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 and directors 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
Our next auditions will be held in June 2022. The health of our students, staff, and families is our top priority. At this time, we plan to hold the auditions in person. We will be monitoring public health orders and may pivot to Zoom auditions if necessary. Admission to the Pre-Professional Theatre Program is by audition only. Participants will be placed according to age, experience, skill, schedule, and goals.
For more information, contact theatre@artsumbrella.com
Pre-Professional Troupes and Programs
Junior Theatre Troupe
Ages 13-16
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
Laboratory Theatre Troupe
Ages 13-19
Turn a blank page into an original script. Teens experiment with like-minded theatre students to create, produce, and perform an original theatre piece. Similar to the work done in other Pre-Professional Troupes, students will gain a deeper understanding of the actor’s process, with a greater emphasis on creating original work and sharing knowledge.
Director: Laura McLean
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 while working on a show from the Musical Theatre canon.
Directors: Andy Toth & Erika Babins
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: Paul Moniz de Sá
*NEW* The Actor’s Film Troupe
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: TBC
*NEW* Young Directors Program
Ages 13-19
Admission by application
Challenge your theatrical creativity and tell your story from a new perspective in this mixed online and in person directing class. Students will learn to build collaborative partnerships and inspire an artistic team to activate their vision on stage. Work with a professional director online to explore the tools and techniques of directing and then put your knowledge to work in person with student actors. At the end of the course, some students may be invited to work with the Troupes to produce our year-end performances.
Projects & Performances
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 2021/2022
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.
