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OUR STAFF
THE CORE TEAM
KEITH SHAW, JR.
DIRECTOR / HEAD OF THE THEATER DEPT. / MUSIC PRODUCER
Keith has been one of our strongest leaders at Creative Youth Productions for over 16 years. He returned to CYP at 23 after receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Audio Production From Western Connecticut State University. Keith has led in several shows such as, From Shades to Hollywood Lights, Under the Gun, This is Me, and Chasing Freedom. He effortlessly became a triple threat performer, taking on acting and dancing while filming an adaptation of our play Behind Closed Doors. Keith has consistently exhibited a passion for creating art, writing music, and supporting young artists. In the last four years, he has excelled in writing and directing Without a Trace and A Goofy Christmas. Keith has been a true leader, teacher, and guide for every student involved in our program. “CYP has opened up my talent for acting, singing and dance as well as shown me the importance of improv and songwriting.”
DONNA SUE DEGUZMAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WRITER, DIRECTOR, ACTOR
A graduate of the Performing Arts School at Syracuse University, Ms. Deguzman has a long history of working with youth in Bridgeport, CT. She has written, directed and produced over 45 original shows with youth in Bridgeport. She began in 1993 at the McGivney Community Center where she Directed and Produced, “Marginal Saints” written by Lee Gundershire which became an overnight sensation at the Downtown Cabaret Theater and went on to win a place at the International New York Theater Festival. The program started with 20 students and became 60 middle and high school students within a year. They wrote plays, public service announcements and talk shows around teen pregnancy. (Which at the time was at an all time high) She was then hired to expand the Regional Center For the Arts from an interdistrict program to magnet status with the state. In the process she brought accolades from the Governor, Mayor, and Bridgeport community when winning the American High School Theater Festival award in Scotland. Raising almost $100,000.00 she took 30 youth to Scotland with an original show called, “Peacocks and Peanuts.” She became co-founder of the successful company, Original Works Inc until 2010. In 2011 she co-founded her second company with her late husband, Creative Youth Productions Inc. (CYP) As Executive Director she continues to secure contracts with the State, Bridgeport Board of Education, City of Bridgeport and numerous local funders such as Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, David & Eunice Bigelow Foundation, Paul Newman Foundation, and many others. She was one of the first to fight for youth to receive stipends and job descriptions in the company instead of intern positions. CYP now has returning students from College who are on staff for the program along with a dozen youth in middle and high school who receive stipends throughout the school year. Her graduates of the program are now scattered in cities like NYC, Chicago and LA working as playwrights, directors and actors in the entertainment industry. The high school graduation rate among the youth leaders is 100%. (This being the mission of the Bridgeport Public School District.) She continues to be an advocate for young people by using the performing arts to transcend and empower young people giving them the opportunity to have success in their lives.
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Creative Youth Productions Inc. (CYP) was founded on October 14th, 2011 as a not-for-profit corporation with an ongoing mission to develop youth leaders through the performing arts in Bridgeport, CT. Jonas and Donna Sue Deguzman co-founders worked tirelessly to ensure the beginning of CYP. Falling short of $825.00 from their fundraising goals to make CYP a legitimate 501c non-for-profit organization they both in December of 2010 put together the $825.00 foregoing Christmas to get the company started. Jonas Deguzman worked as a volunteer for the company while he maintained a full-time job with the Bridgeport Housing Authority in Bridgeport. Unfortunately, Jonas Deguzman passed suddenly in October of 2012 leaving Donna Sue Deguzman to carry on the mission. With some touch and go years nearly losing the company altogether.
MATTHEW DETROY
MUSIC COMPOSER / HEAD OF MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Matthew DeTroy has been the Theatrical Music department head for 10 years. He’s worked collaboratively with our musically gifted artists to create original compositions and music for our very own productions. He studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Matthew works as an instructor for the KEYS program, teaching piano lessons throughout the Bridgeport school system. He has elevated and faithfully supported the CYP Music Department, creating CYP’s very first album of music for our play “Behind Closed Doors,” collaboratively with the youth of CYP’s programming. Matthew enjoys working with young artists and credits CYP for providing him with another platform to help students be creative and explore the creative process of music. “Music is the universal language and a way to tell stories, to communicate and connect on an emotional and deeper level.”
MARIAH COTTA
HEAD OF DANCE DEPARTMENT
Mariah has been in our program for over 15 years. She joined CYP in elementary school as a dancer and quickly earned parts in Chasing Freedom, Rainy Blu, Annie the Remix, and Behind Closed Doors. Over the years, Mariah has become the head of the dance department. Her innovation and endless creatively has led her to choreograph hundreds of dances for several different shows. She has always been at the front of the class, the first to try, and fearless in accepting larger roles with the company. Mariah is a perfect example of how leadership can be formed through the opportunity of creativity. Her work and passion is included in every performance CYP has brought to the stage. She currently attends Southern University of Connecticut, while teaching and performing with CYP every week.
JEFFERY RAZOR
ACTOR / DANCER / MUSICIAN
Jeffery is a triple threat in acting, dancing, and music. He's responsible for writing a majority of the songs included in our last three productions. Primarily in each department, he writes lyrics, assists with choreography, and pushes students to give their best performance. As an actor, Jeffery is our strongest lead and has performed in Without a Trace, A Goofy Christmas, and The Quaint Bodega. Of course, each part he has played involves dancing, singing, and acting. Jeffery has been an important member to our team, helping unite the communication across all three of our departments. He is a graduate of Bassick High School, and has been involved with our program for over 5 years. "I’ve played many characters here. My favorite so far has to be my portrayal of the character Mavis from A Quaint Bodega. I’ve done concerts with our music departments and showcases at some schools. I intend to continue to put my heart into this program and further elevate us to our aspirations"
LA'RAY RICE
ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATION / ACTOR
La'Ray joined CYP in elementary school and has grown up through the program. She started off as a dancer, but eventually gravitated towards acting. La'Ray has been with us for over 15 years. She graduated from Housatonic Community College and has returned to work with CYP as an Administration Assistant. Her role with the company stretches far behind the stage as well. La'Ray's experience in the acting department has led her to numerous opportunities as a teacher and guide. She's become a key assistant to Keith and Jeffery teaching our students about acting. She leads classes and takes students to work on scenes and memorization. La'Ray has been a lead performer for several plays throughout the years including Without a Trace, A Goofy Christmas, and Chasing Freedom. She is a proud mother of two, and has been strongly involved in the Bridgeport Community while helping our staff run the program.
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