CCT ELITE Musical Theatre Troupe 2018-2019 Season.
WHAT IS THE CCT ELITE Troupe?
Now in our seventh season, CCT Elite is a musical theatre performance troupe that was created for the "triple threat" performer who wants to work hard and bring to life an amazing performance.
CCT Elite students rehearse weekly for 10 months on multiple productions that will be showcased at the Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta, the Alabama Youth Theatre Experience Festival in Guntersville, as well as other festivals and events throughout the year.
Students are also expected to perform at various local events, parades, and festivals throughout the season.
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS?
To audition, students must be between the ages of 7 – 18 (still in high school). They must be respectful, mature, able to get along with their peers as well as their directors. **In addition, students are expected to present themselves in an upstanding fashion. If a student's negative attitude is interfering with their performance or behavior on the troupe, it can result in termination if not dealt with. Being a member of the troupe means representing CharACTers Theatrics, thus students will also be responsible for setting a good example for future potential students. Misrepresenting the troupe and/or CharACTers can result in termination upon the Director's discretion. Students must also be dedicated to the troupe and the art of theatre. Students and parents must be willing to commit to a 10-month season. Younger students must also be able to read on their own. No prior dance, acting, or singing experience is required, however, it is strongly recommended.
HOW MANY STUDENTS DO YOU TAKE?
As many as we need for the productions during the season. We typically cast between 25-40 students per season.
TIME COMMITMENT?
Our season begins in August and runs through May. A parent/student introduction meeting will take place prior to the season starting. At least one parent/guardian is required to attend the meeting. ALL students are required to attend the meeting.
Classes are once a week (Thursdays) from 4-6pm. In December, classes will pick up to Tuesdays and Thursdays and may run longer (4-8pm), in preparation for the iTheatrics Junior Theatre Festival (JTF) and the Alabama Youth Theatre Extravaganza Festival (AYTE). In January, we tend to rehearse 4-5 times a week in preparation for JTF. After AYTE, classes usually resume to once a week (Thursday) classes. Some Saturday rehearsals will also occur, especially right before competitions and festivals.
WORKSHOP DAYS: Throughout the year, we will have workshop days. These will mostly be on Saturday mornings, depending on show & instructor schedules. Workshop days are MANDATORY and CAN NOT be missed.
Other time commitments would be any trips, performances, or special activities.
HOW MANY CLASSES CAN BE MISSED?
Considering that we only meet 4-5 times regularly per month, students are expected to not miss any classes. However, we understand that life/sickness/emergencies will come up. If you need to miss a class, please inform the instructor in advance.
If students miss class more than the allowed amount, they will ONLY be allowed to participate in the upcoming performance or continue on the team if they are caught up with the rest of the team. Before a performance, if they appear to not have a grasp on the show piece, they will not be allowed to participate in the performance. It is not fair for other students to have to work harder because of your lack of attendance. Again, considering that we will only meet once a week regularly, please schedule doctor, dentist, and other appointments on one of the other days of the week.
**Students that miss class often because of outside activities that were not previously approved by the instructor can result in termination.
**Students that repeatedly miss class without a valid excuse can result in termination.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD MISSES A REHEARSAL?
The Instructor will not catch students up with the rest of the class if they miss a rehearsal, especially if they could help missing. If a student must miss a rehearsal due to illness, appointments, etc., they may ask another student to help get them caught up and/or watch the rehearsal videos. It will be the student's responsibility to get caught up with the rest of the class. *Note: Not all rehearsals are filmed. Only certain choreography and music rehearsals will be filmed for the purpose of rehearsing at home.
WHY IS ATTENDING REHEARSALS SO IMPORTANT?
Like with anything you do, you will only get better with practice. If you continue to miss multiple rehearsals, you will fall behind everyone else who attends rehearsals regularly. Each week, something new is taught, whether it be blocking, choreography, music lesson, set building, etc. If you miss a rehearsal, you are like the missing piece to a puzzle. Everyone needs to be present so that the finished product will be pieced together properly.
WHAT ABOUT HOLIDAYS?
Rehearsals are scheduled around national holidays. We follow the Etowah County and Gadsden City School Calendars. As a rule, if the schools are out FOR A HOLIDAY, we are out as well. *Please note that in the event that a Holiday falls on a class date, class may be rescheduled for another day in the week, especially if a performance is coming up. We do not recognize School In-service Days as Holidays. In the event that an In-service day falls on a class date, we will NOT cancel the class.
WHAT ABOUT BAD WEATHER?
As a rule, if the Etowah County/Gadsden City schools have been called off due to bad weather, we will also cancel class. If bad weather occurs after school hours, it will be up to the Director(s) discretion on whether or not class will be cancelled. *Please note that in the event of bad weather, class may be rescheduled for another day in the week, especially if a performance is coming up.
CAN MY CHILD PARTICIPATE IN OTHER ACTIVITIES?
We do not want to discourage students from participating in other outside activities. However, when you commit to the troupe, you are expected to not participate in any other activities that will interfere with the troupe schedules. When you sign the contract, you are expected to be at every performance, festival, and rehearsal (with the exception of the above stated absences) without conflict. We strongly recommend that you do not sign up for any other outside activities without giving much thought to your schedule.
If you have already committed to something before you audition, please inform us immediately and we will do our best to help you work around the conflicts.
In addition, because of previous conflicts with our troupe performers, we have added the new clause of the contract for incoming students.
No student may participate in any other Musical Theatre or theatre related performance group/troupe outside of CCT KIDS.
No student may participate in any outside sports/recreational activities that will conflict with the CCT KIDS schedule, unless otherwise discussed with the Director prior to auditions.
**This clause applies to new CCT Elite students that will be auditioning for the 2015-2016 season and beyond.
*Participation in a CharACTers Theatrics production is allowed and encouraged. Both Directors work around CCT Kids schedules to allow students to participate in both.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU PERFORM?
On average, we will perform at 8-12 local events throughout the year, as well as the additional 2-3 outside competitions and performances. Students also perform some Pre-Show events to CharACTers Theatrics and Children's Theatre productions throughout the year.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Tuition is $300 for the year. Tuition is broken into 4 payments of $75 per quarter semester.
Additional Required Fees:
$75 Registration Fee for New Students
(This fee covers the Student Supplies fee, Troupe Jacket, Troupe T-shirt, Troupe Duffle Bag.)
$20 for Previous Returning Students.
(This fee covers the Student Supplies fee and Troupe T-shirt).
$35 - Professional Head Shot Fee - For Brooke Bikneris Photography
$250 - Junior Theatre Festival Fee
JTF Hotel Fee - Estimated $100 per person.
$30-35 - Alabama Youth Theatre Experience Festival Fee
OPTIONAL FEES:
$225 - Parent JTF Fee
$10 - Parent Shirts
$40 - Additional Jackets
$15 - Additional Bags
OTHER FEES:
If we attend any other competitions throughout the year, there will be additional small fees for participating. (Average: $10-35).
Occasionally, the Saturday workshops may also require an additional fee, depending on the guest instructor. (Average: $3-5)
WHEN ARE THE FEES DUE?
Fee payments are spread out throughout the year, usually monthly. A payment schedule will be set by the first Troupe meeting.
ARE THERE ANY WAYS TO HELP AID WITH THE COST?
Yes! Throughout the year, we will conduct multiple fundraisers in efforts to help the students pay for their trip/costume costs. We are open to doing anything and everything from candles, doughnuts, bake sales, sponsorships, etc. At the first parent meeting, there will be sign up sheets for parents to volunteer to help organize the fundraisers. Since the Director is so busy running the Troupe, we ask that parents help out with the fundraisers as much as possible.
*Note: Once you have met your fundraising goal (cost of trips/costumes/total that WE have to pay. Does NOT include personal monies such as food, souvenirs, etc.), any excess money that you acquire will be put into the general CCT fund. We are not responsible for your personal costs. We will only allow you to raise excess funds for your travel gas, but only the amount we desire to set.
WILL THEY BE DOING ANYTHING ELSE BESIDES PERFORMING THIS SEASON?
Throughout the year, we host a few activities outside of rehearsals and performances, such as Christmas and Fall parties, game nights, skate day, field day, etc. Activities will be scheduled in accordance to rehearsals and performances.
We have discovered that when students “hang out” outside of rehearsals, they form stronger bonds with each other, therefore making the Troupe stronger. We want our students to not only have fun in the Troupe, but also build lifelong friendships.
WHAT IF MY CHILD NEEDS TO DROP OUT OF THE TROUPE?
The only acceptable way we will allow a contract to be broken is for a serious illness, injury, moving away, or something of that nature. Only acceptable reasons will allow for a contract to be broken without any penalty of costs.
Reasons for dropping the Troupe such as “I don’t have time anymore,” “”I want to do something else,” “I don’t like certain people in the Troupe,” and others such as these are completely inexcusable and the student will be expected to continue with payment for the entire season.
PARENT COMMITMENT?
We ask that you support your child throughout the season by making sure they arrive to rehearsal on time. We begin classes at 4:10pm to allow all students to be present. Anytime after that is unacceptable. If a problem arises and you can not get your child to rehearsal on time, please alert the Director/Assistant via Facebook, email, or text message as soon as possible.
Parents are also expected to participate in fundraising for your child’s fees. If you nor your child participates, your child will not benefit from the fundraiser.
As you may know, trips can sometimes be expensive, especially when traveling with large families or groups. Because we are a non-profit Performance Troupe, we can sometimes get discounts and group prices when we travel. In order to receive these discounts, we may often need to meet a certain group number. In order to prevent a price change for other remaining travelers, our policy on trip cancellation is as followed:
If you have to back out of trip and you have already paid for your hotel, tickets (theme park, show, attraction, etc.), competition costs, and/or any other travel fees, these costs are NOT refundable. You will ONLY be refunded if you are able to find someone to take your place and pay the costs. If we are able to find someone to replace you, you will then be refunded. However, we will not be responsible for finding a replacement. You may also be refunded in the very rare event that we are able to refund our money. *In the event that we do not have enough students sign up for a trip, the trip will be cancelled and we will refund all monies.
TRIPS SCHEDULED FOR THIS SEASON:
We currently have 3 definite trips scheduled for this season. These trips do not include any other competitions or local performances that we may be asked to attend. This season, we are working on a special "fun" trip that may also include a performance. When the trip has been decided, we will announce as soon as possible. The Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta and the Alabama Youth Theatre Extravaganza Festival are CURRENTLY the only trip that students are required to attend. If you can not attend these events, please do not audition, as this is a major part of being in this Troupe. Parents, relatives, and friends are welcome to attend any and all trips.
GENERAL POLICIES:
NO TOLERANCE SYSTEM:
Students and Parents are expected to adhere to the No Tolerance System for attendance and behavior.
Students are allotted 5 demerits per quarter (every 9 weeks). After the 5th demerit is given, students will then be placed on probation and parents/guardians will be notified. Depending on the severity of the situation, the student may not be eligible for participation in an upcoming event. If student receives an additional reprimand while on probation, the student will be terminated from the Troupe. Students can and will receive demerits for the following reasons:
- Failure to send notification prior to a missed class/event/workshop. (1 demerit)
- Failure to attend class for an unacceptable reason. (1 demerit)
- Failure to send notification of a late arrival (10 mins after start time) to class/event/workshop. (1/2 demerit)
- Leaving class/event/workshop early without a justifiable reason. (1/2 demerit)
- Failure to complete an assigned task without reason (FORCE and Scholarship Students). (1/2 demerit)
- Inappropriate behavior in class including, but not limited to, disruption, aggression, ill-tempered, vulgar language, bullying, uncooperative, and repeatedly not following the dress code. (1 verbal warning, then 1 demerit)
DRESS CODE:
Appropriate clothing must be worn at all times, including performances when not in costume. During class, students must wear clothing that is suitable for dancing. No baggy pants, skirts, dresses, bare feet, heels or other clothing that the student can not freely move in. Students are allowed to change into appropriate class attire when they arrive at the studio. During performances, when not wearing costumes, students will not be allowed to wear inappropriate clothing such as gang wear, graphic tees with violent content, slang, vulgarity, curse words, etc. Students will be asked to change if the instructor deems clothing inappropriate.
WHAT IS THE JUNIOR THEATRE FESTIVAL?
(From the iTheatrics brochure)>
THE JUNIOR THEATER FESTIVAL IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST CELEBRATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND MUSICAL THEATER!Produced by the Junior Theater Group and under the educational and artistic supervision of iTheatrics, the Junior Theater Festival (JTF) brings students, teachers and Broadway professionals together to celebrate outstanding student musical theater productions.
Events include adjudications, workshops for students, Broadway celebrities, a New Works Showcase, Awards Ceremonies and the largest collection of musical theater professional development under one roof. Held annually in Atlanta, GA over Martin Luther King Weekend, JTF has become a must attend musical theater event and has served as the launch for Disney’s High School Musical and NBC’s SMASH. The festival has welcomed guests such as Disney Theatrical Productions President, Thomas Schumacher, musical theater writers such as Alan Menken, Jeanine Tesori, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Thomas Meehan, Martin Charnin, Charles Strouse, actors like Skylar Astin, Briga Heelan, Christian Borle, Brian D’Arcy James, Zac Efron and many more. You never know who will show up! Since its inception in 2003, JTF has grown from 650 people in attendance to over 4,500 attendees. It is a weekend of true musical theater madness that is not to be missed!