FAQ about the NYT
Shaping character... one act at a time.
Q: Can you really do full-length plays with children?
Meet the Manglesons, Fall 2011
A: Yes! Our evidence that this approach works is the past 10 years of putting up great theatre. At this point we've staged around 100 plays and musicals with young people. We generallydo the full-length versions of shows and the results are typically marvelous. Not only can young people do it, but the results are often genuinely entertaining. Come watch a production if you're curious. All our Youth shows are open to the public.
Q: How do you determine pricing?
A: We set prices based on an hourly amount per hour the child is in the theatre. Right now the rate for a full production is $275 which amounts to about $4.5 per hour.
Q: Who supervises the activities of the NYT?
A: Our staff and volunteers have many years of experience running these programs and putting up great theatre. The number of adults involved depends on the size of the production. We keep the student/teacher ratio at less than 14 to 1. So in show with 35 students, we would likely have one director, one or two assistants, perhaps one accompanist, plus other adults serving lunch and making other preparations. On very small classes such as our Advanced Acting Company shows where casts might be as small as 10, lunch is never served and students are at least 11 years-old, we may only have one instructor with assistants and other staff involved only occasionally. Assistants are usually Lincoln area theatre artists with solid experience teaching children. These often include graduates of our programs. Volunteers usually include members of our Board of Directors or parents of students in our programs. You can read about many of these people on our Staff & Volunteers page. You're welcome to visit a rehearsal anytime to observe how we do things.
Q: Is my six (seven, eight) year-old too young for this?
A: Only you can answer that question. Six-year-olds are often just on the cusp of possessing the maturity and attention it takes to participate in a show. Some children will not be ready until a year or two later than that. Though, we have had, by special consideration, children as young as five in some of our shows. It really depends on the child's individual development. Often you don't know until you try. One of the values of this program is that it makes lots of novel demands of young people. They usually rise to the challenge.
A Christmas Carol, Winter 2011
Q: How should students dress for rehearsals?
A: We ask that children always be dressed comfortably so that they can move around and express themselves with a full range of motion. As we play theatre games and block the show kids may be asked to run, dance, jump or crawl on the floor. Shoes should be closed toed. No flip-flops or sandals. Also, no mini-skirts or other items that would restrict movement.
Q: Is it okay for students to miss a day of rehearsal?
A: Yes. Conflicts with the rehearsal schedule will not necessarily keep a child from being able to participate. Conflicts the week of the performance are more difficult to work around. If you have any questions about conflicts or potential conflicts, give us a call. Please let us know about any possible conflicts in advance so that we can plan rehearsals effectively.
Q: Who feeds students during a long day of rehearsal?
A: On long rehearsal days we take orders at the beginning of the rehearsal and for $5 your child can have lunch provided. One of these generous Haymarket restaurants make our lunches on any given day: Bread and Cup, Buzzard Billy's, El Portrero, or Old Chicago. There is always a vegetarian option. Students are also welcome to bring their own lunch. Besides lunch, we take regular snack breaks during which we sell food and drinks. We have an assortment of granola & breakfast bars, nuts, crackers, juice, milk, bottled water, soda and candy available. Soda and candy are only allowed during the afternoons on long rehearsal days. Snacks are provided during one day camps. It is highly recommended that you either send your child to the Theatre with snacks or provide them with cash. You can also set up a cash account with us that the child can use as needed.
Q: Can young people really do Shakespeare?
Monty Python's Spamalot, Summer 2011
A: Yes, in fact, it's one of our favorite things to do and we typically stage at least two Shakespeare shows per season. Young people are very capable of learning the conventions and vocabulary of a Shakespearian play. We spend time teaching them how the poetry works and talking about the history of the period, but mostly they learn by jumping in and trying and having the example of a director who is an experienced actor and director of the material. "I've never seen a Shakespeare play and I couldn't believe I understood all the words," is a something we hear from parents every time we do one of these plays. Also, "I didn't think Shakespeare was going to be so much fun."
Q: How are classes scheduled?
We have several different class schedules that we typically use. The schedules below are somewhat subject to change depending on the needs of the show and the conflicts of the cast:
Saturday Classes: During the school year we offer classes for children ages 6-18 that rehearse on Saturdays from 9:30-3:30. We take lunch orders first thing and then begin class right away. There is a morning and an afternoon 15 minute break. Lunch happens at about 12:15 and lasts for ½-1 hour, depending on the needs of the students. During the week of the performance there will be evening rehearsals that typically run from 5-8 on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday. The first public performance is on Thursday at 7:00 and the cast usually arrives at 5:00 on Thursday. For the remaining performances (Friday at 7:00, Saturday at 2:00 & 7:00) actors arrive one hour before the performance.
Arrrgh! A Pirate Play, 2007
Tuesday/Thursday Classes: Each semester we offer one class that rehearses Tuesday & Thursday Evenings. These rehearse from either 5-7pm or 5-8pm, depending on the needs of the production. The schedule the week of performance is identical to that of the Saturday Classes.
Summer Camps: Camps run 3 weeks, Monday-Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The week of performance students stay in the theatre from 10:00 am until the 7:00 pm show is over. We provide dinner (usually pizza) and have a bit of a party prior to opening the show. On Friday students arrive at 10:00 am and stay until the 2:00 matinee is over, then they go home and return at 6:00 for the 7:00 show. On Saturday students arrive one hour before the 2:00 and 7:00 shows and leave when they are over.
Day Camps: These one day events run from 9 am-4:30 pm with a short performance at the end of the day.
Spring Break Camps: These run from 9 am-4:30 pm Monday – Friday with a public performance at 7:00 on Friday night. Students stay through on Friday at the theatre until the end of the public show.
