Talk is Free Theatre’s Youth Mentorship Program

THE BURLINGTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE In Association with Talk is Free Theatre

Talk is Free Theatre’s INTO THE WOODS: In Concert
YOUTH MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
For ages 12 – 20 / 3-Week Program runs Nov. 16 to Dec. 6, 2020

The Program

As part of BPAC’s upcoming presentation of Talk is Free Theatre’s Into The Woods: In Concert, running from November 27th to December 6th in the Main Theatre, the company is offering a 3-week Youth Mentorship Program for up to 22 local youth between the ages of 12 and 20 to become a part of the ensemble, participating on stage or behind the scenes, experiencing the rehearsal process with the professional cast, and performing in a one-of-a-kind production of a Broadway classic, produced by one of Canada’s leading independent professional theatre companies.

Everyone will have a role to play depending on their area of interest, from acting, singing, design, directing, stage management and more! Those seeking a performance role will get to act in this iconic musical alongside some of Canada’s leading musical theatre actors, whose productions credits span from Mirvish Productions, Shaw Festival and Stratford Festival to many others.

To help guide them in their artistic development, every participant will receive one-on-one mentorship from a member of the professional cast and/or creative team. These mentorship sessions consist of two 30-minute meetings which will be scheduled during the rehearsal and performance timeframe.

Every individual has something to offer, a talent to share, and a unique story to tell – theatre offers a safe place for young individuals to form their vision and then realize their passion. The Youth Mentorship Program offers a transformative process for young performing arts enthusiasts as they participate in a professional theatrical experience. Participants will be part of the production development and over the course of the rehearsal process, will become a cohesive ensemble.

While prior experience in theatre is appreciated, this program is designed for anyone with an interest in exploring new experiences and being part of a unique collaborative activity.

Requirements

• Youth (ages 12 -20) interested in at least 3 areas of theatre to be indicated on application form
• Commitment to approximately 20 hrs. of rehearsal at The Burlington Performing Arts Centre, including evenings and weekends between November 16th and December 6th (times TBA). Closer to opening night there will be 2 daytime rehearsals, when participants may be required to miss school. Complete and absolute presence and punctuality for all rehearsals and performances is required.
• Being open to the creative process and respectful to your environment

Application

Application Deadline is Friday, October 23, 2020. Download the application below.

Cost

Cost to participate is $200 and includes 2 complimentary tickets to the production ($90 value).

Talk is Free Theatre’s INTO THE WOODS In Concert
Background Information

Into The Woods is a musical journey that intertwines the several beloved Brothers Grimm characters and explores the consequences of their individual’ wishes and wants. Characters include Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and the Beanstalk), Rapunzel, and Cinderella to name a few. At the centre of the story is a childless baker and his wife who will do anything to have a family but they encounter a powerful witch who has placed a curse on them. Throughout this magical journey, characters from different fables encounter each other as they fight for what they believe is their happily ever after.

TIFT’s production debuted in November 2019 and audiences were treated to large- scale musical performed by a smaller-sized cast that played several roles and aided by a youth ensemble to tell the story. With only a particular amount of set pieces, costumes and lighting, Into The Woods focused on the story and the songs that have made Sondhim and Lapine’s work genuine treasures of musical theatre.

What does “In Concert” mean?

The history of musicals being presented with limited staging, costumes, and sets date back to the 17th century with the earliest operas and has become an increasingly popular platform in the 21st century. Lightly-staged and concert series productions allow rarely-staged musicals the opportunity to be experienced again and for works of greater size to be produced that our traditional staging would not allow. This performance style puts the music and lyrics centre-stage and allows the very essence of the work to shine through in a unique way for the audience.

About the Company

Talk is Free Theatre (TIFT) was founded in 2003 in Barrie, ON by Artistic Producer Arkady Spivak and colleagues, and has since produced close to 100 works. TIFT’s recent production The Curious Voyage is an internationally recognized first-of-its- kind immersive experience that physically transported participants to London, England as part of an inescapable narrative. Their co-production of Sondheim’s Assassins with Birdland Theatre as a sold-out success, a Dora Mavor Moore Award winner for Best Production of a Musical in 2010 and has been named on the 10 Best Toronto Theatre Shows of the Decade by NOW.

For more information visit www.tift.ca