We’ve receive a number of common questions about various aspects of the EPAC Kids’ Theater Workshop.  Here are some answers...

Q – It seem like the same kids get put into the bigger roles and multiple casts while others are only given small parts. I think that all children should have equal time on the stage.

A - We try to offer every child regardless of talent or ability, the opportunity to participate in a full scale theatrical production. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to provide every child with “equal time on stage” and even more difficult to provide each child with a leading role. Shows are just not written that way. We do take “auditions” seriously… Individual as well as group auditions. Decisions for roles are make by the instructors’ consensus in most cases and certainly not arbitrarily by one person.

Larger roles and leading roles are given out based on many factors, some of which include age, vocal range and ability, acting, and dance ability, size, and availability for performances (as well as availability for rehearsals). Some kids are cast in multiple casts because conflicts with vacations and family needs necessitate it. We can’t have an 8 year-old “Gaston” playing opposite a 14 yr. old “Beauty,” for example.

Additional roles are generally handed out during the process of rehearsals as well. Most children included in a number of group songs and group choreography in addition to their cast character.
 

We strive to teach the kids that there is no “small” role in theater. Every single person on that stage contributes to the success or failure of the show. We think that it’s very important for a child to understand his or her importance in that regard. Leading roles demand a certain level of talent, ability and commitment … otherwise the actor/actress will be embarrassed in front of their friends and family in a public performance. We do NOT wish to have that happen in the kids theater workshop and thus roles are awarded with that in mind as well.

Q - We are only a few weeks until the shows start and we still have no idea which casts our children will be in. Why does it take so long?

A - Casting the show can sometimes be very complicated. Because we try to accommodate everyone’s conflicts and “special requests” for certain performance dates that are given to us, it is VERY time consuming to form 4 separate casts of 40 kids or so, each. The schedule of rehearsals and performances are published well in advance of registration. We suggest that parents understand that all special requests prolong this casting process. Conflicts with rehearsals and performances can also have a major impact on our casting decisions. It is sometimes difficult to give a child a lead if they are going to be missing a number of rehearsals.

Q - No one is going to care if the show isn't perfect. Most of your audience is family and friends of those kids.

A - No show is ever perfect… but the kids deserve a to be held to a certain level of excellence.  We’d like to teach them to be the best that they can be, not just “okay”, regardless of who is in the audience.