Performance opportunities for teens?
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Anonymous
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My daughter (13 yo) is very interested in auditioning for local theater and I am looking for opportunities. We are in Montgomery County.
She has taken a number of classes at Imagination Stage and has performed in musical and plays at performing arts summer camps, and at school. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to start? She would even be interested if there were a performance class at a place similar to Imagination Stage, but they only seem to offer acting/technique classes during the school year. She is more interested in pure theater than musical theater, but she is open to that as well. |
Anonymous
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Imagination Stage did have summer acting camps as of a few years ago -- my kid did two summers of one-week Shakespeare camp there, but it was a couple of years back. The concluding performance was just for the parents, but there might be more going on now. I'd ask them. Also, just ask Imagination Stage what other classes and performing opportunities are out there for a kid her age. They'll tell you about other theatres and studios, I'm sure. Have your daughter check the Shakespeare Theatre in DC. They now offer summer performance camps in VA as well--I think last summer there was a camp in the MD suburbs but don't think they offered it this summer. There is a two-week camp, a three-week camp and I believe a longer one, and all end with performances. The longer camps do a couple of shows. My daughter just finished the VA two-week camp (second year) and she loved every minute. They teach verse, technique, blocking, movement, stage combat, etc. The longer camp is by audition and more intense but is for 14 and up--however, since your child would be doing it next summer (too late for this year) she would probably be old enough for the more intensive camp next summer. Look at the theatre's web site and search for the education department. Even if your daughter thinks she doesn't like Shakespeare, if she wants to act, Shakespeare is excellent grounding for all other drama, and the skills apply to other types of plays. There is a group in this area called the Travelling Players, I believe, and they have kids spend a huge chunk of summer doing plays and taking those plays around the area, performing in parks and other places. I could mention some other theatres but I'm in VA and know mostly ones down here (Encore Stage is one that is by kids, for kids, not sure how much drama technique they teach but they do have kids doing everything from all crew jobs to acting etc.). I'm sure there are theatres in MoCo that might have acting classes for teens. Has she just tried auditioning for straight plays at local amateur theatres? That's one way to get on the job training for sure. My daughter has a couple of friends who have been in both "adult" productions and in youth theatre productions by their local amateur theatre companies. In Fairfax County, the county school system has a month-long summer "camp" that lets kids choose performing arts classes from a pretty wide curriculum from dance to voice to theatre. I'd see if MoCo schools have a similar summer academy for the arts. I don't know if there are performances involved but there's a lot of training. (The FCPS one is limited to FCPS students so your daughter couldn't apply but maybe your county schools have something similar.) |
Anonymous
| Sorry, posted above but focused more on further classes and camps than on immediate issue of auditions. But I'd still ask Imagination Stage -- I would think they have had this question before and know all the local amateur and professional theatre companies in suburban MD. Meanwhile, more camps etc. can't hurt. Travelling Players in particular is known for giving teens a lot of performing experience all over the area. |
Anonymous
Anonymous
| Thank you, PPs. I'd really like to fine local theater in this area, but I haven't had any luck except for the Rockville Little Theater and they don't need younger actors for their play this season. When I've searched, Virginia seems to have a lot more of the regional theaters. |
Anonymous
| Encore Stage and Studio in Arlington is what you want, but that is a trek from Rockville. |
Anonymous
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Round House Theatre had auditions for Oliver! a while back. You may also want to check out Washington Revels if she enjoys singing.
We've seen this group preform and they were great: http://www.travelingplayers.org They do classes and summer camps. |
Anonymous
Yes!! I would love to find something like that but closer. |
Anonymous
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You missed the MET auditions:
http://marylandensemble.org/auditions |
Anonymous
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Rockville Musical Theatre:
http://www.r-m-t.org/auditions/ Rockville Little Theatre: Maybe they will have an appropriate part for Our Town: http://www.rlt-online.org/season.html |
Anonymous
| Traveling Players Ensemble. Super awesome summer day camp and winter classes as well. |
Anonymous
This is Virginia as far as I can tell. I'd really love something similar in MoCo or nearby DC. |
Anonymous
| Kids come from MD, DC, and VA to participate in this camp. This year it is at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston and every year transportion is part of the camp tuition. My daughter had several MD kids in her play last summer. It was a pretty even split. |
Anonymous
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Not exactly performing...but close
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/484766.page |
Anonymous
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for summer of 2014 I suggest wildwood theater- quality shows in Rockville area- this summer they are doing Grease and NINE- see website here
http://wst.org/ also keep your eye on greenbelt theater, and KAT Kensington arts theater. Also, Alden community theater in McLean and if you don't mind driving - the teen program at synetic in crystal city is amazing!! It's like joining a fitness bootcamp for theater. If she's not a singer, I don't recommend auditioning for, but if she wants to attend great shows check out young artists of America at Strathmore- they have a summer show with camp, then a show in November and March- only ONE performance each because these are huge productions with a large orchestra, so the cost is too much to put them on more than once. Also, watch Goldstar.com for deals on tickets to local shows. break a leg! |