First Act is designed to give young performers an authentic, large-scale theatre experience within an intentionally supportive and educational environment. Throughout the program, students have opportunities to:

• Participate in a full-scale theatrical production

• Develop skills in acting, singing, and dance

• Build skills through workshops and instruction embedded throughout the rehearsal process

• Experience a professional-style rehearsal and performance environment

• Learn what it means to audition, receive a role, rehearse, and perform as part of an ensemble

• Perform meaningful ensemble and/or named roles within the production

• Build confidence, independence, collaboration, and stage experience

Our goal is for every child to leave First Act feeling that they belonged, contributed, learned, and grew.

Yes! First Act is intentionally designed as an inclusive production experience, and every child who participates is given a place in the cast.

Because our productions often include substantially more performers than the original script requires, our team gets creative about expanding existing roles, creating additional ensemble opportunities, and finding meaningful ways for as many performers as possible to be part of the production.

We believe every child deserves to feel like an important part of the show. At the same time, performers may have different roles, responsibilities, lines, and amounts of stage time depending on the needs of the production.

Skill-building is woven throughout the First Act rehearsal process. Students participate in workshops and activities focused on acting, music, and dance, including targeted work in smaller groups whenever possible.

This is one reason our performers attend every rehearsal, even when their particular scene may not be rehearsing. We believe rehearsal should be an educational experience, not simply time spent waiting for a child to be “used” in a scene.

For students who want more individualized or intensive skill development, private lessons, focused classes, and intensives can be wonderful complements to the First Act experience.

First Act is a supportive environment where we want children to feel encouraged, valued, and excited to perform. It is also a theatre program, which means auditions & casting are part of the experience.

One of the things we hope students gain from First Act is the confidence to navigate both the exciting and challenging moments that can come with performing. Our team works to make those experiences age-appropriate, respectful, and encouraging while helping children develop resilience, confidence, and a healthy relationship with the performing arts.

First Act is enrollment-based, which means that every child gets a part, so there are no auditions and no risks for getting “cut”. However, children do participate in a group audition on the first day so that roles & characters can be assigned fairly.

We accept participants of all reading levels into the First Act Program, however, children who are not yet fluent readers may be cast in smaller or non-speaking roles.

Casting is specific to each production. Our team considers the needs of the show, the roles available, the performers auditioning, and how each performer fits within the production as a whole.

Casting decisions may take into account a variety of factors, including individual performance skills, character fit, chemistry between performers, ensemble balance, and the overall needs of the production.

We take care to approach casting thoughtfully and to consider issues of bias and favoritism throughout the process. Casting is not based on seniority, friendships, previous roles, or length of involvement with East End.

Because every production brings together a different group of performers and has its own unique casting needs, a child's experience in one production does not necessarily predict their role in the next.

We are able to take 60 participants per production.

No. While every First Act participant is included in the cast, the number and type of roles available depend on the particular production.

Some performers may receive named roles with individual speaking lines, while others may be part of a featured ensemble. Ensemble performers are an important part of every production and often participate in some of the show's most memorable musical numbers, scenes, and moments.

Our goal is to create a meaningful place for every child within the production and help each performer understand how their contribution helps bring the show to life.

Stage time, lines, and responsibilities can vary depending on the role a performer receives and the needs of the production.

We intentionally structure our productions to create opportunities for all of our performers, including expanding roles and creating additional ensemble opportunities whenever possible. At the same time, we want students to experience the different responsibilities that come with different theatrical roles.

Rather than aiming for identical stage time, we focus on creating meaningful opportunities for every performer to contribute, develop their skills, and be part of the story we are telling together.

First Act is designed to provide an authentic large-scale production experience, and the number of speaking roles available varies from production to production. While every child is included in the cast, individual speaking lines cannot always be offered to every performer.

For families specifically looking for a smaller-scale experience in which every child receives individual speaking lines, our Mini Musical Intensive is designed with that goal in mind. The program has a smaller enrollment cap, allowing us to intentionally build a production around individual speaking opportunities for each participant.

Both programs offer wonderful theatre experiences, but they are designed with different goals in mind. We are happy to offer families options so they can choose the experience that best fits what their child is looking for.

Returning performers have the opportunity to continue developing their skills, building confidence, and gaining experience with us, but casting is not based on seniority.

We want returning performers to have opportunities to grow and challenge themselves, while also giving new performers the opportunity to find their place within the production. Each show brings together a new group of performers and has its own unique casting needs, so roles are determined within the context of each individual production.

We encourage returning students to view their growth not only through the roles they receive, but also through the skills, confidence, independence, and experience they continue to develop.

Yes, First Act was designed as a first opportunity for beginners looking to dip their toes into the world of musical theatre and gain experience in a high-quality production.

First Act is a perfect fit for beginners, but we have many seasoned young actors in First Act as well, who tend to score more of the lead roles based on their training & skills. First Act is a great fit for a young actor with experience or not!

All rehearsals are closed to family and parents. We find that children focus best when their parents & guardians leave them with us in the way that they do for school.

Theatre is a team activity, and every cast member plays an important role in the success of the production. Each rehearsal is carefully planned to build upon the previous one, introducing new choreography, music, staging, and character work that cannot always be recreated during later rehearsals.

When a cast member is absent, it affects not only their own progress but also the rehearsal experience for the rest of the cast. Staff may need to reteach material, adjust staging, or pause rehearsals to accommodate missing performers, limiting the amount of work the entire company can accomplish.

Consistent attendance helps cast members:

• Build confidence by mastering material each week.

• Develop responsibility and commitment to their fellow performers.

• Strengthen teamwork and collaboration.

• Be fully prepared for performances.

• Create the highest-quality production possible.

We understand that illnesses, family emergencies, and unavoidable conflicts occasionally arise. We simply ask families to make rehearsals a priority whenever possible and to communicate any absences as early as possible. 

Because each rehearsal is an important part of the creative process, excessive absences may impact a cast member's ability to participate fully in the production.

That being said, if you know that your child will miss a significant number of rehearsals, we would recommend waiting for a session when your child can be at all of the rehearsals. With rehearsals only happening once per week, every minute of rehearsal time is key for teaching content and rehearsing the show. Participants who miss multiple rehearsals will be far behind their peers, and there may not be time in the rehearsal process to catch them up.

First Act productions are musical theatre productions. If your child is looking for a straight play opportunity, our summer and April vacation camps are a great option!

The chances that you child could come off the wait list is high! We are typically able to successfully enroll between 5-10 wait list kids once we get closer to the start date of the program.

We run two First Act productions each year; registration will open on January 7th and July 7th, unless otherwise advertised. Join our mailing list to be the first to hear about program sign-ups. You can also sign up to be a monthly donor to gain access to early registration for First Act and our school vacation camps.

Join our subscriber list on our website, follow us on social media, or check the back of the program books at our shows! Enrollment fills very quickly, so definitely keep your eyes peeled!