Frequently Asked Questions
If your questions aren't answered on this page, please see the Program Details Page or contact us.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: Cost is $180 for High School and $140 for Elementary.
Q: Where does my registration fee go?
A: Your fee goes to the Academy of Arts for their direction, teaching, travel expenses, sets, lighting, props, make up supplies, costumes, etc.
Q: Are there hidden costs to drama camp that I will be surprised to have to pay?
A: This is our first year, so please be patient with us. We do value having as much information up front as possible. You may need to provide your student with under costume attire if they don’t already have something appropriate. Miscellaneous items will be needed to make the week run smoothly and you will be asked to bring in one or two of those items and/or provide a meal for the Academy of Arts team. If at any time, you feel the extra costs are excessive, please bring it to our attention.
Q: What about lunch/snack?
A: Elementary students will not eat lunch on site during the seminar week, however they should bring a snack each day for snack breaks midmorning. High schoolers bring their own snack and lunch.
Q: Is this truly a short-term commitment? What about the Read-throughs?
A: Yes this truly is a short-term commitment. The only required group commitments are Audition Day and the Drama Seminar Week itself, making this a relatively short-term activity compared to many theatre programs.
Optional read-throughs may be offered for students who would like extra practice, fellowship, or help preparing for their roles, but attendance is not required.
That said, students with larger speaking parts will need to spend time practicing and memorizing lines at home. The Academy leaders expect all students to have their lines fully memorized before the Drama Seminar Week begins.
Q: Are there mandatory Parent Meetings?
A: Yes. There is a mandatory parent meeting during the Audition Day.
However, the Parents' Information Meeting held earlier is not mandatory. That meeting is simply an opportunity for families to learn more about the program, ask questions, and meet the organizers. There will be no pressure to sign up.
Registration will be available online, so families can register whether or not they attend the Parents' Information meeting. We also plan to offer opportunities for questions and discussion at our promotional events. In addition, this website and our email/text update sign-up form are designed to help families stay informed and find answers to common questions about our new theatre group.
Q: I heard I will need to sign up to bring a meal or other items for camp week. Is there an alternative if I just can’t do this?
A: Yes there certainly is. If you find your personal circumstances preventing you from putting your name on that list, you can opt to buy your way out with a $50 donation. We will be glad to use the money for miscellaneous needs that aren’t filled or come up during the week.
Q: My child is 12 after the cut off, but before the start of camp. Will you make an exception and allow them to participate in the High School play?
A: By the rules, we go by grade with the minimum of age 12 by September 1st for a fall High School participation. We don't plan to make an exception to this. Older students are needed to make the elementary play run smoothly and provide enough students for the main roles. Also, the content of the High School plays, long hours of rehearsal and demands may be overwhelming to the younger student. This is the advice of homeschool groups who have been doing this Drama Seminar for many years. No one has ever been sorry they stayed in the elementary one more year. The coordinator is always willing to speak to any parent who has a concern.
Q: For the Elementary Musical - My child is a young first grader will you make an exception on the minimum age?
A: By the rules, we go by grade with the minimum of age 6 by September 1st. The long hours of rehearsal and demands may be overwhelming to the younger student. They are often easily distracted and can be distracting to others. This is the advice of homeschool groups who have been doing this Drama Seminar for many years. The coordinator is always willing to speak to any parent who has a concern.
Q: Will I be asked to buy or make a costume?
A: All major costumes are provided, including period costumes and accessories. At the same time all students will be instructed on what costume under garments they will need to provide themselves. These usually include common items such as basketball shorts, long slip, hose or tights, white button up shirt, black belt, black flats or black tie shoes etc.
Q: Can I get a refund if I change my mind about drama camp participation?
A: If you choose to drop out of camp BEFORE Auditions, you may request a refund. Your fees hold your spot and prevent someone else from participating. After Auditions it is too late to offer your place to another student. Also, on that date, the production fees are forwarded to the Academy of Arts. Therefore, NO refunds will be issued after Audition Day.
Q: How do I know if my young child is ready for drama camp?
A: First of all, please adhere to the age guidelines given. There may be long periods of time when the students will be asked to stand and be quiet. Yes they are kept busy and active. BUT, for the child who already struggles to focus and hold still quietly, the periods of time when silence is required may seem eternal. Some things to consider are: ability to stand quietly for 30 minutes or more, ability to NOT go potty every 10 minutes, ability to keep hands to self and follow directions. Basically, if you as a parent are in any doubt, wait till next year. It will be much better then.
Q: What if I sign up but don’t get a part at auditions? Am I still in it?
A: Everyone has a part, just not always an assigned speaking part. Rest assured that there are many jobs to accomplish during the week and every Jr/Sr High student will be busy in a crew. (For more insights to this question, see the article below "Q+A - Twenty Years of Experience")
Q: How much will tickets cost?
A: We will have free admission to our performances. We do plan to take a free will offering at each show. We will announce that we are taking an offering ahead of time and include it in any and all advertising so people can come prepared.
Q: Where can I find out about other resources in the Greater Lafayette area?
A: The Greater Lafayette Home Educators Association has a new website: https://sites.google.com/view/glhea
Q: What would you say is the biggest selling point for you for why you want to run these drama seminars with the Academy of Arts?
A: The first year I coordinated drama camp, my biggest motivation was, "I love theatre, and there is nothing else for our kids like this." The reason I come back [these 20 years] really has nothing to do with the stage.
It's going to open houses and seeing a stack of scripts and play bills on a student's display table.
It's watching their graduation slideshow and seeing that they chose drama camp pictures to include.
It's the stack of thank you cards that I have kept over the years. When students thank me for making the best week of their year happen, especially the ones that say, "I met Jesus this week for the first time" or "My grandparents had not been in church in thirty years, but they came to see me in this play and heard the gospel."
It's the son who uses what he learned on stage every day in his line of work, interacting with people, thinking quickly, adapting to life's curveballs, doing improv, and never getting out of character.
There are just too many intangibles that far exceed stage time.
Q: What would you say to parents who are concerned that they will pay a lot of money and yet their student might not have a significant speaking part?
A: This general rule seems to apply: "Bigger your speaking role, the less you are involved in for the production."
I learned this the year my oldest son had the lead in Joseph of Aramathea. After it was over, he said he never wanted to do that again. He was in almost every single scene. so he missed out on sets, props, makeup, costumes, and all the fun stuff that the kids get to do.
The fact that the students are intricately involved in the production of the play, not just acting, is one of the unique, compelling things about drama seminar.
Most other youth theatre opportunities have adult volunteers, making sets sewing costumes etc.
My family has done other drama. They show up only on days their scenes are being rehearsed. They expect their costume to just be there. They expect someone else will do their makeup, and the sets to just be cool. Doing a seminar with the academy is diametrically different than that.
The students who are on the makeup crew will do everybody's makeup, including each other's and the elementary students' makeup. The students who are on the set crew will be building the set, maybe painting and doing touch ups. Depending on your stage they might even have to tweak how the scenes are set. Students are involved in all of that. Now, yes, they are told what to do and not require to come up with a plan, but it does not run without them involved. The students in tech crew get up on ladders and set the lights and assemble the light tree. They sit in a class and learn how all the tech works. They may run the soundboard for the elementary.
Then, when everyone is needed for a large groups scene, everybody halts their crew work and get to the stage.
So in when I talk with parents during a Q+A, l am simply trying to let everyone know that even if they don't get the lead role with 120 lines, their two or three line part is just as significant because they are going to be required to do so much more during the week than that person with the lead. They may actually be busier.
As much as students feel honored and excited to get a large roll, I have many students who write on their audition card that they only want a small role so they can do more with tech this year.
It's just not traditional drama thinking, where we assume the lead is the best part to have.
Q: My child is 12 after the cut off, but was made to be in the Elementary play. Will they feel too big for the Elementary Play.
Older students are needed to make the elementary play run smoothly and provide enough students for the main roles. Also, the content of the High School plays, long hours of rehearsal and demands may be overwhelming to the younger student. This is the advice of homeschool groups who have been doing this Drama Seminar for many years. No one has ever been sorry they stayed in the elementary one more year. The coordinator is always willing to speak to any parent who has a concern.