Welcome to Creative Kids

At the Creative Kids Youth Theater Project, our mission is to ignite the creative passion in each child, while establishing a foundation in values and teamwork. Our programs are founded in the basic fundamentals of:

- Confidence

- Respect

- Trust

- Responsibility (Trustworthiness)

Through these values, our students learn how to function in a theater company, and gain the skills to become confident performers.

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About MTW and the Casting Process

Musical Theater Workshop is designed to promote confidence and personal growth in children, by taking them through an entire theater/production process. Our process of teaching is based on four fundamentals:

1. Confidence: Learn to believe in yourself.

2. Respect: Respect the entire process. From roles large and small, to the stage crew, every component is vital to the entire production.

3. Trust: Trust your directors, your castmates, and yourselves.

4. Responsibility: Earn and be worthy of the trust others place in you.

About Casting

Unlike our Fairytale Theater program, every child cannot play the same role. Casting can be the most challenging aspect of this program. It is important with this age group, that parents and students don’t take the process too seriously. It is our philosophy to give each child a part that suits their needs and abilities. Overwhelming a child with a part that is too difficult can have disastrous consequences, and do serious damage to self esteem. When we cast a show, we use several criteria to determine casting. They include:

• The child’s experience and confidence level
• The child’s ability to perform the part (reading lines, singing, acting etc.)
• The child’s history with the program. (Creating challenges and personal growth)
• Fairness

(It is important to note that as we consider all of the above considerations, there are no steadfast rules. Every season, we must make judgement calls in order to benefit each child and the program.)

For children who participate in many productions over a long period of time, we have the ability to help them grow from one production to another. Children who work hard and persevere in a small role, may be given the opportunity to have a larger role in the next production. Children who have a lead role in one production may take a smaller role in the next, so another capable child can have a turn. In some cases we can offer our young actors new challenging experiences with each production, to help further their growth.

As parents, you have an important role in this process. Please reinforce to your child the importance of every role, and the satisfaction that comes with participating in a production process. If your child is disappointed, it is important that you listen, be compassionate, and continue to reinforce the value of the role they receive. It is sometimes natural for parents to feel disappointment for their children. I do ask however, that you try not to perpetuate or instigate disappointment in your child.

A Code of Conduct for Students, Teachers, and Parents
The Youth Theater Project

One of the most important elements of the YTP program is a standard of conduct we expect from our students and teachers. Rooted in our fundamentals of confidence, respect, trust, and responsibility, our students learn that success is measured not only by achievement, but by the way others are treated in the process.

Parents and teachers are an important element in this process. Parents need to be in line with the program philosophy and along with teachers, they need to role model the behavior we expect from our students. Parents who have unreconcilable issues with the program philosophy, and/or cannot behave in accordance with our standards, may find that our program is not suited to their family, and may be asked to no longer participate.

Standards of Conduct for parents are as follows:

1. Respect:
    a. Respect and support the program philosophy and structure.
    b. Treat all YTP and Creative Kids staff members with respect.
    c. Treat all students and fellow parents with respect.

2. Responsibility:
    a. Help your child honor their responsibility to the program. Make sure your child is on time, and that necessary adjustments are made in your schedule to accommodate the rehearsals.
    b. Role Model appropriate behavior for all of the students. Remember, our goal is to train great PEOPLE, not just to train great actors.

3. Caring/Supportive Behavior:
    a. Show support and encouragement to all the students in the program. Demonstrate to your child, that honoring the successes of others does not take away from your own success.
    b. Embrace your child’s feelings and help them cope with disappointment. However, do not instigate frustration and disappointment in your child. Beware… make sure the issue is not that your child is disappointing you.

Most importantly - Encourage your child (as we do) to have fun… and have fun watching them grow in this process!!