Any third through eighth grader residing inside the Anderson School District boundaries OR attending Anderson School can participate. In-district students attending other schools or being home schooled may participate. Out of district students NOT attending Anderson School are not eligible.

No! Anderson is unique and (in) famous for allowing all eligible students join in the magic of musical theatre. That said, we work very hard to place students in roles in which both they, AND the production, will be successful.

Sign up for slots on the drama bulletin board outside of Mrs. Kinna’s classroom. Kids will audition with 4 to 6 other students. Come prepared to sing at least two verses of a song from the play we are producing. We may play some improve games, have students sing scales with the piano and try to get a sense of the students’ ranges and pitch. Hint: DON’T wait until the last minute to sign-up OR prepare.

There will be a “cast call” the week before rehearsals start. It is usually during the older students’ lunch, in Mrs. Kinna’s room. There, we announce parts, hand out cast lists and scripts, and answer questions. Most students have at least two parts (unless they are a lead character). This takes time to fully grasp- the different songs, characters, costumes, etc. In addition to a cast list, they will be given a “Cast by Song” list to help you sort out their appearances. (All of this is also posted online). We try to create as many opportunities as possible to get kids on stage by doubling roles, writing new scenes, and creating new parts. As the production unfolds, many new parts and opportunities arise for young actors. Do not be surprised if your child comes home three weeks before curtain to inform you they have 2 new lines to memorize, a new costume and song.

Casting is complicated and very play-specific. In a sense, your children are always auditioning for next year. On set, we are looking for students who embrace even the smallest roles with gusto and enthusiasm; actors that come to rehearsal everyday PREPARED; kids with good attitudes and behavior; and performers willing to take risks, try new things and be directed.

The Anderson School website posts our schedules and the directors email schedules directly to families. Bulletin boards at school always sport schedules for two-week blocks.

The directors meet with soloists and small groups over lunch times. Lunchtime rehearsals are during the older kids’ lunch, 12:00-12:40. 5th – 8th grade cast members should bring their lunches right away to rehearsals and plan to gobble while working. Younger cast members will eat first with their peers and then report to rehearsal at 12:00. Their teachers will know on these days and excuse them from classes.

Everyone is busy! Drama registration forms include a spot for you to indicate planned absences and commitments. The play is a big time commitment. We do our best to mix up the schedule so that “ALL CAST” rehearsals fall on different days throughout the week. If your child is very, very busy we will consider them for group songs or cameo appearances. We suggest planning ahead for the last two weeks of rehearsals by eliminating as many conflicts as possible. If your child will miss rehearsal, please let us know in advance.

No. We have eliminated all weekends from the schedule EXCEPT for the production weekend. Set, costume and prop crews toil most weekends, but that is primarily adult staff.

Absolutely! We try to keep our program affordable for all families. We are still a great bargain in the world of after school theatre programs. The drama registration form has a place to request scholarship for part, or all, of the registration fee.

Our amazing army of costume coordinators makes sure cast members have all of the pieces to the various costumes your child wears on stage. Because we try to get kids on stage as much as possible, they will play multiple roles, which means multiple costumes. Families are frequently asked to provide specific items like black socks, shoes, or a particular shirt for certain roles. The costume department will be very clear about these and give you plenty of notice to gather items. Additional clothing you purchase for your child is yours to keep, while the drama program keeps all the other items for future shows.

Yes. We do a great job letting you know what is going on. Please read, as that is where you will learn if a rehearsal has been changed, or if your child needs black socks.

When life just doesn’t allow for spare volunteer hours, there are always a few special projects in need of financial attention: scholarships, “surprise” cast t-shirt, backdrop rental, cast party treats. Above and beyond registration contributions are greatly appreciated.

Cast members are expected to keep up with all academic responsibilities throughout the entire production. Down time during large rehearsals is a great opportunity to do homework. Students should speak with individual teachers if keeping up is an issue.

A few families organize the lobby concessions. We now have a great many items donated from local businesses. Additionally, we ask families to donate, ice, drinks, roses, snacks and labor. We run a BRISK concession business (think hungry 500+ snackers) and count on its income. Look for emails regarding this chance to help with set up, staffing and clean up.

A few families organize a celebration at the end of the production. The party includes food, and is usually in the Anderson School gym. Cast members’ entire families are welcome to join. We look for information about the party in one of those pesky emails.

Please come if you are new to the Anderson dram program OR you have not been to drama parent meeting before (you couldn’t make it last year…or the year before).

No, by simply turning in registration fees and paperwork, you will be cast in large group songs. It’s a great way to get your feet wet and have fun. If you love to sing, have performed before, or would like a “bigger” part, you should audition. Sprouts (third graders) just sign up and are assigned Sprout parts and songs.

Highly advisable. Be able to sing at least two verses of a song that compliments your voice. We want to see you sing and be expressive at the same time. Show us the character, feeling of the song AND your voice! Practice as many songs from the show as you can before auditions. We may ask you to sing pieces from all over the show. You will be asked to sing with accompaniment (no words playing behind you, just music).

For the week (or two) after initial auditions, we call students back to sing and act with other kids to see how they all fit together. Sometimes we are trying to decide between two or three finalists for a specific part; other times we are creating small ensembles within the larger cast. It is both exciting and suspenseful, but we try to make it a fun and bonding time. Our goal is to set kids up to be successful and feel confident on stage. It is a complex, mind-boggling puzzle and we do our best to handle everyone with care.

There really is only one Annie, Mary Poppins, Gaston, Beast and Belle, which is hard even for the directors.  First, allow your child to feel the disappointment. We cannot erase disappointment, but we can help kids recover and move on. Help them not blame themselves, other students or directors for the casting choices. After the initial longing for that ONE STAR role subsides, cast members settle into the roles we give them and have a blast.  We encourage actors to find the challenge and joy in whatever they are given. Please help us with that ethic; the value of their participation is not based on the size of role, but in being a part of great project bigger than us all.

Each family is given a CD with the songs for the show. Cast members MUST practice music, lines and choreography on their own. As stated above, we truly notice those prepared or painfully unprepared for rehearsals (peers notice too!). If your child has lines or songs, they should be working on those before those songs and scenes are rehearsed at school.

We rehearse Monday through Friday, 3:30- 5:00. Cast members attend rehearsals only for the scenes and songs they are in.  So your child may have only one or two rehearsals a week until the very end.  Rehearsals extend to 5:30, as we get closer to production week. See schedules for this notification.

For most of the production, rehearsals are in Mrs. Kinna and Ms. Lourie’s classrooms. The hall, library, music room and gym are favorites as well. Please consult the schedule for special days when we go to the Emerson Cultural Center.

You may do both the play and the sport! All cast members on Anderson sports teams are excused from rehearsals that fall on game or tournament days. On days they have overlapping practices, we ask that cast members split their time between the court and rehearsal. We work amicably with sport coaches to create a fair balance. If you accept a very large role in the play, you can expect to have more conflicts and a few harder choices.

After years of collecting 5, 10 and 15 dollar checks, we consolidated the check writing for you. It is easier for you, the directors, and the office.
 

Ticket sales, concessions, corporate sponsorship, the Anderson Parent Council and participant registration are our primary funding sources. Productions of this scale generally cost somewhere between $18,000 and $20,000. (When we are not flying actors…) Royalties, script rental and orchestration run about $3,000. The Emerson Theatre space rental, technical staffing, sound and light equipment costs in the neighborhood of $5,000. Director stipends were raised last year to $2,000. And then there are posters, ads, backdrop rentals, cast t-shirts, bungee cords, hair spray, lumber, duct tape, costumes and batteries… truthfully it adds up quickly and so many families donate pieces here and there; we are incredibly fortunate to be the recipients of great generosity.

Oh, let us count the ways…we ask ALL families to pitch in. Our productions are the result of a huge community effort. Some will commit 10 hours, others close to 100. Set construction, costume organization, advertising, concessions, and poster distribution, fundraising, snack deliveries. You do not need to paint or sew to feel a part of the grand effort. A shared Google doc will invite you to sign up for a myriad of tasks. If you cannot access the document through your own email, all Anderson students have Gmail accounts.

It is a busy and exciting time. The rehearsals go until 5:30 or 6:00, and are covering large chunks of the play. Everybody is tired and nervous. Your performers may be getting cranky and exhibiting heightened emotions. They will need lots of sleep, water, healthy food and a simple schedule. If you can, clear their schedules of piano and the orthodontist in advance. The Sprouts’ schedule will be busier as well, but not to the same extent (as olders’).

The Anderson bus takes students to the Emerson for a few all-day rehearsals. Families may be asked to pick up children at the Emerson at 5:00 or 6:00. During the last two weeks of the production, students are excused from school at 2:30, taken by bus to the Emerson, and then picked up at the Emerson by families. Dress rehearsal is the Wednesday of production week. Students will be at the theatre all day, 9-3. The details of these days will be provided to you WELL in advance and is already on all of your printed and online schedules.

We have a new online ticketing service. The drama program, not the audience members, will absorb the cost of this service. You may purchase tickets (reserved) for any of our performances online, or at the door one hour before curtain. We suggest you purchase tickets ahead of time. Main floor tickets are $10 and balcony seats are $5. Kids five and under are free. Parents will be the FIRST to know when tickets go on sale.

“Strike” is the sad dismantling of all things play-related RIGHT after the final performance. All cast members have assigned jobs, including Sprouts, for about a half hour. Then the adults stay and finish. Trucks, drills and willing hands welcome. Strike continues in days following with the organization of costumes and supplies.

Below is the approximate expenses for the 2013-14 production on Annie.

• Music Theatre International: $2,100.00
  • Royalties and Script Rental
  • Rehearsal Score (computer Program)
• Emerson Cultural Center for the Arts: $3,776.00
  • Theatre Rental, Lighting Technician
  • Additional Sound/Light Equipment
• Independent Sound Technician: $787.00
  • On-site production week and both performances
• Directors’ Stipends (2 directors): $3,000.00
• Performance Orchestration: $1,300.00
  • Computer program/software for performance
• Additional Sound Equipment Rental: $200.00
• Back Drop Rental: $1,000.00
  • 2 Drops, including shipping
• Props*: $200.00
• Sets*: $200.00
• Costumes*: $200.00
• Videographer: $250.00
  • 2 performance shots, edit
• Capital Investment Purchase: $1,430.00
  • 3 New Hanging Choral Microphones
• Publicity: $275.00
  • Poster artwork and printing, tickets*, program*
• Batteries, bulbs, bungies, bandages, bagels*: $100.00
• Shakespeare in the Schools: $450.00

*most of these expenses absorbed by families working on tasks

^^ approximate because many expenses go unreported due to in kind donations or out of pocket contributions.

Cast and Crew t-shirts paid for by corporate sponsors.