WATERLOO – In honour of National Youth Week, running annually in May, the Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy is presenting events aimed at connecting young people with arts and culture.
Drayton Entertainment’s National Youth Week activities will support key areas of growth for youth, ranging from physical activity to creative expression.
Celebrations for National Youth Week will start off with youth auditions for Drayton Entertainment’s season production of The Sound of Music on May 1 at the new Youth Academy in Waterloo.
Officials are seeking performers to play the Von Trapp children in two runs of the popular musical at the Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend from Aug. 17 to Sept. 4, and then at the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge from Nov. 24 to Dec. 24, with an option to possibly extend to Dec. 31. All races and ethnicities are encouraged to apply.
“Auditions are fun, and kids learn so much by just preparing and participating in the process,” said Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy director of education David Connolly.
“We are looking for strong singers who are comfortable with choreography, and kids who just love to be on stage.”
Activities will continue with an Indigenous singing, drumming and stories workshop with Barbara Assiginaak and Richard Moore on May 2. Youth aged eight to 18 are invited to attend a fun and interactive workshop with Assiginaak, a First Nation composer, musician and educator; and Moore, a drumming specialist and professor.
There will also be an online academy info night with a virtual tour on May 4 from 6 to 7pm, with the opportunity to ask questions about upcoming summer and fall programs offered.
There are 22 different summer camps available over seven weeks from July 1 through Aug. 12, cohorted into three age categories: kids (ages eight to 10), youth (ages 11 to 13), and teens (ages 14 to 18).
The academy will also offer a “Technical Theatre 101” camp for teens who want to learn more about set construction, scenic painting, props, wardrobe, audio, lighting, running crew, and stage management.
There are a variety of fall classes for students of all ages including musical theatre, acting, audition skills, singing and musicianship, stage combat, masterclass series, writing, technical theatre production, show tune fitness and more.
For those who prefer an in-person option, there will be an academy open house with production facility tours and free 45-minute classes on May 7 from 1 to 4pm.
The week’s activities will wrap up with auditions for the Huron Country Playhouse Pre-Professional Program production of Disney’s Frozen Jr. on May 8 from 12:30 to 5pm at Dance Extreme in London.
Junior musicals are condensed, one-hour versions of popular musicals custom-tailored to the needs of young people.
This production of Frozen Jr. will be performed by kids for kids – all the parts will be played by young actors. All races and ethnicities are encouraged to apply.
The three-week pre-professional production program gives teen performers practical insight into how a musical is cast, rehearsed and performed while working with a professional creative team to produce a junior musical.
Connolly will direct and choreograph the production.
To learn more about or register for any of these activities, visit www.draytonentertainmentyouthacademy.com/national-youth-week.
