Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas! Photo: Children’s Theatre Company
Kyia Britts was always a “sports kid” growing up, but when her brother auditioned for a play at their church, Britts followed suit. Then as a fifth grader, she acquired a role in the musical Honk!— an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling.
Those first steps on stage led to a career. Today, the Eagan resident is the associate production manager and company manager at Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, and she’s looking forward to her first full season with the nation’s largest theater company for young people. “It will be my first full season from start to end, including being involved in the process of choosing shows,” Britts says.
The season features a variety of shows, including the return of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, a production of Disney’s Frozen and the world premiere of Drawing Lessons. “We’re bringing in so many directors, which will be a unique and interesting experience,” Britts says. “It’s exciting to see the other artistic processes that vary from person to person.”
Photo: Kyia Britts
Britts is responsible for everything from keeping track of production budgets to arranging catering for the cast and crew. She also handles the coordination, booking and scheduling of out-of-town artists, like guest directors, designers and more. “It’s never the same thing each day,” Britts says. “It’s always something different.”
Although she got an early start on stage, Britts has always been interested in the less noticeable aspects of theater production. “I always wanted to help build sets and make props,” Britts says. “I remember sitting for hours after school in the scene shop working on something. I loved the fact that I could be a part of making it all happen.”
Once out of high school, Britts made her way to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to earn her degree in theater arts and marketing communication. In college, she was able to deep dive even further into production management and develop the skills she’d later need to be a professional in the arts. Out of college, Britts found herself at Children’s Performing Arts and Theater Latte Da before landing at Children’s Theatre Company.
As an audience member, it’s easy to forget all the work that goes on behind the scenes to bring a show to life, including props and scenery, but Britts credits the success of a show not only to the actors, but the crew. “Lighting and production management are the glue that keeps the show together,” Britts says.
Britts resides in Eagan with her fiance. And when not planning her wedding scheduled for October 2025 or playing Dungeons and Dragons, Britts enjoys all the nature Eagan has to offer.
Children’s Theatre Company
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