High School play requires 6 day/week commitment?

[descovy]

And a $50 Non-refundable fee to try out?

Is this normal these days?

My daughter is a freshman. She has already made a commitment to the JV dance team for this fall, but is a true Theatre "geek" (her words, not mine)

She's not an actor, but does crew. She came home with the application tonight. I went to a tiny rural high school, so I expected some surprises at this 3,000+ suburban high school! but I am a little floored.

Does this sound normal to you?

Rehearsals are mandatory after school 5 days a week... And every Saturday. Before Dress rehearsals they are pulled from class all day (and miss their other classes)

To apply you must send in a $50 check. If you get in, great. Otherwise consider it a donation.

****
If she goes out for this, she has to quit JV dance team. She will miss the dance team PE class the day of a game, and some other practices for theatre rehearsal.

She will have to give up a Girl. Scout drill team that she is a part of (and a captain) because they have a few Saturday performances.

She will have to give up a volunteer position at church (Sundays) because the 1 night of annual training requires her to a miss rehearsal.

Oh and pay $50 for the joy of applying. And because she's a Freshman, not expect much of a job in crew.

****

I don't get how this is normal. I hear of Football players who are also in band, etc... I cannot think of another HS team/activity/club so rigid that you cannot participate in another HS club. They (theatre) pull you out of class. They take over your entire Saturdays, and charge you $50 for the pleasure of trying out.

Because of some of the other things she's already committed to, I won't let her back out of them. So this year we're a little stuck. But it looks like it is really theatre or nothing. It's only High School for Pete's Sake!!! Is that really common these days?

 

[Pembo]

Theatre at ds's high school for pit required once a week rehearsals and the week before the show were rehearsals every night until 11 pm. No fee to join but it was included in our $400 pay to play.

What you describe sounds a bit too intensive for my liking especially since your dd has lots of other things she is involved in.

 

[Sparkly]

What is this- a simple school production or boot camp?

 

[GS for life]

Seems way too rigid! Colleges like well rounded kids, and with her other activities she has them.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Oh yea, it is a huge deal.

My dd wanted to do theater and could not hang with that level of commitment. She has a lot of 'theater geek friends'.

She did take a couple of acting classes with the theater teacher. Now as a Sr. she has her for AP Lit.

 

[aprilgail2]

And a $50 Non-refundable fee to try out?

Is this normal these days?

My daughter is a freshman. She has already made a commitment to the JV dance team for this fall, but is a true Theatre "geek" (her words, not mine)

She's not an actor, but does crew. She came home with the application tonight. I went to a tiny rural high school, so I expected some surprises at this 3,000+ suburban high school! but I am a little floored.

Does this sound normal to you?

Rehearsals are mandatory after school 5 days a week... And every Saturday. Before Dress rehearsals they are pulled from class all day (and miss their other classes)

To apply you must send in a $50 check. If you get in, great. Otherwise consider it a donation.

****
If she goes out for this, she has to quit JV dance team. She will miss the dance team PE class the day of a game, and some other practices for theatre rehearsal.

She will have to give up a Girl. Scout drill team that she is a part of (and a captain) because they have a few Saturday performances.

She will have to give up a volunteer position at church (Sundays) because the 1 night of annual training requires her to a miss rehearsal.

Oh and pay $50 for the joy of applying. And because she's a Freshman, not expect much of a job in crew.

****

I don't get how this is normal. I hear of Football players who are also in band, etc... I cannot think of another HS team/activity/club so rigid that you cannot participate in another HS club. They (theatre) pull you out of class. They take over your entire Saturdays, and charge you $50 for the pleasure of trying out.

Because of some of the other things she's already committed to, I won't let her back out of them. So this year we're a little stuck. But it looks like it is really theatre or nothing. It's only High School for Pete's Sake!!! Is that really common these days?

My daughter was in the high school musical last year but is not doing it again this year because she couldn't do anything but that if she did it again. It was 5 days a week after school and then during winter break they also had rehearsals all day long a few of the days. You didn't pay anything unless you got in though and it was 150.00 if you got in. Its months of rehearsals and then tech week they are there until late at night and it was tough because she was in AP classes in 9th grade with tons of homework and she would be up until 1-2am doing homework during tech week because they didn't get home until 10pm.

 

[jcano]

For how many weeks are they talking about?

That sounds insane to me - especially the consider the fee a donation if we don't choose you.

I have several friends who do community theatre, and their rehearsal schedules don't look anything like that. My DD is currently in a musical
theatre class done by the local theatre - once a week and an occasional weekend until a couple weeks before and then we may be camping there. Haven't seen the complete schedule yet. Check the community for other theatre options if she is really interested but doesn't want to give up the rest of her life for a semester.

 

[Hrhpd]

And a $50 Non-refundable fee to try out?

Is this normal these days?

My daughter is a freshman. She has already made a commitment to the JV dance team for this fall, but is a true Theatre "geek" (her words, not mine)

She's not an actor, but does crew. She came home with the application tonight. I went to a tiny rural high school, so I expected some surprises at this 3,000+ suburban high school! but I am a little floored.

Does this sound normal to you?

Rehearsals are mandatory after school 5 days a week... And every Saturday. Before Dress rehearsals they are pulled from class all day (and miss their other classes)

To apply you must send in a $50 check. If you get in, great. Otherwise consider it a donation.

****
If she goes out for this, she has to quit JV dance team. She will miss the dance team PE class the day of a game, and some other practices for theatre rehearsal.

She will have to give up a Girl. Scout drill team that she is a part of (and a captain) because they have a few Saturday performances.

She will have to give up a volunteer position at church (Sundays) because the 1 night of annual training requires her to a miss rehearsal.

Oh and pay $50 for the joy of applying. And because she's a Freshman, not expect much of a job in crew.

****

I don't get how this is normal. I hear of Football players who are also in band, etc... I cannot think of another HS team/activity/club so rigid that you cannot participate in another HS club. They (theatre) pull you out of class. They take over your entire Saturdays, and charge you $50 for the pleasure of trying out.

Because of some of the other things she's already committed to, I won't let her back out of them. So this year we're a little stuck. But it looks like it is really theatre or nothing. It's only High School for Pete's Sake!!! Is that really common these days?

In my kid's HS, you cannot play 2 sports/clubs in the same season. You can play a fall sport and a spring sport, but not two fall nor two spring due to practice demands.

So, no football and band.

DS plays HS football. They practice everyday after school and have games on Saturdays, so yes, sounds normal.

No try out fee as it is no-cut, but the athletic fee was $180.00. Not including the $1,500 per player to go down to WDW to play.

Sounds a bit extreme, but it is in the norm when compared to sports teams.

 

[tvguy]

In my kid's HS, you cannot play 2 sports/clubs in the same season. You can play a fall sport and a spring sport, but not two fall nor two spring due to practice demands.

So, no football and band.

DS plays HS football. They practice everyday after school and have games on Saturdays, so yes, sounds normal.

No try out fee as it is no-cut, but the athletic fee was $180.00. Not including the $1,500 per player to go down to WDW to play.

Sounds a bit extreme, but it is in the norm when compared to sports teams.

Some of the non-school related bands and theater groups have bigger financial and time commitments. Then there are the traveling sports teams. Practice 5 days a week, games on the weeks, some as far at 2,000 miles away, and the registration fee is $7,500.

 

[marcyinPA]

That seems pretty excessive to me, and we are in an area/district known for its HS theatre and arts programs.

Both of my kids are/were heavily involved in band and theatre. Band has a quota that must be met each year ($130 or so) but there is no cost to be in theatre. We were expected to sell advertising in the program which helps defray costs, but no "pay to play fee".

Rehearsals are pretty intense with some Saturdays- especially closer to tech week- but kids are not pulled from classes to rehearse. It is pretty common that they rehearsed from 5-9 or later- but generally you don't go every night unless you are in every scene. A couple of times a week they'd do full cast rehearsals.

I'd say that most of the theatre kids are also in band and chorus- which are both pretty huge at our school.

 

[Cindy B]

Sounds totally normal in our neck of the woods.

Except the fee is 125.

My daughter did school play her freshman and soph year. At her freshman high school- there was a highly regarding theater program-- many kids who have gone through that program are working actors/actresses, have union credits, etc.... you've seen a few famous people on TV from this public high school.

Just so you have background;

Every day 6 day a week committment .. early rehearsals got her home by 630 pm every day after getting to school at 630 am

Rehearsal week she was at school until at least 11 pm-- sometimes later and she had at least one to three hours of homework a night to complete-- yes up until at least 1-2 am. (with only about 2 -4 hours a sleep per night!)

Extra time singing, dancing and voice lessons were strongly encouraged

Crew spent time designing lighting, set painting, design, costuming, rigging, ropes (aerial stunts) etc... to a professional standard (some got union based credit)

Many of the teachers, parents, volunteers works in the industry locally..

The shows were very very good-- like you had no idea it was high school-- a non performing arts high school at that.

No one could really do any other activities-- it was 100 percent committed to this and nothing else.

As much as she loved theater, it was just too much for her and she left that school for another public school -- we have choice school option in our district.

So yes, it may not be a good fit for your daughter if she wants to do other things. it wasn't for mine, and she left this amazing theater program for a school where it fits her better-- she can be involved in many things and feel that she is stuck in just one role for four years. Some of her former classmates work professionally now for touring companies over the summer-- and that is fantastic for them-- but it just wasnt for her.

 

[Katy Belle]

My Freshman is in the Marching Band , Drum Line, and just got cast in a play. The Acting Teacher and Band Director worked together, negotiated, so DS could do both. He will be very busy.

Rehearsals for the play, M-F, 3:15-??, usually 6:00. This is for about 8 weeks. Since DS doesn't have a lead role, he doesn't have to be at every rehearsal. Close to show time, there is a Sat and Sun all day rehearsal required.

Drumline is every morning, before school,Monday lesson 2:45-3:15, Monday sectional 6-8, every Thursday evening 6-9, several Saturdays, every Zfriday night football, and 2 random Tuesday evening rehearsals 6-9.

So DS will have to leave some rehearsals a bit early, and show up a bit late for others. Not ideal, but everyone is willing to let him do this. Oh, they are at two different schools, 15 min drive apart, so I am his taxi!

We don't pay anything for Acting. Band fees are about $200, and this year a trip to Orlando is $1400.

Our HS has about 1,200 total kids (9-12). The band is about 125 kids and this particular play is about 20 actors, plus crew.

 

[Happy Snowman]

I agree, very normal, except the fee is really low. In our kids' old school it would have been $150 for freshman, more for older kids. The practice schedule is totally normal and like others have said, no different than being in a sport. Our marching band fees were $1000 with 8 hour/day rehearsals July and August and 4 1/2 hours during the school year, one hour during band class though, and 3 1/2 hours after school. Every Saturday was taken up with rehearsals and competitions and since many were overnight trips, Sunday as well. Technically you could do sports and marching band but it was really hard and only a few kids did it. Volleyball, tennis, swimming and soccer kids were not allowed to be in the band--their coaches, not the band. Football kids were able to be in the band since they play Friday nights.

All of the band kids just did their other things after band, work, volunteering, whatever.

 

[lauradis]

Jr and High school smaller community, but not hick town.

Ours is no fee unless you make an onstage part then its around 100 (that was last years fee)

3 month commitment 5 days week right after school till 2:30 - 6 pm ( they do provide bus transports home for a fee) that includes off stage people too. two week dress rehearsal 7 days a week.

They run 3 shows for each play Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and Sunday night.

what does your daughter want to do?

One of my kids did it twice once on stage in minor roll and once off stage.

 

[Poohforyou]

Theatre at ds's high school for pit required once a week rehearsals and the week before the show were rehearsals every night until 11 pm. No fee to join but it was included in our $400 pay to play.

What you describe sounds a bit too intensive for my liking especially since your dd has lots of other things she is involved in.

$400 pay to play. Wow, that's a lot. Our hs has a $75 activity fee for extracurriculars with a $150 family cap.

Op, our hs has rehearsals every day and on Saturdays but they aren't mandatory until a few weeks before the show. They do it that way to accommodate kids who at sports or do other activities and want to also do theatre. We have about 1600 students in our hs so they have to allow for kids who do more than 1 thing. They don't require an application fee.

 

[HM]

My kids were involved with the tech side of theater all their four years at school.
They did it as part of their classes in Technical Theater. They were supposed to commit after school time to the play or musical once the rehearsals began. It was usually four days a week M-Th for a few hours and a weekend for the big set build (the class did most of the building during class time). Then the week of they were there every night for a good long period.

There was no money commitment of actors or tech. Parents were asked if they could contribute money, time, or food for feeding the kids that last week.

My memory is best about the last musical they did. Tryouts were in January. The play started rehearsals in March and the play was held the first week of May.

My kids missed a lot of other club meeting during this time period. Some kids did do sports as well, but it was hard.

 

[Hrhpd]

Some of the non-school related bands and theater groups have bigger financial and time commitments. Then there are the traveling sports teams. Practice 5 days a week, games on the weeks, some as far at 2,000 miles away, and the registration fee is $7,500.

Not sure why you quoted me and what this has to do with the OP's question.

Anyway, well aware of this. We do have a child on a travel team. It is very expensive.

However, since the OP said in her title this was a high school play, my response was only for high school sports.

 

[bjscheel]

Wow, if our school charged to try out, there would be very few tryouts. But then, we only have about 200 in the high school. DD15 just tried out for the musical Monday after school. Practices are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 7. Last night was first practice and I know some kids could not go due to volleyball. They work around it.

I guess what I love about our small school is everybody gets to try everything- and they need you to!

 

[barkley]

And a $50 Non-refundable fee to try out?

Is this normal these days?

My daughter is a freshman. She has already made a commitment to the JV dance team for this fall, but is a true Theatre "geek" (her words, not mine)

She's not an actor, but does crew. She came home with the application tonight. I went to a tiny rural high school, so I expected some surprises at this 3,000+ suburban high school! but I am a little floored.

Does this sound normal to you?

Rehearsals are mandatory after school 5 days a week... And every Saturday. Before Dress rehearsals they are pulled from class all day (and miss their other classes)

To apply you must send in a $50 check. If you get in, great. Otherwise consider it a donation.

****
If she goes out for this, she has to quit JV dance team. She will miss the dance team PE class the day of a game, and some other practices for theatre rehearsal.

She will have to give up a Girl. Scout drill team that she is a part of (and a captain) because they have a few Saturday performances.

She will have to give up a volunteer position at church (Sundays) because the 1 night of annual training requires her to a miss rehearsal.

Oh and pay $50 for the joy of applying. And because she's a Freshman, not expect much of a job in crew.

****

I don't get how this is normal. I hear of Football players who are also in band, etc... I cannot think of another HS team/activity/club so rigid that you cannot participate in another HS club. They (theatre) pull you out of class. They take over your entire Saturdays, and charge you $50 for the pleasure of trying out.

Because of some of the other things she's already committed to, I won't let her back out of them. So this year we're a little stuck. But it looks like it is really theatre or nothing. It's only High School for Pete's Sake!!! Is that really common these days?

as far as the rehearsal schedule goes-it sounds completely normal for high school (and community theatre) productions. the only exception would be the pulling from classes (all the school production rehearsals were outside school hours).

as for the commitment on this vs. other activities-it may be a planned maneuver on the director's part. it's not unusual for TONS of kids to audition for high school productions, but by the time production rolls around they've decided to drop out b/c of time commitments for other activities (that they've decided are 'more fun' or will continue on after the play's closed)-makes it hard on the production and LOUSY for the kids who didn't get cast that are REALY into theatre (into it in that-it's the only activity they do, and they eat, sleep and breathe it).

at the high school I went to a million years ago, as well as some of the current schools around us participation in certain activities precludes participation in others. w/some sports (football in particular), cheer/dance team, performing theatre (audition troupe that does productions that tour to other schools), and select vocal workshop (audition/touring) the athletic director, vocal music director, and theatre instructor got together with admin to discuss the issue of kids overcommitting to activities, and how it was detrimental to all of their programs. it was decided that since for all four class credits were earned (pe/elective for sports/cheer & dance, 2 fine arts for the music and theatre) all four courses would be scheduled during the same 2 period back to back block. so-there was no way a student could commit to being in more than one of these activities at a time. all four also carried addition time commitments (early morning/evening and weekend practices and games/performances). the kids had to pick one and stick to it.

I've never heard of pay to audition/participate in school productions (only the children's theatre groups that are money making ventures unassociated with the schools). let alone to do tech or be in the pit-heck, if that had been the case none of the real 'theatre geeks' would have given them a second glance-we were either working in the plays at the local community colleges (and getting college credit for it) or involved with community theatre (and many of my high school musician friends made extra money getting PAID to be in the pit for those).

 

[Luv Bunnies]

My DS is a sophomore this year. Last year he did two shows at his high school. We were not required to pay a penny for him to participate in either. He had a small role in one, and the lead in the other. All costumes, voice coaching, etc. were provided by the school. I can't see how it benefits the school to charge a non-refundable audition fee. It sounds like greed. If they're trying to make it so that only serious drama students audition, they're just shooting themselves in the foot. I think a lot of parents would refuse to pay. I would have to give it some thought if it happened at our school. I would probably pay it just because my DS is a serious actor and wants to pursue theater as a career. If he was just doing the show for fun, I doubt I would want to pay the fee.

In terms of the time commitment, DS's rehearsals as 2:30 - 4:30, Mon-Thurs. They add Fridays as the show gets closer. Saturdays are not required unless there's a performance that day. The drama teacher/director is very supportive of the kids doing other activities. DS's friend plays varsity football and is allowed to balance rehearsals with football practice and games. Both DS and the same friend are in an outside musical theater group that meets on Monday evenings. The high school director works out rehearsal schedules so they can leave early to get to there on time. We feel very fortunate that our high school drama program is so awesome!