Before your child signs up for auditions or classes, there are a few things you should discuss.



This is a commitment of time and energy. Make sure you review the class, rehearsal and performance schedule in advance. Do you anticipate any conflicts with soccer, piano, or other activities? If so, it’s important to be honest and let the instructor or director know of conflicts in advance.



Aside from the support and guidance you’re bound to offer your child, any time you have to volunteer is more than welcome! Talk to the Director or Instructor to see where they could use some assistance.

 

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Don’t Be A Mama Rosa!

 

Mama Rose is a character from the musical Gypsy. She’s a bossy “stage mother” (a term for a parent who pushes her child into the performing arts in a negative manner).



We’ve all seen these types at Little League games, beauty pageants and everything in between. Some of us have probably even acted this way to some degree without even knowing it! When our heart is in the right place, we’re sometimes blind to the fact that we might be stepping on someone else’s toes or pushing just a little too hard.



Theatre is a collaborative effort, but it’s important to remember that it’s the instructor/director’s role is to see the big picture and guide every aspect of the production. If the cast and crew do their best to work with the director’s vision, your production will be a rewarding, resounding success!



Remember, having your child participate in theatre has little to do with creating a “star”. The objective of rehearsing and presenting a musical is to provide children with opportunities to develop live skills and have fun.

Auditions

Auditions are held in many different ways but in general you can expect the following:



Students will sing a small part of a song or be asked to prepare a number of measures (bars) from a song of their choice.They may be also be asked to learn a short dance, prepare a monologue (a scene in which only one character speaks) or do a cold reading (a scene the director provides the actor to review for a minute or two prior to reading it aloud).

 

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Audition Techniques

Directors respond positively when your child can do the following:

Be prepared: memorize the lyrics and melody of the songSmile and enjoy the audition process: the director and the audition team want you to do well.

Show good behaviour: directors are often more concerned with how you behave than how well you sing, act or dance.

Trust the director’s choice: do your best at whatever you are asked to do, even if you are reading a role that you find challenging or awkward.

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Callbacks, or Round Two

The director may hold another set of auditions after the initial round, called “call backs”. At callback auditions the director may ask certain auditionees to sing again, read another scene, dance some more or any combination of these. They will often ask pairs or groups of actors to read scenes to see how different combinations of actors work together (often referred to as “chemistry”).

Callbacks can be a source of stress and confusion for young actors. If some kids aren’t invited to callbacks, they may think they did something wrong or are not being considered for a part. This may or may not be the case. Some roles may have been cast after the initial audition and may not require a call back.

 

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Announcing the Cast

The announcement of the cast can be a difficult time since the role offered may not meet your child’s expectations. You’ll ultimately know best how to comfort your child, but the next points offers some tidbits that might help open new avenues of conversation.

 

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Making the Best of Casting Decisions

Trust the director’s judgement. The director is casting an ensemble, not just one or two “lead” roles. It’s important for the cast to understand the importance of working together as an ensemble and to see the production as a whole – not as individual parts that seem less or more important than others.

Remind your child that everyone’s contribution is important and valued.

Let your child brainstorm ideas for characteristics for his or her role. Is she peppy or indifferent? Is he confident or awkward? Ultimately, the director might have specific character qualities in mind, but this will introduce your child to the basics of acting.



Take the role to another level by encouraging your child to create a “back story” for his or her character. Where is this character from? Why is this character in the show? Half the fun is that the audience never has to know the character’s back story, but this exploration by your child will round out the character even more. Again, have fun, but create a story that works realistically within the director’s vision for the show.

 

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Surviving the First Rehearsal

At the first rehearsal, kids in the cast receive their scripts and get to know the rest of their collaborators. Some cast members may want to count their lines, but this should be discouraged. The author created every character for a reason, and each role impacts the entire production.



As the famous Russian director and acting teacher Konstantin Stanislavski (1863-1938) advised (in Russian, of course) “There are no small parts, only small actors!”

 

Rehearsals

The cast is set and now it’s time to get to work. Here are some ways that can help your child:

Place a copy of the rehearsal schedule on the refrigerator or family bulletin board.

Make sure your child arrives at rehearsal on time, dressed appropriately and prepared for the rehearsal.

After rehearsal, ask your child how it went and if there is anything you can do to help.

If your child is assisting with tech or management, encourage the director to provide you with a schedule of when he or she is needed at rehearsals and meetings. Again, make sure your child arrives on time and is dressed appropriately for the task at hand. (For example, don’t wear those new expensive jeans or open-toed shoes to build or paint the set.)

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Memorizing

Usually, children memorize lines, songs and dances easily. If they are struggling, here are some solutions:

Encourage your child to review songs, dances and scenes outside of rehearsal and in front of a small, supportive group. You can even do it at dinner time and you’ll have your own dinner theatre!

To memorize scene work, have your child break down the point of the scene: what is it about? What’s the most important information presented or action taking place? Answering these questions will help your child better understand the scene and improvise if something goes awry!

Have your child read over scenes before going to sleep at night and first thing in the morning. This is a great way to memorize parts.

It’s helpful to practice dialogue, songs and dances out loud and in front of a mirror rather than “in your head”. This enlists kinaesthetic (muscle) memory as well as visual and aural memory to help learn the part.

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Technical Rehearsals

At these rehearsals, known as “tech rehearsals”, the director adds the technical element to the production. These may include sound, lights, hand properties (or “props” – any object the actors hold in their hands like a pencil or a grocery bag), and even special effects such as fog.

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Tech rehearsals can seem long and tedious, but are where the important details of the show are ironed out. If your chid is on the tech crew, this is the time to shine! Here are some ways to help:Send your child to rehearsal well-fed, but avoid sugary snacks and soda.If you have an interest and the time, volunteer to assist with technical needs of the show.If allowed in the theatre, ask the director if you can assist by bringing snacks and drinks to the rehearsal.Because there will be a lot of down-time, encourage your child to bring homework, a book or another quiet activity to help prevent excess noise that could distract the director and fellow cast and crew.

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Dress Rehearsal

By the time the production reaches dress rehearsals, the show is really coming together! Costumes are now added to complement the technical elements already in place. With actors in “dress” their characters come to life in a magical way.

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Costume Hints:

When your child is scheduled for a fitting, make sure he or she wear appropriate clothing. For girls, a unitard or tights work well. For boys, a t-shirt and short pants should help fit the bill.

If you have the time, volunteer to help the costumer, even if you can’t sew. You’ll be amazed at what can be accomplished with a hot glue gun and some safety pins! Shopping at local thrift stores can be fun, and you may find that a long-lost childhood treasure is exactly what’s needed to complete the costume.

Since your child has spent a lot of time rehearsing and developing her or his character, it’s possible that a costume might look or feel awkward at first. But it’s important to be patient and grateful for the costumer’s hard work, since many hours have been spent sewing and shopping for the costume pieces. While a costume might seem silly by itself, it will blend in or stand out beautifully in the overall design of the show.Because some fabrics stain easily and are difficult to clean quickly, it’s a general rule in theatre to avoid eating or drinking while in costume.

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Performances: Places Everyone!

There are very few events in life as exciting as opening night. Cherish it, embrace it, and make a big deal out of it! Your child will experience a range of emotions and look to you for support and encouragement.After opening night, your child will need assistance and guidance. A musical is a lot of physical and mental work, so children need help pacing their energy. Make sure your child eats well, takes vitamins, drinks plenty of water and gets enough rest.

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Opening Night Checklist:

Make sure your child gets plenty of rest prior to opening night. A good night’s sleep or a nap will help.

Make sure your child arrives at the performance fed, but avoid sugary foods or “junk” foods. A light meal might serve better than a heavy one.You may want to present your child with flowers or a small gift directly after the performance.

Invite lots of friends of family!



A Note about Video Recording

The desire to capture your child’s performance on video is understandable. Grandma Josephina can’t make the performance, Mom has a business trip, or you just want to be able to relive the moment over and over – after all, your child is only going to be this age once.

If you plan to record a performance, there are some things you should be aware of:

For many shows, a separate video license must be issued to the presenting organization. Check with your director to ensure that a license is available and obtained.

No profit can be made from the video, and copies may only be made for family members.The video may not be distributed via television or internet.

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Closing Night/Post-Show Blues

The closing night performance is as exciting as opening night, but also bittersweet. It’s the last time the show will be performed and marks the end of what can be months of mental and physical investment. After final bows, the cast and crew will take down – or – “strike” – the set that helped bring the musical to life.

It is normal for your child to be emotional leading up to, during and after the final performance. This lingering sadness after a show closes is called “post-show blues”. You can help relieve these feelings by planning a cast gathering after the closing performance. A pool party or a potluck or simple picnic will give the cast something to look forward to in the future and ease their separation anxiety.



What’s Next?!

After the last performance many kids immediately ask, “What’s the next show?” These words are a good indication that your child has had a wonderful experience.It’s our little secret that they also learned a great deal and explored some very important life lessons...