About the Program
The Pre-Professional Theatre Program is designed for teens who are considering theatre and the performing arts as a career path. Our rich curriculum and program structure offers aspiring actors, directors, and designers a space in which to sharpen their skills through vocal, movement, and theatre exercises that help develop teamwork, cooperation, discipline, technique, creative expression, and individual artistry.
Industry professionals lead students to explore their full artistic potential, whatever the venue. Many of our students have gone on to post-secondary theatre programs as well as professional acting careers across the continent.
Auditions
Admission to the Pre-Professional Theatre Program is by audition only. Participants will be placed according to age, experience, skill, and goals.
2023/24 Auditions:
January 28, 2023
April 15, 2023
June 18, 2023
Register for your audition today. For more information, contact theatre@artsumbrella.com.
Pre-Professional Troupes and Programs
Theatre Troupe
Junior Theatre Troupe Ages 13-16 | Senior Theatre Troupe Ages 15-19
Put your talent on stage and launch your acting career with professional training in acting, voice, and physical theatre technique. These yearlong programs are designed to develop the actor’s process and stretch your abilities in finding your vocal and emotional connection to the text. The Fall Session is focused on the exploration of improvisation, character work, scene study, and script work to encourage a sense of ensemble and develop strong rehearsal techniques. In the Winter and Spring terms, students will continue to hone their performance and rehearsal skills as well as their production skills, including elements such as lighting, sound, costume, and set, to produce, tour and perform a play for students across Metro Vancouver.
Director: Seamus Fera and Paul Moniz de Sá
Musical Theatre Troupe
Ages 13-19
Young performers train with professional musical theatre artists to gain valuable ensemble and solo performance experience and enhance the special connection between performers and audiences. Actors can expect to expand their audition repertoire, develop their voice, and learn advanced singing, dancing, and acting techniques. Musical Theatre Troupe members showcase their work as a part of Winter Shorts, and end the year with either a full-length or school length Broadway Musical as part of our Expressions Festival, and a solo performance as part of our cabaret evenings, as well as other performance opportunities throughout the year.
Directors: Andy Toth & Erika Babins
The Actor’s Film Troupe
Ages 13-19
Take a deep breath and dive into the Art of Acting for Film in our latest offering from the Pre-Professional Acting Program. There is so much that goes into creating a great film: from sound, lights, and cinematography, to casting, acting, and directing. Understanding how all of these art forms work together, each adding its own artistic expression to a film, is key to becoming a great actor. Expand your awareness of the different aspects of movie making, gain tools to help you be in the moment, find honesty in your work, and hone your artistry as a film actor. Work with other dedicated young actors and industry professionals to create short films to be shared with audiences throughout the year.
Director: Erik Gow
Young Directors Program
Ages 13-19
Admission by application
Challenge your theatrical creativity and tell your story from a new perspective. Students will learn to build collaborative partnerships and inspire an artistic team to activate their vision on stage. Work with a professional director to explore the tools and techniques of directing and then put your knowledge to work in person with student actors. Students may be invited to work with the Troupes to produce our Winter Shorts and year-end performances based on student interest and availability.
*Applications are now closed for 2022. For more information on this program and other stagecraft and production opportunities at Arts Umbrella please email theatre@artsumbrella.com.
Stagecraft Production
Ages 13-19
Admission by application*
Work with industry professionals in this yearlong stagecraft program to gain the conceptual and technical skills needed to excel in the technical side of theatre and film production. Dive into the fundamentals of production, including stage management, lighting, sound, costumes, props and set building using state of the art equipment. Students will have the opportunity to join the production team for our Pre-Professional Theatre Program shows both on tour and in the Jack and Darlene Poole Theatre throughout the year.
*Applications are now closed for 2022. For more information on this program and other stagecraft and production opportunities at Arts Umbrella please email theatre@artsumbrella.com.
Half-Day Program in Musical Theatre Performance
Grades 8-12+
Admission by audition
Arts Umbrella’s half-day professional training program in Musical Theatre Performance supports those training as a ‘triple-threat,’ providing intensive instruction, professional coaching and mentorship, and performance opportunities throughout the year for students in grades 8-12+.
Projects & Performances
Shakespeare Redux
This play was originally commissioned by the Arts Umbrella Theatre, Music, & Film department, performed by the Junior and Senior Theatre Troupes and Dramaturgy by Paul Moniz de Sá, Artistic Director of Theatre, Music, & Film.
Musical Theatre Troupe Spring Productions 2020/2021
Musical Theatre Troupe’s year-end projects were staged, in-concert, productions two very different musicals with similar themes about growing up, finding your place, and the value of friendship: Merrily We Roll Along and 13.
Musical Theatre Troupe Cabaret 2021
Our annual Musical Theatre cabaret where students share intimate storytelling performances with an audience.
Children of Eden: Musical Theatre Troupe 2020/2021
Musical Theatre Troupe’s Winter project was an in concert production of Children of Eden; a musical about family, faith, and letting go.
Laboratory Theatre Troupe 2020/2021
This year for Lab Troupe each student explored what it is to tell a story from beginning to end of the creative process. They started as writers and editors, before becoming directors, designers, and finally performers. They worked together to support one another as each individual vision came to life in the form of these six pieces.
NOT A CLUE: A HALLOWEEN MURDER MYSTERY
An audio play written and performed by the students of the 2019/20 Laboratory Troupe.
It centres on a group of high school students producing a 1940s murder mystery play when everything goes wrong during their dress rehearsal. The captain of the football team and member of the cast is murdered… and everyone is a suspect.
A comedic tale of ambition, friendship, and betrayal in which students must work together to solve the case.
