Why should I take theatre at YPAC?

1. YPAC has one of the best theatre programs in Kendall County! We have a very comprehensive program where students can take acting classes, dance classes, and voice lessons to become a triple threat! We also have three theatre productions each year: a fall musical, a spring musical, and a summer musical. Visit our theatre page to see this season’s shows. 

2. YPAC's instructors are highly trained AND must exemplify our 12 Core Values. YPAC teaches with support, encouragement, and constructive criticism to build up our student’s skill and confidence, not tear them down with shame and ridicule. YPAC’s teachers have also taken a Body Confidence course to ensure all our students are comfortable in the classroom, as well as CPR training and Darkness to Light training to ensure all our students are safe. YPAC makes sure costumes, lines, and choreography are age appropriate for our performers. Finally, YPAC is strict with parents, students, and the entire YPAC community to make sure no one is creating a toxic environment for our students. Overall, at YPAC students will thrive in their technique, in their character, and in their mental and physical health. 

What classes do you offer?

1. YPAC offers acting classes, improve classes, directing classes, and musical theatre opportunities to a variety of ages: 

   1. Students ages 5-10 who want to be in a musical theatre production can join YPAC's Mini Performers Company class where they will rehearse to be in the ensemble of our musicals! No audition is required to be in this class. All students will be in an ensemble role and learn what it is like to be in a production! Students in this class have one rehearsal a week.

   2. Students ages 8-18 who want to be in a YPAC Production and want to have a lead role, supporting role, or speaking role in one of our musicals must audition and join the YPAC Theatre Company (YTC). The YTC is YPAC’s advanced theatre group and requires more commitment than our other classes. Students in the YTC have 2 required rehearsals and must take at least one other YPAC theatre class in order to receive the training required for a lead role. The YTC receives a discounted rate for additional theatre classes.

   3. Students ages 5-18 who are new to acting can join YPAC's Acting I class where they will build a good foundation for acting. This class is also great for students who just want to focus on acting and do not want to be in a musical theatre production. 

   4. Students ages 6-18 who completed Acting I can move on to YPAC's Acting II class where students will continue to develop their acting chops. With a heavy focus on advanced theatre games, character development, and script analysis, students in this course are sure to grow as performers. Students will build on the skills acquired in Acting 1 (or from previous theatre experience) and will put various philosophies and theories of acting into practice while rehearsing scripted, unscripted, and improvised scenes.

   5. Students ages 7-18 who completed Acting II can move on to YPAC's Acting III class. This class is for those who have mastered the basics of acting and performance and are ready for more intense, individualized instruction. Students will collaborate with peers to write, produce, rehearse, and perform a one act play throughout the semester, and will perform this play at the end-of-semester showcase.

   6. Students ages 10-18 who want to improve their improvisational skills can join YPAC's Improv Troupe. In this class students will learn how to think on their feet and make up their own scenes. They will learn how to develop a setting, build character, show relationship, and execute a scene within seconds! Students can expect learning through improvisational games and coaching. This class may also participate in competitions and go on field trips!

   7. Students ages 10-18 who want to learn about the behind the scenes of a production can join YPAC's Backstage Brigade. Students will experience the behind-the-scenes world of theatre in this hands-on class, during which they will learn about prop making, costume design, set design, and hair and makeup design. Students in this course are invited to work backstage during YPAC’s mainstage production, as well as contribute props, makeup designs, etc. to be used in the show!

   8. Students ages 12-18 who completed Acting II and want to learn about directing can join YPAC's Intro to Directing class. This course is designed to give students an inside look into the preparation, planning, and creative thinking that goes into directing a theatrical production. Students will learn how to hold auditions, how to collaborate with other members of an artistic team, and how to foster an environment of inclusion and growth in the rehearsal room. They will also learn how to approach directing different kinds of plays, will understand various acting methods and philosophies, and will have the opportunity to collaborate with the Acting classes to direct short scenes to be performed in the end-of-semester showcase.

   9. Students ages 12-18 who are interested in pursuing theatre in high school and college can join YPAC's Musical Theatre: University class. Older students will dive into the world of musical theatre with intense focus on music coaching and comprehension, character analysis, and production construction. This class will be especially helpful for any student who hopes to pursue musical theatre more intensely in the future, whether that is in high school productions, future YPAC shows, or college theatre programs.

   10. Anyone, child or adult, can sign up for YPAC's private acting lessons where students will get 1-on-1 instruction from a skilled acting instructor 

How do I get started? 

1. Get started by making an enrollio account here and signing yourself up for a trial lesson! You can also text us at (815) 916-6285 to schedule a trial lesson. We have a $20 drop-in fee for each trial lesson.

What should a student bring to class? 

1. Students should bring a notebook, writing utensil, and water bottle to class.

Can I watch my child while he/she is in class? 

1. YPAC has a closed lobby to protect the safety of students. Each parent/guardian can watch their student via Zoom while in their car or elsewhere. Parents/Guardians of trial students are allowed to be in the lobby, but for future classes we ask parents/guardians to remain outside the building during class. If a parent/guardian wishes to be in the lobby during class, they may sign up to be a volunteer where they will receive a background check to ensure the safety of our students. Parents/Guardians are not guaranteed a spot on our volunteer team. We also have two PEP Weeks during the year where parents can join the last 10 minutes of class to see what their students have been learning!

What are YPAC's auditions like? 

1. Before the audition at YPAC, students will select your time slot that works for them.

2. Students are asked to come to auditions prepared with roughly 32 measures (no longer than 90 seconds) of any song of his or her choosing that they think best showcases their personality and vocal abilities.

3. An accompanist is available upon request, so feel free to bring printed sheet music. Access to a karaoke track is also available - please either bring your track with you, or know which specific track you would like the team to bring up for you.

4. Wear comfortable clothes you can move in.

5. YPAC is great because students who take voice lessons can be advised by their voice teachers on which song is best suited for them. If a student is unsure of the best song, feel free to reach out to our team and we will be happy to help! YPAC’s primary goal is to ensure each student feels confident in their audition.

6. Students will also be sent lines from the show to read. Whether the student is the same gender as the character does not matter, we just ask that a student choose the lines that they feel most confident in. 

7. A student may be asked to attend a callback. Callback materials will be provided at callback - there is no need to prepare anything else.

8. Between productions YPAC also offers audition workshops to help students prepare. These workshops are held during what is usually scheduled rehearsal time.

9. Parents can reach out to the YPAC team with any questions or concerns about auditions and we will happily help!

Are there cuts? 

1. YPAC does not have cuts for our productions. Auditions are strictly for placing students in roles that they will be most suited for. Anyone who auditions for a YPAC production will be guaranteed a place in the cast.

Does my child need to audition to be in the show? 

1. Students 5-10 do not need to audition! If a young student wants to be in a YPAC production, they do not need to audition. However, students who do not audition will be given an ensemble role in the Minis Performing Company.  

How many theatre productions do you have each year? 

1. YPAC currently puts on three productions. A fall musical, spring musical, and a summer musical. 

Do I have to be in the production to be in the theatre program? 

1. No! Students in our acting classes do not need to be in our theatre productions.

Do you do theatre in the summer? 

1. Yes! In the summer YPAC produces a summer theatre production much like our usual productions in the fall and spring.