These protocols are in effect as of February 9, 2024. Please note that this information is subject to change.
YouthStage, often abbreviated “YS”, is our youth production company. All company members in either Kidstage or Teenstage will have the opportunity to participate in a full production at the Julia Morgan theater with professional lighting, sound, costumes, live pit band, and creative teams. The purpose of Youthstage isn’t just to put on a performance, but to also educate students on the process of creating theater and to teach students to prioritize the ensemble over the individual. When offered, company members also have the opportunity to participate in our Showcase Cabarets that focus more on solo performances.
Showcase Cabaret is a more intimate performance program within the YouthStage umbrella. Rather than putting up an entire production, students focus on solo and small group repertoire to hone their solo performing skills. Participants get to select a song of their choice to develop for a cabaret style show on the Julia Morgan stage. They also work on character development, song analysis, resume building, and more. This is a great opportunity to get more concentrated coaching with professional directors and music directors and be featured as a soloist. (Only offered in the summer.)
Musical Theater Revue is a student-derived performance program within the Youthstage umbrella. Guided by a lead teacher and music director, students spend 10 weeks creating, writing, choreographing, designing, and rehearsing their own production. The program culminates with a live performance of their creation on the Julia Morgan stage. This is a great opportunity for students who crave more creative influence and seek to develop theater making skills outside of just performing. (Only offered in the fall.)
Both Kidstage and Teenstage are under the Youthstage umbrella. The main difference between Kidstage and Teenstage is the division of grades. Kidstage is typically open to students in grades 5-8 and Teenstage is usually open to students in grades 8-12. Grade ranges may differ depending on show title and content.
Youthstage does not admit students based on age, but rather school grade. Youthstage is open to students in grades 5-12. Kidstage is typically open to students in grades 5-8 and Teenstage is usually open to students in grades 8-12. Grade ranges may differ depending on show title and content.
Youthstage is an audition based program.
- New students will need to audition the semester before they wish to enroll. Audition information will be announced and posted on our website when available. Students may NOT register for a Youthstage program without being admitted.
- Returning students will receive an email inviting them to enroll. Simply follow the instructions in the email to enroll and register. Returning students will be given priority when placement begins.
- Sign-up announcements for the Fall semester will usually be posted early August.
- Sign-up announcements for the Winter/Spring semester will usually be posted late November.
- Sign-up announcements for the Summer will usually be posted mid February.
An Eblast will be sent to announce upcoming auditions. We recommend getting on the email list to have first access to the information. You can sign up for the Berkeley Playhouse Theater Arts Education newsletters HERE . It will also be available on our website.
- Material choices (songs and monologues) will be available on our website on the audition page after auditions are announced.
- Auditions will typically include one short monologue and one short song. There is no dance component to this audition. Students will perform the material one at a time in front of the Youthstage staff. No friends or family members are allowed in the audition room.
No. Although we would love to have everyone participate in all our Youthstage shows, we do not have the capacity to admit everyone who auditions. Please consider this an opportunity to speak with your young actor about dealing with disappointment and encourage them to see the value in putting themselves out there as a learning experience. Not everyone who auditions will get in and this is especially true for our youngest auditionees (5th and 6th graders). But please do not be discouraged. Berkeley Playhouse offers several performance education programs that could be a good fit for a young actor moving up in our programs. We recommend signing up for one of our other classes to ensure they have access to a musical theater activity in the coming semester.
The Youthstage audition is only for admittance into the company. If a student is admitted, they will be placed into a section and they will have their own “try-ons” (auditions) for specific roles.
- For productions during the school year: Try-ons are usually held the first weekend of rehearsal, and roles are typically announced during the second week of rehearsal.
- For productions during the summer: Try-ons are usually held the first or second day of rehearsal, and roles are typically announced the second or third day of rehearsal.
- Everyone admitted into the program and placed into a section is guaranteed a featured track in the show with a personal body microphone.
There are 4 different sections of YouthStage (two of each). Each section has their own rehearsal schedule. All students will have TWO weekday “all call” rehearsals and ONE weekend “called” rehearsal.
- Kidstage 1: Tuesdays & Thursdays 4-6pm, Saturdays 1-5pm
- Kidstage 2: Mondays & Wednesdays 4-6pm, Saturdays 10am-2pm
- Teenstage 1: Mondays & Fridays 6-8pm, Sundays 2pm-6pm
- Teenstage 2: Tuesdays & Thursdays 6-8pm, Sundays 10am-2pm
- YouthStage during the summer: Monday-Friday 9am-3pm
- All Call: EVERY actor in the cast is scheduled to be at the rehearsal.
- Called: Only some actors will be needed for this rehearsal. Specific roles will be notified if they are needed. Actors may not be scheduled for the entire rehearsal period.
- Rehearsals will typically take place in one of our studios at Berkeley Playhouse 2640 College Ave. Berkeley, CA 94704. However, due to space limitations, some Youhtstage sections will sometimes need to relocate to an offsite rehearsal space near the Playhouse for a few rehearsals. All participants will have advance notice if/when this occurs.
- Offsite locations Youthstage has used in the past:
- St. Clement’s Episcopal Church (0.8 miles away)
- St John’s Presbyterian Church (900 feet away/across the street and down a block)
YES! All Youthstage productions perform at the Julia Morgan Theater!
The Youthstage season is usually announced late March/early April. Please check the Youthstage dropdown menu for our current season titles.
There are no adults in Youthstage. Youthstage is a program for students in grades 5-12, however students who graduate high school in May or June of that year may enroll in a summer program even if they have turned 18.
YES! Financial aid is available for those who qualify. We also offer payment plans to anyone who requests it. Please go to the Youthstage Productions drop down menu on our website and click on Financial Aid for more details.
The maximum cast size is 28 students. Some titles may require up to 30.
All students are given the opportunity to tell the creative team the types of roles they are interested in portraying before auditions. They may also take that time to disclose if there is a type of role they are not comfortable playing. Casting is based on the overall needs of the group. We encourage students to find ways to make the role they are assigned their own and collaborate with the creative team to develop and embellish the character where possible. Please note that Berkeley Playhouse does not re-cast. Consider speaking with your young actor about dealing with disappointment and encourage them to see the value in working as an ensemble. A positive attitude and open mind will go a long way.
While there is no way to make sure a student is assigned their preferred role, students can prepare for their “try-ons” by practicing the material taught and bringing their authentic selves to their work. Role assignments depend on the abilities of the students and what is ultimately best for the ensemble storytelling. We recommend approaching this as a learning opportunity and FUN experience.
Summer Youthstage has a more condensed rehearsal schedule. Summer participants rehearse every week day for 4 weeks with performances taking place the last weekend. Grade ranges also vary depending on the need and the title therefore it is not divided into Kids and Teens. Summer participants will still have fully produced shows and four performances at the Julia Morgan Theater.
Berkeley Playhouse sometimes obtains a few minutes of footage for marketing purposes, however full performances are never recorded.
We have had several parents ask us this over the years. The main reason we do not record performances is because it is in direct violation of our contract with the rights holders. We are not allowed to record and/or distribute videos of our productions, even if the product is amateur and even if we do not charge. In fact, we are only allowed to use up to 30 seconds of footage for marketing purposes.
- Berkeley Playhouse produces ONE (1) elevated audition based youth production in the summer every year that more closely resembles a Mainstage production.
- The rehearsal process is more fast paced than a typical Youthstage show and requires more focus and professionalism.
- Cast sizes and grades will differ depending on the need of each title.
- Students do NOT need to be Youthstage company members in order to audition.
- Auditionees are NOT guaranteed a spot in the show.
- Auditions are usually announced in October and call backs typically take place in December. Most casting is finished by the end of January.
- Our protocols as of October 2024 (guidelines are subject to change):
- Berkeley Playhouse is no longer requiring verification of Covid-19 vaccination for participation in our programs, however vaccination is strongly recommended.
- Although masks are not regularly required, wearing one is highly encouraged, especially when exhibiting mild symptoms.
- Participants and staff members exhibiting any cold or flu symptoms are encouraged to take a Covid test. Those who test positive for Covid should NOT return to work or rehearsal until:
- They have a negative Covid test, OR
- They are fever free (without the use of fever reducing medication) for 24 hours AND other symptoms are mild and improving. In this case, masking will be required for 5 days.
EXCEPTION: Performances Involving Body Microphones
Out of an abundance of caution, actors will not be allowed to return to perform until after they are asymptomatic AND have a negative Covid test. This includes actors in the production who do not wear a body mic themselves
