Frequently Asked Questions from Parents
1) When are studio programs held? Week long vacations during school vacations and summer vacations. See the specific dates - just click on "Register Winter or Spring" or Register Summer Studio".
2) Where do you get your coaches? Atlantis Playmakers coaches are all theater professionals who have degrees in theater and/or education. They are actors, directors, designers and coaches and are well trained both in acting and performance methods as well as arts education. Many of our coaches are also certified teachers in the MA public school system. Visit our FACULTY page to meet some of our staff.
3) How old do students have to be? Our youngest students are 2 1/2 years old, in the PreK Creative Play workshops. Our oldest student was in her 70's (we didn't push her for details). Most of our students are in the Adventures program (5-8) or the Playmakers (8-15).
4) So you only do kids shows? Not at all. Atlantis Playmakers has a full season of "main stage" productions performed by professional actors, some of whom are on our coaching staff. Visit the CURRENT SEASON for more details on our latest show.
5) Why do some of your workshops focus on Shakespeare? Isn't that too hard for kids? Not at all. In fact, we find that students have no problem locking into Shakespeare's cool stories, because they are often filled with magic, strange beasts and beings, people falling madly in love, and, for the "action" oriented - some of the craziest fights and murders ever seen on stage (in more than one of Shakespeare's plays everyone dies in the end). More often than not, the kids will explain the story to their parents. And as a bonus, by the time our students get to studying Shakespeare in school, they've already got a handle on it.
6) Do you have scholarships? YES! We're so glad you asked. We do provide scholarships, financial aid, and other kids of assistance (like payment plans). We have never turned away a child. If you want your child to participate, we will help you find a way to make that happen.
7) Do the kids have to audition? No, they don't have to audition to get into the program. Within the programs, the coaches audition the students for various roles in various ways (depending on the show or presentation).
8) My student is shy - how will that work? You may find that that changes by the end of the workshop. Even so, doing well in theater is about a lot more than acting or 'acting out' - it's about being a team player, being a responsible artist, and being a creative person. And doing theater helps build confidence in all of those areas, which is going to make your child feel great. Keep in mind, a national poll of adults indicated that they were more afraid of public speaking than of dying (!) - so if you'd like to get over your own shyness, try one of our adult classes!
9) Do kids with experience do better? Every workshop for every actor is a new experience. Theater is first and foremost a team effort - and within that, our goal is to move each child forward to their best possible work, regardless of if it is their first time acting or not (and our students represent the full range, from novices to professionals). So the short answer is, no, because there is always something new to learn, some new character to conquer.
We hope that we've answered some of your questions, and that you have a minute to tell us what's most important to you about theater arts education. If you'd like more information or need additional assistance in any way, please contact us at studio@AtlantisPlaymakers.com or at 978-667-0550.
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