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. Our instructors are highly trained AND must exemplify our 12 Core Values. We teach 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 and musical theatre opportunities to a variety of ages: 

   1. Students ages 5-7 who want to be in a musical theatre production can join our Musical Theatre (MT) Kids! 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!

   2. Students ages 5-10 who want to learn to act can join Acting I/II 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. 

   3. Students ages 8-18 who want to be in the ensemble of a musical production can join our Musical Theatre (MT) Academy class. No audition is required to be in the ensemble of our musical productions, but students in this age group are encouraged to audition for the learning experience even if they do not wish to have a lead role. 

   4. Students ages 8-18 who 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 more required rehearsals and must take an acting class in order to receive the training required for a lead role. The tuition to be in this program includes both the acting classes and the rehearsal time. 

   5. Students ages 8-18 who want to further their acting skills can join our Acting III/IV class. In this class students will learn character building, scene work, and more! 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.

   6. Anyone, child or adult, can sign up for 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 filling out this form or texting 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 auditions like? 

1. Students who wish to audition for our productions will be sent song excerpts and lines from the show. The student will choose whichever song they feel most comfortable singing. 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. 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. 

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

1. No! If a 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. Students must audition to be considered for a speaking role.  

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 (learned during our summer camp). 

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 we have a summer theatre camp where students will rehearse for a show Monday through Friday, 9am - 4pm, and then we’ll put on the full musical production Friday at 6pm! Visit our summer camps page to learn more!

What are your summer camps like? 

1. YPAC’s summer camps are the best! During our camps, students will rehearse for a show Monday through Friday, 9am - 4pm, and then we’ll put on the full musical production Friday at 6pm! If a student signs up for 2 camps, they are guaranteed a different role. Visit our summer camps page to learn more!