ACTING ACADEMY FOR KIDS
MUSICAL THEATRE FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions regarding our musical theatre series:
Q: What should we expect when we arrive on the first day?
On the first day, name tags are our sign-in system. When you arrive, please pick up your child’s name tag. Once the clock strikes the start time, we will start with a very short introduction and welcome. Parents will then be asked to move to a different area for a short parent meeting (about 20 minutes).
Q: What should my child expect the first day?
I know that many of your children will probably be quite nervous, especially if they’re new. This is completely normal! I would encourage you to really pump them up. After mom and dad leave, the kids will do some stretching with their choreographer to warm up their bodies. Then the actors will play various icebreaker games to meet their cast and the group they will be working with every week for the next 10-12 weeks. Once introductions have been made, we will then go through the audition process. Don’t worry - no one is required to sing a solo or perform a monologue if they do not want to. The actors will be walked through three specific areas starting with dancing, then singing, and finally acting. Audition materials can be found on our Production page to prepare for your audition. You do not need to have it memorized. Students should come with comfortable shoes to dance in and a positive attitude. Scripts will be distributed the second week of class when they get their parts.
Q: How does casting take place? How can I best support my child in his/her role?
Casting will be determined from the first class and roles will be handed out at the second class. Casting is a collaborative effort between the teachers. Much time, thought, and collaborative conversations dictate the roles assigned to each child. It is inevitable that some students will not get their dream role, but this is a great time to teach the students that theatre is a team effort that requires every student’s unique talents and personalities on the stage.
Our philosophy is to maximize the amount of time each child is on stage. Because of that, we digest the script thoroughly and strive to assign multiple roles to each actor - within the confines of preserving the story line and managing the necessary costume changes.
As we are professional educators by training, we have designed our performing arts programs to be a holistic learning experience for the kids. At each class, students learn the choreography, songs, and scenes—and then bring these individual elements together to create a musical theatre performance. As a director, I emphasize the collaborative nature of theatre to the students--everyone's role is essential to the production--and the fact that performing occurs the entire time while on stage and not just when delivering a line. The best way to support your young performer in his/her role is to reinforce this at home by reminding him/her that musical theatre and performing encompass much more than just the number of lines.
As a reminder, there are no refunds or future credits, so please encourage your child to have fun with the role(s) they receive.
Q: When and where do we drop off and pick up the children?
Please drop off your child 5-10 minutes early. Any earlier and there will not be a staff member present to supervise your child. I have to be strict here…DO NOT BE LATE! We run a very tight ship and every minute of rehearsal time is precious to making the show the best it can be. So parents, please do your best. Every actor must be picked up by either by their parent or a person noted on their registration form from inside the rehearsal space. Safety is always my number one priority, and I require at least one parent or approved family member/friend to enter the theatre and pick up their child. A call on your child’s cell phone from the parking lot isn’t enough for us to release them. Again, safety first.
One of our teachers will welcome parents in at the end of rehearsal for check out. At Acting Academy for Kids we have a “no peak policy” so that you are awestruck on the day of the performance! The kids will be in a very safe learning environment with California credentialed teachers. Q: Is there a charge for late pick-up?
We do extend a ten minute grace period; however, your account will be charged $20 if your child is picked up later than this
Q: How are absences handled?
We ask that each parent fills out an absence report on our production website so that we are made aware of any conflicts. However, if you miss more than 2 rehearsals, your role is subject to re-casting at the sole discretion of the director. Additionally, Tech & Dress Rehearsals are mandatory and actor's role is subject to re-casting if these very important rehearsals are missed.
Q: How are costumes handled?
A team of volunteers will be handling the costumes. As we near our performance, they will communicate with you via email exactly what your child might need such as leotards, tights, dance shoes, etc. Costuming is a fun area to help out if you would like to volunteer!
Q: Are there volunteer hours required by the parents?
Yes. Each family must lend a helping hand during our performance day. Our parent volunteer coordinator will be communicating directly about the options that are available. Families who choose to not volunteer may “optout” through a $100 contribution.
Q: How do you handle tickets for the shows?
Tickets are purchased through our online ticketing site. A link will be provided to you approximately 3 weeks before the performance.
Q: Is photography and videography allowed during my child’s performance?
Most theatres do not allow individual videography or photography by patrons during any performance as it distracts the audience members as well as the performers. Because we know how important it is to capture these memorable moments, we have invited a videographer to record the performance. The Digital Download can be ordered on the ticket site when you order your tickets to the show or on the day of the show. A link will then be emailed to you from our videographer about a week later after it is done being edited.
Q: What are your policies regarding inappropriate behavior?
There are several levels of inappropriate behavior. For students who are being a disruption to the learning environment, the teachers have the authority to sit the children out of activities. For students who exhibit consistent behavioral issues, bullying, or hitting, we do reserve the right to dismiss a child from the remainder of the musical theatre series (refunds are unavailable). This is for the safety and well being of all actors.
Q: Can I call or text my child during rehearsal?
If your child brings a cell phone to rehearsal, it should be turned off and put away at the beginning. Texting and other cell phone activities distract and detract from the rehearsal and are not allowed.
Q: What if I have additional musical theatre series related questions?
If you have any additional questions, please contact us at [email protected] or 949-427-0072.
