Young Company

 

THE PROGRAM:  

Blue Water Theatre Company’s (BWTC) Young Company is a pre-professional program for the next generation of theater artists and trailblazers. The program exposes high school theater artists and theater curious to all the elements that are required to bring a professional production to the stage as a company, culminating in a world premiere production. The production is designed, stage managed, and performed by Young Company members working with professional artists and practitioners as mentors. In addition to working on the production under the guidance of BWTC staff and artists, students selected gain behind–the-scenes access to BWTC productions and attend special events and master classes with BWTC artists.  

 

This year, the program culminates in a world premiere production of Kennedy Center Musical Theatre Award winner, The Gull, by Jay Eddy. Through the Young Company, Blue Water will guide young theater artists in the professional production making process. We encourage the development of critical life skills: empathic leadership, time management, forward thinking, communication, collaboration, and creative problem solving. 

 

APPLICATION FORMS:  Design/Production   |   Actor

 

REQUIREMENTS: 

  • Tuition is set at $500 (full or partial scholarships and payment plans available)
  • Students must be in the 9-12 grade as of fall 2023 (or age equivalent). 
  • Acceptance is through interviews and video submissions only. 
  • Applications Open: October 16 – November 19, 2023.  Send video submissions to auditions@bluewatertheatre.com
  • Applicants will interview via phone or video on November 20th and 21st.
  • Young Company members will be announced by 10pm, November 21, 2023. First session is November 26th. 
  • Students must commit to the program for the full season. 
  • Company training will typically take place a few Sundays each month from 5pm – 9pm throughout the year as outlined in the time commitment section. 
  • Participation in this program includes the following required dates: 
    • June 12-15, 2024: Tech rehearsals for the entire company 
    • June 18-20, 2024: Dress Rehearsals 
    • June 22-24 and 28-30, 2024: Performances  

 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING?  

  • In the Young Company, you get to act, direct, design, dramaturg or stage manage in a professional theater setting. You exercise creative freedom over your ideas and learn hands-on techniques for navigating every step of the production process. Our BWTC Artists and Staff mentors will help you every step of the way, providing the expertise to guide you over the course of the year. This is a chance for you to dive in and demand more of yourself. 
  • You become a part of the Blue Water pre-professional cohort, observing rehearsals and meetings, and participating in special events. We consider our Young Company to be a central part of our theater community and seek to include you in every aspect of theater making. 
  • While you will be specializing in a single discipline of your choice, we believe that all of our young artists should get an inside look at every aspect of theater-making. Over the course of the year, you will engage in a series of Training and Master Classes to teach you about the many aspects of bringing a professional production to the stage. 
  • One of the best parts of BWTC is meeting other youth who care about theater as much as you do! Being involved in BWTC’s Young Company is a great way to meet peers from a diverse array of high schools, coming together based on shared interests to create a community and make really stellar art.  
  • College on your mind? As a Young Company member, you will demonstrate rigor, commitment, collaboration, dedication, and the ability to multitask. Mentors will help you prepare for your auditions and/or portfolios and they regularly write recommendations for students, and we hope to foster that kind of relationship hub at BWTC.

 

WHAT ROLES MAKE UP THE COMPANY? 

  • Dramaturg/Assistant Director – Researches relevant info for the production to aid the company in their comprehension of the material – acts as consultant on story and script structure, and works closely with the playwright and director to ask questions of the play and the present moment. In addition, this position will work with the cast in a directorial manner – taking on staging of certain scenes.
  • Stage Manager – The organizer of the production and record keeper.  Also “calls” the show in performance from the booth. 
  • Assistant Stage Manager – Assists the stage manager and acts as crew chief. 
  • Run Crew – Runs lights, sound and backstage.  Are also involved in light hang and focus and other technical elements of the show. 
  • Costume Designer – Envisions and creates the costume design for the show. 
  • Lighting Designer – Creates the stage lighting for the play, working from a plot created in partnership with their advisor. 
  • Set/Props Designer – Works with BWTC to create the set/props for the show.   
  • Actors – Performers in the show.  
  • Students in all positions are members of The Young Company, and attend all training sessions and special events. 

 

WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT?  

Most events will take place at Blue Water Theatre Company at 605 Rice Street E, Wayzata, MN.  A tentative timeline: 

  • October 16 – November 19, 2023: Submissions for the acting company/Interviews for production roles accepted
  • November 20-21, 2023: Interviews over phone/video / Company announced
  • November – January 2023: The full company participates in Training and Master Classes to develop essential skills for the production process and participates in the play development process by attending readings and workshops with the playwright. The company will also attend rehearsals and special events.  
  • February – mid March 2024: Rehearsals for actors, director and stage manager happen on Sunday evenings 5pm – 9pm. 
  • Training dates in our calendar now: 5pm – 9pm on 11/26, 12/10, 1/14, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 3/10, 3/17, 4/7, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12. 
  • Participation in this program includes the following required dates: 
    • June 12 – 15, 10am – 6pm: Tech rehearsals for the entire company 
    • June 18, 19, 20: Dress Rehearsals 
    • June 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, 2024: Performances  
  • Note: Depending on company availability – there may be a winter intensive that is two or three days – dates TBD

 

While every effort is made to adhere to the master calendar, it is updated periodically to reflect schedule shifts. BWTC will make every effort to accommodate conflicts that students provide at the beginning of the program. Families receive a monthly email with the schedule for the next month. Unless the student is sick or there is a family emergency, we expect students to be present and on-time.