Submission Deadline: April 20th
Student Summer Intensive
Program Overview
Since its creation in the summer of 2014, the Student Summer Intensive Program has seen more than 300 students work through a summer of intense musical theatre training. The program offers students interested in the performing arts a chance to learn and grow as artists and community leaders alongside some of Calgary's leading musical theatre professionals and, sometimes, even with Broadway personalities. This program includes over 300 hours of training on and off the stage. Over the course of the program, students will come to hone their talents and personal abilities while working through all the facets of producing a full-scale show.
Each year, our team of professionals selects a show to focus on key elements of musical theatre specifically. The program offers everyone singing, dancing, and acting masterclasses and engages the entire cast regardless of their role. This season the team has selected Pippin the Musical with music and lyrics by the incredible Stephen Schwartz and book by Roger O. Hirson.
From the very first day, the students will work together on a level playing field prior to any roles being cast. This allows them to make friendships and create a safe space to explore their craft. There is no room for ego or negativity; each student is given a chance to shine, support, and grow together.
We look forward to engaging with our next generation of musical theatre artists!
Our Mission
Our mission is provide young performers with the opportunity to encounter pivotal works in the music theatre canon. We facilitate this encounter through intensive skill building in voice, dance and acting, through full scale performance of these works, and engagement in the issues and questions raised by the content and performance of each work.
Our Vision
Our vision is to create a professional caliber atmosphere wherein students can train, grow, and be challenged. We encourage them to respect themselves, and their colleagues while striving for excellence in the three disciplines crucial to music theatre performance.
Program Values
Our first priority is creating an atmosphere where students learn to become good colleagues. Respect for oneself and one’s colleagues is of utmost importance.
We include exercises in team-building and respect in our training and require each student, regardless of their role, to be inclusive.
We recognize that confidence is an important part of having a positive encounter with theatrical performance and that there is a wide range of training and previous experience that our students bring with them.
We cast our shows based on where we think each student can be successful, given their background and readiness, and have maximum growth.
We choose repertoire that students may not have the opportunity to perform elsewhere in their careers, and that provides as many students as possible the opportunity to be involved.
We engage the students in discussions of challenging themes and issues surrounding the composition and production of each work. We create a safe atmosphere for students to ask questions, explore how the themes of the show impact them, and how to address challenging issues in a theatrical context.
We market and produce the SSIP shows with the same caliber of production values as StoryBook’s main season shows to provide students with the invaluable opportunity of practicing their fledgling skills in front of appreciative audiences.
What our students are saying...
"The truest thing I’ve learned through the program is to trust my instincts."
"No matter how hard you work there’s always someone who works harder than you. You never know it all, you'll always learn something and from someone."
"This program is perfect for students who love theatre and want to determine if this is a potential career for them."
"The experience is truly life-changing."
"The love and life I have found in these friendships are profound and outstanding, they have left the biggest most beautiful mark on my heart."
"I am so proud to watch the program grow and improve each year, allowing me to learn and grow more and more every year."
2023 Program Overview
We have learned a lot in our 10 years of developing this program. The pandemic proved very tricky, but we found new ways to create magic. We were one of only three major theatres nationwide to continue providing theatre programming on any level throughout the pandemic. Once again we will continue to offer quality programming to our community of young artists in the incredible classic musical Pippin!
Throughout this past season, we have continued to offer quality programming for all ages in a variety of ways! This summer we will once again kick off the StoryBook Season with our Student Summer Intensive Program and we look forward to the wonderful artists who will join us - we have magic to do!
Table of Contents
Program Overview >
Faculty >
Audition Process >
Attending College in the Fall >
Tuition >
Submit Application >
Have a Question? Ask HERE >
2023 FACULTY
Audition Process
Students 14 to 20 years old looking to enroll in the program will be asked to take part in the audition process. This year we are finding new ways to be more inclusive of students who possess natural ability and interest in musical theatre.
We know that some students just may not have the experience or opportunities like their friends and colleagues. We want to make sure our process accounts for everyone to be successful, no matter their history and/or experience with this art form. Therefore we will have two ways in which students can audition.
Submission
Students who wish to be considered for the program are asked to submit the following for consideration.
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One-minute video telling us what makes you a good candidate and why you want to be part of the program
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Two-minute song of your choice showcasing your talent
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One-minute monologue
All videos will be reviewed by a panel of theatre professionals, who will provide written feedback on the audition materials and, using a rubric, will evaluate the students on the main criteria associated with the program.
due by April 20
Program Acceptance
All students will be sent an email to the email used in registration by APRIL 24 by 2 pm.
All students will be emailed and notified of the outcome of the audition process. The announcement will also be made through social media that same day, listing those students who have been accepted into the program.
Students accepted into the program will be expected to attend 90% of all dates as listed below.
Students will be allowed to miss a maximum of 4 rehearsals throughout the entire program process from May 14 to August 3, 2023.
If a student is required to miss more, please bring this to the team's attention during the audition process.
We cannot allow any absences after August 3, 2023
Program Schedule
The following is the planned programming schedule.
SUNDAY APRIL 30
WELCOME MEETING - 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Students and parents are invited to attend our Welcome and Introduction meeting. There they will learn more about the program and be invited to ask questions. We will also provide the program audition materials.
SUNDAY, MAY 14
AUDITION WORKSHOP - 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
This evening, students will be walked through the audition process and how best to prepare.
AUDITION WEEKEND - MAY 26, 27, 28
Friday, May 26 - 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm - ACTING
Saturday, May 27 - 3 pm to 7 pm - DANCING
Sunday, May 28 - 4 pm to 10 pm - SINGING
Each day will focus on another aspect of the audition process, with students doing both group and solo auditions.
PRE- REHEARSALS
Sundays - June 11, 18, 25 - 2 pm to 9 pm
Tuesday- June 27 - 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Wednesday- June 28 - 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Thursday- June 29 - 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
While students are in school until the end of June, we will have a mix of rehearsal dates.
REGULAR REHEARSAL - July 4 to August 7
Tues, Wed & Thurs - 6 pm to 9 pm
Saturdays - 1 pm to 6 pm
Sundays - 2 pm to 9 pm
This will be our regular rehearsal process in preparation for the final production.
There will be no rehearsal from August 4 to 7.
TECHNICAL REHEARSALS - August 8 to 17
Saturdays & Sundays - 1 pm to 11 pm
Tuesday to Thursday - 6 pm to 11 pm
These rehearsals will be dedicated to the technical side of production for both the outdoor performance and filmed production.
PERFORMANCES - August 18 to Sept 3
Tuesdays to Saturdays - 6pm to 9:30pm
Saturdays & Sundays - 1pm to 4:30pm
Students will perform productions to a live audience regulated by AHS guidance at the time.
Attending College in the Fall?
Our program is designed to accommodate those students that may be heading away to a post-secondary institution in the fall of 2023.
We encourage everyone to audition for the program and make their school conflict known during the process as best they can. This factor will not prohibit the teams' consideration to casting anyone as a lead or not.
Casting Decision
The casting of roles in the show will take place over the audition weekend, May 26 to 28.
While in summers past we have cast multiple actors in roles, the team reserve the right to make this decision once we have seen all students.
The casting decision will be announced by email Thursday, June 1 at 12pm.
Student Health
Beyond the pandemic, the physical and mental health of our students is our top priority. We advise students to choose only one summer program that aligns with their training goals. Students enrolled in more than one program will not likely be considered for leading roles in SSIP. If a student is enrolled in any other programs it is required that this be brought to the attention of the program faculty for review and consideration for continued enrollment in SSIP.
TUITION
StoryBook takes great pride in offering students the highest form of training in musical theatre in western Canada. Students enrolled will receive over 250 hours of professional training and more than 80+ performance hours on stage. The tuition for the program is:
$1675.00 plus tax
Full payments made by April 30th will receive a $175 savings on the program.
Registration includes four complimentary tickets.
StoryBook understands the financial impact tuition payments can have on families and is happy to offer a payment program for anyone interested. The payment schedule includes three equal monthly payments made by May 1, June 1 & July 1.
*Payment plan is a substitute for full upfront payment and is a courtesy to our students and their families to help offset costs. Participation in the program requires full and final payment by July 1st, 2023. All payments are non-refundable. Once a student attends the program, full tuition is expected regardless of a student's continued participation, and monthly payments will continue to be debited.
Scholarship consideration can be made for students looking to attend the program.
Applications must be submitted before the first date of rehearsal. Make your submission here.
Submission Deadline: April 20th