate what you have right now. Perform in the small shows. Perform on the street. Whatever it is that allows you to be yourself, to use the gifts and dreams and passions that are inside you bursting to get out.

We're looking for people that exemplify and impart the qualities we seek to bring out in our students. These qualities include:

The unconditional love and support exemplified by God
Joy and passion for what you do
The peace that passes all understanding (not taking it personally or otherwise getting hung up when things go wrong)
Positive perspective ("positoovity"): the ability to take whatever life throws at you and make it into something positive
Wisdom and tact, strong communication skills. Sensitive to the needs, fears, and worries of people. Able to communicate with every individual person in a positive and effective manner, especially in difficult situations that could destroy their confidence if mishandled.

We're looking for people who will happily spend hours planning and researching, but don't miss a beat when stuff happens to make those plans obsolete. Things can change dramatically in moments, both in theatre and in life. We might plan for months to have a big, multi-level set for our show, and then an actor breaks their leg skateboarding and we're forced to re-design the entire set, and re-stage every scene and dance number that involves that actor. Or, we might be counting on a big special effect for an otherwise awkward part of the show, but then at the last minute the effect has to be cut or it just doesn't work. Or maybe the choreographer spends countless hours planning and teaching a dance number, and then something happens and we have to cut it or completely redo it. Theatre and life both have a tendency to throw curve-balls at you. We need people who can switch plans in a moment, using ingenuity to create new plans, and wisdom to know how best to implement them without negatively impacting any of the individual performers, staff, parents, or other people involved. People have a tendency to freak out a little bit when their work suddenly has to be cut from the show, or plans have to change dramatically. So we need leaders who can foresee that and handle the change with extreme tact. Programs have a tendency to be defined by the way they handle these tricky moments. These moments can destroy the positive energy of a show, result in PR disasters, or even worse. But if they are handled well, they can turn into really positive moments.

We TRANSFORM lives, communities, and the arts, through acts of PLAY,
In a FAMILY environment built on the absolute and unconditional LOVE of Christ,
Using CREATIVITY and EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE to create healthy, thriving communities,
Where every individual person is able to blossom and thrive.

Our ultimate goal is to enable people to live life freely, with
Authenticity, Creativity, Passion, Purpose, Character, Conviction, Integrity, and Love

We are bringing about transformation in the arts by remodeling them after the greatest artist of all. He who created the fields and the flowers, and the vastness of the stars in the skies. He who turns mourning into dancing. He who sees incredible beauty in each of us. He who personally created each of us and loves what He created.

That is why our highest priority is our students, not our performances. True art, true beauty, comes from within a person. You can technically teach a performer to copy exactly what you teach him. You can program a person's every movement, every reaction, every vocal inflection, to be exactly what you want it to be. However, if you do that, what you will end up with is not art, but a poor imitation of the real thing.

True art can only be unlocked from within a performer. True art is expression, not imitation. The best way to create the very best art is to help every individual person to learn to express themselves authentically, individually.

Society for thousands of years has insisted that people must conform, must become like everybody else. In today's world in America, that means going to school, getting good grades, going to college, getting a degree, and then joining the workforce and staying there until retirement. Artists and out-of-the-box thinkers are told to stop being different and be like everybody else instead. The pressure to conform is felt especially heavily in the teenage years, but it continues throughout adult-hood. The greatest artists of all time were once considered to be failures. They were told many times to stop creating and get a real job instead. Recent examples include people like Walt Disney and JK Rowling. Imagine a world where they listened to society and stopped creating. How sad would that be? The truth is, we live in that world. We are surrounded by tremendous artists. What if people like JK and Walt were encouraged, instead of rejected? What if their inner beauty was nurtured instead of being squashed? That's what Chrysalis is all about! We are transforming the arts by prioritizing the growth of our students as individuals and as a community.

Similar to the way that people have unrealized potential locked away inside them, waiting to be discovered, so too do the arts. The arts have enormous potential for transforming lives. We believe that this potential has yet to be fully realized. We believe that there is power in the arts that people often experience incidentally, almost accidentally. We are committed to providing experiences that use that power intentionally to bring about transformation.

Imagine movies made not just for entertainment, not to preach, but to feed your spirit, to bring joy and love and light, to provide people with real solutions to real problems.

Imagine stage shows that aren't intense and cut-throat, shows where your child won't be just another face in a massive sea of people, where they won't be stripped of their self-worth. Imagine stage shows that aren't about "performing", but about living, about playing, about finding and expressing yourself through art, about learning to communicate genuinely, authentically, to live and communicate effectively, with passion and purpose.

Imagine how much greater communities could be if we could achieve success not just with the highest achievers, but equally so with the lowest. Our current social structure has been created in a "one size fits all" mold, in a world no two people are alike, where every set of circumstances is unique. Public schools are designed for academic-minded kids, for kids who have self-motivation and self-discipline. What happens to kids who come from broken homes, what happens to kids who get caught up in gang life, what happens to kids who struggle academically, what happens to the poets and painters, the singers and dancers? What happens to kids who are abused? What happens to kids with learning disabilities or serious chronic illnesses? Aren't they just as important? Don't they have just as much value?

That's where Chrysalis comes in! Our program is designed for people of all different types to succeed. Our ministries model the unconditional love and support of the Lord Jesus Christ, forming a nurturing "chrysalis" environment that enables students and communities to blossom in a healthy, loving manner, free from fear or judgement. Our students discover confidence, passion, and purpose, as well as countless personal and professional skills that will help them in every area of their life.

Our goal is to bring this kind of transformation everywhere, spreading it all over the world, revolutionizing the way that people are taught, the way communities are built and maintained. We believe we can create a larger movement that will spread like wildfire, creating healthy, vibrant communities where everyone can find success. Because people have value. Their gifts and passions and dreams have value. Take that away from them and you destroy who they are, you destroy their value and self-worth. That's not what a healthy community looks like. In the words of Lilo And Stitch, "Family means nobody is left behind, or forgotten." That's exactly what we are at Chrysalis; a family!

Our ultimate goal is to enable people to live life freely, with
Authenticity, Creativity, Passion, Purpose, Character, Conviction, Integrity, and Love

Monarch
STAGE COMPANY

Transformational Experiences
In Community Theatre!

We believe that God created every person special, filled with purpose and beauty. Have you ever noticed how babies don't give up trying to walk or crawl or climb, no matter how many times they fail? Have you noticed their natural curiosity and love for exploring and learning new things? Have you noticed how completely authentic and genuine they are?

As people grow up, they lose these instincts. They start worrying about what they look like, or what other people think of them. They start to put up walls, to harden their hearts, to bury who they really are, and try "fit in". Our program is designed to help people naturally reconnect with their childhood state of playfulness, exuberance, curiosity, and love. Our experiences help people to overcome whatever walls they have put up, whatever obstacles are holding them back, to allow their gifts and passions to shine forth, to build up their self-worth, to communicate and live authentically, to help them discover purpose, and ultimately to help them thrive both personally and professionally. Best of all, our experiences are fun, engaging, and require no special skills or previous experience!

Communities also have hidden potential. Imagine how much greater communities could be if we could achieve success not just with the highest achievers, but equally so with the lowest. Our current social structure has been created in a "one size fits all" mold, in a world no two people are alike, where every set of circumstances is unique. It's easy enough to say "Go to school, get good grades, go to college, get a degree, get a job, work for the next 40-50 years, then retire. But public schools are designed for academic-minded kids, for kids who have self-motivation and self-discipline. Jobs are heavily slanted towards certain skill-sets and have countless challenges to obtaining one. College is insanely expensive. What happens to people who come from broken homes, what happens to kids who get caught up in gang life, what happens to kids who struggle academically, what happens to the poets and painters, the singers and dancers? What happens to kids who are abused? What happens to kids with learning disabilities or serious chronic illnesses?

We believe that our program can change all of that. We have seen first-hand the transformation that happens at Chrysalis when we invest in every individual person and help them to succeed. We have seen what happens when we create an atmosphere that is safe, supportive, nurturing, loving, respectful. We have seen what happens when we create experiences that are not about test scores, not about winning or losing, but about helping people to unlock the beautiful, soaring spirits within them. People thrive, and strong, healthy communities develop naturally. Our goal is to bring this kind of transformation everywhere, spreading it all over the world, revolutionizing the way that people are taught, the way communities are built and maintained. We believe we can create a larger movement that will spread like wildfire, creating communities where every individual finds success, where the artist is valued just as highly as the tech worker or the lawyer. Because people individually have value. Their gifts and passions and dreams have value. Take that away from them and you destroy who they are, you destroy their value and self-worth. We can't stand by and let that happen any longer.

Our Ministries

chrysalisyouththeatre.org

Transformational experiences in
youth theatre!

For students ages 8-18

This program serves those who are looking for incredible experiences in a flexible youth theatre format. This program generally operates on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, through a facilities partnership with Valley Church in Cupertino.

Created in 2012

chrysalisonline.weebly.com

Transformational experiences in online arts learning!

For all ages

This special program makes arts learning easy and accessible for students world-wide who are seeking to learn more. It is currently run as a large datebase of theatre knowledge, but we hope to expand the program to include a mobile app, integrated learning games and activities, and opportunities for students to participate in live-streaming classes with top teachers and artists from Broadway and all over the world.

Created in 2014

chrysalisacademy.weebly.com

Transformational experiences in education!

For students grades 6-12

An innovative, hands-on school, perfect for students who are creatively-minded, seeking an alternative learning experience, or want to experience Chrysalis on a deeper, every-day level. This program will use our innovative Chrysalis experiences to fulfill all educational requirements, while helping students to overcome personal challenges, discover their gifts, dreams, and passions, and develop the life-skills they will need to succeed in life at school and beyond.

Launch Goal: 2023-2025

This program is still early on in the conceptual planning stages, but we are praying for God to provide the right church partnership to make this dream a reality. If your church would be interested in partnering with us, we would love to talk to you!

Give us a call at (669) 252-1434!

chrysalisadventures.weebly.com

Transformational experiences in communities in need!

For all ages

A special outreach program that brings our amazing Chrysalis experiences to communities that can't experience them any other way. This program seeks to use the arts for transformation at retirement homes, hospitals, rehab centers, juvenile detention facilities, low-income communities, and for at-risk youth locally and abroad.

Launch Goal: 2018

We are currently seeking a church partnership as we work to make this program a reality. If your church is interested, please give us a call at (669) 252-1434!

www.monarchstage.org

Transformational experiences in community theatre

For ages 16+

A special advanced performing arts program for people who are interested in pursuing a career in performing arts or teaching. This is the perfect program for students who have grown through Chrysalis and are preparing to spread their wings and fly off on their own as they begin college or professional careers.

Launch Goal: TBA

"Chrysalis" (Noun): The protective, nurturing environment that enables a caterpillar to transform into a magnificent, soaring butterfly

What do you do when you or a loved one ends up in a dark situation like that of our founder? What do you do when you just don't seem to belong in life? What do you do for the young people who aren't great athletes, aren't great at games, aren't great at singing or dancing, aren't great at school? What about all the people whose gifts and passions don't fit into the structure we've created for kids? What about the future painters, the inventors, the teachers?

Tom Brady wasn't considered good enough for professional football. Every team in the NFL looked at him and saw nothing particularly special. Every team in the NFL had multiple opportunities to draft him, but chose not to. He was finally picked towards the end of the draft, by the New England Patriots. He went to become one of the greatest QBs of all time, winning multiple Super Bowls, and is still to this day considered the best QB in the NFL even at an age when most players would retire.

Lindsey Stirling is a violinist who was considered not good enough. She bravely auditioned for America's Got Talent, only to get brutally rejected by judge Simon Cowell, who said her playing sounded like "cats being strangled". Not to be deterred, she started producing videos of her work on Youtube, where she became an internet sensation. Today, she is a massively successful musician, internet sensation, recording artist, and composer. She regularly performs for huge audiences all over the world.

Walt Disney quit school at 16 to join the military, but his enlistment was rejected because he was too young. He was fired by a newspaper editor because “he lacked imagination and had no good ideas". He failed as an actor. When he tried to get MGM Studios to produce Mickey Mouse in 1927, he was told that the idea would never work-- a giant mouse on the screen would terrify women. He was rejected by bankers over 300 times, as they though his idea of Mickey Mouse was absurd. He tried starting an animation company three times, all of which failed. His fourth try resulted in what we know today as Walt Disney Studios. Of course, today Disney is one of the most famous and successful entertainment companies in the world. Ironically, Walt Disney Studios went on to own the newspaper that Walt originally got fired from. Walt experienced countless other obstacles and tragedies in his life. For example, his mother died as a result of a faulty furnace that Walt and his brother bought for her. Walt's vision for a theme park was rejected by the city council, as they feared it would attract riff-raff. Disneyland's construction and opening were an absolute nightmare, and the park was referred to as "Walt's Folly". Opening day was a wreck, with an expecting crowd of 5,000 turning into over 28,000 due to counterfeit tickets. Restaurants ran out of food, water fountains didn't work, rides weren't finished, ladies high heels sunk in the fresh asphalt, lines for the bathrooms were atrocious, the riverboat was swamped by having too many people on it, the castle got set on fire by a gas leak, Walt got locked in his apartment at the park and couldn't get out, television host (and future president) for the tv broadcast, Ronald Reagan, was forced to climb over the stockade to get to his next segment, as the crowds were too big to get through.

Albert Einstein did not speak until he was four and did not read until he was seven, causing his teachers and parents to think he was mentally handicapped, slow and anti-social. Eventually, he was expelled from school and was refused admittance to the Zurich Polytechnic School.

Join us for our fall fundraising party, where you'll get to experience all the magic of Chrysalis for yourself. Featuring hands-on activities and learning experiences, this is a fun, family-friendly event for the entire community. We'd love to see you there!

​Welcome To Chrysalis!

​Make Your Story Extraordinary!

Introducing Chrysalis Arts Ministries...

MonarchSTAGE COMPANY

Our Ministries

Welcome To Chrysalis!

Make Your Story Extraordinary!

Monarch
STAGE COMPANY