Lawrence Arts Center’s Summer Youth Theatre

2022 Parent Guide for Mainstage Productions

SYT MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS

For 50 fabulous years, the Summer Youth Theatre program has provided intensive training in all aspects of dramatic theatre through our Mainstage SYT productions. Using Broadway musicals, classic dramas, and original works, students learn by doing. They receive training from professional directors, costume designers, stage designers, stage managers, choreographers, actors, and dancers.

Mission

Summer Youth Theatre cultivates positive working relationships between young people, professionals, and the community to create high quality, thought-provoking productions.

Program Overview

Welcome to the Lawrence Arts Center’s Summer Youth Theatre program! We are excited to have you on board and hope you have an exciting time with us this season.  Four Mainstage productions comprise the summer. Each age group has 1 production in June and 1 production in July.   Novice/Junior Players are 4th-8th graders, and Senior Players are 8th-12th graders.  A Technical Theatre class and a Costuming class (5th-12th graders) are in session both months.

COMMUNICATION

Emails are very important. You will receive a lot of information about scheduling, costumes, and volunteer opportunities. Please make sure you are checking your email regularly. We will also have a Cast Hub for each production that will list all the information you will need.

Front Desk Phone: (785) 843-2787

Regular Building Hours: 9am-9pm, 7 days a week

www.lawrenceartscenter.org

Elizabeth Sullivan                                Samaria Fleig                                Justin Harbaugh

Director of Performing Arts                Technical Director/Performing Arts Coordinator        Associate Director Performing Arts & Education

elizabeth@lawrenceartscenter.org                samaria@lawrenceartscenter.org                justin@lawrenceartscenter.org 

(785) 393-4843 cell (loves texting!)                (760) 529-6532 cell (loves texting!)                (402)709-0500 (loves texting!)

(785) 843-2787 ext. 123 desk                        (785) 843-2787 ext. 133 desk                        (785) 843-2787 ext. 114 desk

DATES & TIMES

The June session begins May 31 and ends June 26. The July session begins July 5 and ends July 31. There will be no class on July 4.

Jr. Techs will meet 9:15am-12:30pm each day until production week during which they will join the actor rehearsals as worked out by the production Director and Technical Director.

SYT TEAMS!

        Overall Production Team_____________________________________________________________

        Elizabeth Sullivan – Director of Performing Arts/SYT Artistic Director

        Samaria Fleig - Technical Director/Performing Arts Coordinator

        Amanda Pintore - Associate Director of Performing Arts & Education

Madagascar Jr                                The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales              

Clara Kundin – Guest Director                                Leah Towle – Director

Coy Garrett – Assistant Director                        Kayla Sandusky – Assistant Director

Justin Harbaugh – Choreography                        Hanah Glimpse – Costumer Designer

Angela Loganbill – Music Director                        Scenic Designer – Elliot Yochim

        David Perez – Rehearsal Pianist                       

Hanah Glimpse – Costumer Designer                                

Scenic Designer- Lexey Jost                

            Peter & the Starcatcher                                Legally Blonde                                   

           Andrew Waldron – Guest Director                        Amanda Pintore – Director

          Lou Hasse-Divine –Assistant Director                        Lou Hasse-Divine – Assistant Director

           Ric Averill – Music                                        Stuart O’Neil – Music Director

Leah Towle – Fight Choreographer                        Jen Hosler – Rehearsal Pianist

Lexey Jost – Scenic Design                                Scenic Designer – Elliot Yochim

Devi Arkeketa – Costume Design                        Landon Noll – Costume Design

            Technical Directors/ Teachers             Costuming Class Teacher        Intern Instructors

           Lexey Jost                                    Hanah Glimpse                Elizabeth Sullivan

            Elliot Yochim                                                                        Samaria Fleig

ENROLLMENT

Students must be enrolled to participate.

-Madagascar Jr. & Peter & the Starcatcher students must be enrolled by June 3.

-Stinky Cheese Man or Other Fairly Stupid Tales & Legally Blonde students must be enrolled by July 10.

1. Go to www.lawrenceartscenter.org 

2. Go to the Education drop down menu on the top red bar.

3. Click on Education Programs

4. A second menu will pop up

5. Select School of Theatre & Music

6. Scroll down and find your program

7. Click on Enroll Now button corresponding to your program

8. A new page will open

9. Click Begin Registration and follow instructions

Email Amanda Pintore with any enrollment questions amanda@lawrenceartscenter.org

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Financial Aid

Financial Aid and payment plans are available.  Please visit our website for more information. https://lawrenceartscenter.org/education/financial-aid/

If you need assistance or have ANY questions please contact elizabeth@lawrenceartscenter.org

SYT Jack Powell Memorial Scholarship

In honor of Jack Powell, we are also offering the Jack Powell Memorial Scholarship, awarded to SYT students who demonstrate a commitment to theatre and are in financial need.  Special consideration is made to those students who wish to participate in more than one production during the current Summer Youth Theatre season.  Contact Elizabeth Sullivan, elizabeth@lawrenceartscenter.org for questions or to apply.

SYT POLICIES & PROCEDURES

DROP-OFF & PICK-UP POLICIES

• Drop-off:

• NOVICE/JR (4th-8th Graders):  Students should go directly into the LAC MAIN BUILDING, MAINSTAGE THROUGH THE MAIN LOBBY DOUBLE DOORS for all rehearsals.
• SENIORS (8th-12th Graders): Students should go to 10TH & MASS STUDIOS, LOBBY AREA for all rehearsals.

• Pick-Up:

• NOVICE/JR (4th-8th Graders): Students should be picked up at the LAC MAIN BUILDING, MAIN LOBBY AREA.  *Caregivers of students Pre-K thru 5th Grade must visibly pick up their children. Students 6th grade & up are permitted to leave the building on their own. Instructors/staff members will wait with students until they are picked up. If a caregiver is not at pick-up within 10 minutes, please have the student call their family (if they have their own phone, otherwise go through the front desk).  
• SENIORS (8th-12th Graders):  Students should be picked up in the LAC MAIN BUILDING, MAIN LOBBY AREA.

GENERAL SYT GUIDELINES

• Students MUST sign in when they arrive for every rehearsal & performance.  
• Please send an email if our staff needs to be aware of any medical, personal, or family concerns.
• We have an open door policy for caregiver feedback.
• We are not able to provide complimentary tickets to parents or families, but each Dress Rehearsal is free and open to FAMILY audience members.

ABSENCE/CONFLICT POLICY

• Any student that has 3 or more conflicts will be cast in an ensemble role.

• It is expected that each performer attends every scheduled rehearsal. We are aware that there may be an occasional conflict. It is crucial for us to be aware of your conflicts at auditions so we can cast and schedule accordingly.  Each student must list their conflicts on their audition form.
• No absences are permitted during production week.

• All students must list their conflicts on a calendar at auditions. No absences are allowed production week. If a conflict arises, you may talk to the director of your production at least a week in advance, however, it is at the director’s discretion to permit that absence.
• Absences for emergency, illness, and funerals are permissible, but should be communicated to the Coordinator as soon as possible. Please contact Samaria Fleig to report any absences related to emergency and illness, 785-843-2787 ext. 133 or text her at 760-529-6532

WHAT DO I BRING TO REHEARSAL?

Students are expected to bring their script and a pencil to every rehearsal. They should wear closed toe shoes (sorry, no flip flops) and clothes they can move in. A water bottle and snack are highly recommended.

SNACKS & DINNER BREAKS

• 4th-8th Grade, Novice/Junior Players will have a break for snack time between 3:00 and 3:15 every rehearsal. Actors are expected to bring their own snack. This break will occur outdoors with supervision. Always bring a water bottle, labeled w/name.
• 8th-12th Grade, Senior Players will be released from rehearsal for dinner break at approximately 5:30pm each day. Dinner break is one hour long. Students must be back promptly at 6:30pm. Returning five minutes early is advisable. ***Parents must provide a signed note or permission slip (available at the front desk) indicating their child is allowed to leave the building for dinner break. Students are welcome to bring a sack dinner and stay in the building, however, they will not be supervised during that hour.

STRIKE

• 4th-8th Grade, Novice/Junior Players:   All students are expected to participate in their show's strike (clean-up, putting away) for 30 mins after their last performance.  
• 8th-12 Grade, Senior Players. All students are expected to participate in their show's strike (clean-up, putting away) on the Sunday after their last Saturday show, from 2-4pm.  Please mark your calendars.

CAST PARTIES

• 4th-8th Grade, Novice/Junior Players:  Held outside between the 2nd and 3rd performance on the final Saturday. Due to safety protocols, we will have ice cream or popsicles in lieu of food.
• 8th-12 Grade, Senior Players. Held outside at the Public Pool on the Sunday following the last performance and strike, from 4:30-6pm.  Meet at Public Pool, 727 Kentucky St. Ice cream or popsicles, provided by LAC.

SYT REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE MASK & COVID-19 POLICY

-Cast members will not wear masks for final dress rehearsal and performances.

-In preparation for cast members to perform without masks, masks will be required for all Summer Youth Theatre rehearsals.

-For youth 12+ proof of vaccination or a weekly negative test result are required.

THEATRE TERMS

Call Time - the time you are supposed to report to a rehearsal/performance.

Cast Party - Cast & crew members come together to celebrate one another on a job well done.

Conflicts - any time you are going to miss 75% of the rehearsal. Leaving early or late for rehearsal must be cleared in advance and will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Costumes – The outfit that you wear for your character during the performance. We do ask cast members to provide base costume pieces from their own wardrobe. All participates are required to provide their own shoes. A list will be emailed to parents with the specifics from the Costume Designer. REMINDER: There is absolutely NO EATING IN COSTUME.

Off-book - when an actor knows his/her lines and no longer needs to carry the script

Props - any moveable object used by an actor during a performance.

Strike - to take apart the set, put away all costumes and remove all personal items from the dressing rooms after the final performance. All cast members will be required to assist in strike.

Tech Week - the week prior to the performance where all the technical aspects of the show are added. Sets, lights, costumes, props and a live orchestra (for musicals) are incorporated into the production. The crew is also added at this time to help with all of the technical elements.

VOLUNTEERS

We would love your help making SYT a success! We will need help with costumes, cast parties, ushering, and more.

Parents, siblings, guardians, and grandparents are encouraged to assist on the productions. There are a lot of areas to choose from and it is an excellent opportunity to experience the show with your child.

Costumes - assist costume designer/coordinator with taking measurements, assigning, approving and constructing costumes

Concessions - to sell refreshments before the show and during intermission

Cast Party - plan and coordinate the Cast Party

Hair and Makeup: With so many cast members, we rely on the help to make sure all hair and makeup is done. Tutorials will be provided.

Room Monitors - help supervise the black box during dress rehearsals and performances

Will Call Attendants: Help pass out tickets before the performance at the Will Call table

Ushers: Help patrons find their seats in the theatre before the show & make sure all programs and cups are picked up after the show.

Keep an eye out for more information, there will be signup links in your emails and Cast Hubs!

SYT PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS & FOCUS

SYT NOVICE/JUNIOR PROGRAM:  4th-8th Grade

Disney’s Madagascar Jr.

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Odd Tales

Focus:  Character development, ensemble-building, evaluating a script,

building fundamentals in the actor’s tool box (body, voice, imagination), script analysis

Join us for Summer Youth Theatre for 4th-8th graders.  This program offers opportunities in both

dramatic & musical theatre.  Using their bodies, voices, and imaginations, students will work with professional directors to develop characters and analyze a script.  Using these skills, young actors will present performances on our Mainstage.

SYT SENIOR PROGRAM:  8th-12th Grade

Peter and the Starcatcher

Legally Blonde, the Musical

Focus:  Making bold choices, building character relationships, collaboration

Join us for Summer Youth Theatre for 8th-12th graders.  This program offers opportunities in both dramatic & musical theatre.  Students will work with professional directors to develop characters who make bold choices, build character relationships, and collaborate with others.  Using these skills, young actors will present performances on our Mainstage.

SYT TECHNICAL THEATRE PROGRAM:  5th-12th Grade

Focus:  Team building, problem solving, building technical skills

Guided by professionals, technical theatre students will learn the basics of                         

"behind the scenes", specializing in the area that they are the most interested in:

lighting, painting, carpentry, sound, property, and rigging.  Using these skills,

students will work with a team to build full-fledged stage productions for 6th-8th

& 8th-12th grade SYT main stage productions.

SYT COSTUMING PROGRAM:  5th-12th Grade

Focus:  Storytelling through costuming, communication, building costuming skills

Guided by professionals, students will learn the basics of storytelling through costume design, communicating with a designer, and basic costuming skills. Using these skills, students will work with a team to bring costumes to life for full-fledged stage productions for 6th-8th & 8th-12th grade SYT main stage productions.

SYT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM:  9th-12th Grade

Focus:  Building leadership skills, resume & website development, goal setting

Summer Youth Theatre Intern students will learn what it takes to become future theatre leaders in this eight week program. This leadership program will provide students with opportunities for professional skill-building, resume building, and collegiate audition preparation.  In addition, students will be assigned to a leadership production position for SYT Rookie, Novice, Junior, or Senior programs.

Weekly meetings 12:30-1:30pm required: 5/28, 6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22

SYT Program Policies & Information

To find more information regarding SYT audition details, age guidelines, enrollment information, or simply have a question:

elizabeth@lawrenceartscenter.org

CALL 785-843-2787

BROWSE www.lawrenceartscenter.org

VISIT 940 New Hampshire St.

Lawrence, KS 66044