About Us

Uwharrie Youth arts was founded in 1998 as a means to increase awareness and involvement of youth in performings arts in Stanly and surrounding counties.  Uwharrie Youth arts is an umbrella organization providing support to City Youth Ballet and Playtime Children’s Theatre.

Uwharrie Youth Arts is pleased is to educate and entertain and give back to the community wherever possible.  Thousands of youth and young adults have participated in our productions, educational workshops, and local performances.  UYA not only encourages young people to perform but to learn all areas of production.   Apprenticeships are offered under professional guidance in stage design, technical direction, costuming,  advertising, and numerous other aspects of performance production.  Albemarle Academy of Dance is the official school of Uwharrie Youth Arts; however, participation in all UYA events is open to anyone interested and all those who audition for a production will be cast.

Operation of The Uwharrie Youth Arts requires a lot of work from a wide range of people. We would like to thank our sponsors for their tremendous support.

Board of Directors

Kirsten Laws

Erica Coble

Audrey Lowder

Hillary McSwain

Devonna Morgan

Elizabeth Ritter

Contina Salyer

John T. Williams, Jr.

Leigh Johnson Roush - Artistic Director

Edmund Roush - Technical Director

Our Volunteers

The volunteers for each performance spend countless hours building and designing sets, sewing costumes, fund raising, chaperoning, organizing, and donating their time and energy to the Uwharrie Youth Arts and the youth who are a part of this production. The Uwharrie Youth Arts would not exist without the efforts of these individuals.