Home > Stage Elements : FAQ
FAQ
APPLICATION
Who is eligible to apply for Stage Elements?
Stage Elements Summer Theatre Institute is a training program open to current freshmen, sophomores and juniors who will be entering their sophomore, junior and senior years of high school fall 2009. While previous experience in theatre performance is helpful, it is not required.
Ideal candidates to our program are young artists who are seriously considering our BA on Theatre Arts or our BFA in Acting and are interested in furthering their performance training with professional theatre artists from the Twin Cities teaching in both programs.
If I have applied to Stage Elements in the past but have not been accepted, may I re-apply this year?
Absolutely. As long as you meet the eligibility requirements listed above, you may re-apply to Stage Elements.
If I have previously attended Stage Elements, may I re-apply?
Participants of past summer intensives are welcome to apply, but in the interest of making our training available to as many students as possible, stronger consideration will be given to applicants who have not previously attended Stage Elements.
What do I have to send in with my application?
Please submit two copies of the completed application along with two photos, two resumes, two copies of your essay and two copies of your statement of financial need (if applying for scholarships). A letter of recommendation is also required and should be sent separately on school letterhead.
Ask your drama teacher or coach to send us a letter of recommendation that gives us an estimate of your talents, experience or abilities in theatre and/or drama. The letter also should address your personal attributes, such as initiative, reliability and ability to work well with others.
Send all materials to:
STAGE ELEMENTS Summer Theatre Institute
University of Minnesota
580 Rarig Center
330 21st Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55454
All materials are to be received no later than Friday, May 1, 2009.
Do I need to submit a professional headshot?
No! You do not need to spend money on professional headshots if you don’t already have them. A school photo will suffice.
What should my resume include?
Your resume should list all of your theatre experience. Please include: the name of each production, your role or crew assignment, production dates (month and year), and the name of the producing organization (e.g. high school, community theatre, college). Also list any additional training you’ve received as it pertains to theatre (workshops, school clubs/activities).
Do I send in my money now?
Tuition for the 2009 Stage Elements Summer Theatre Institute is $1,000. We will notify you about your acceptance to the Summer Theatre Institute within two weeks of the application deadline. Accepted students will have until Friday, May 22, 2009 to confirm their attendance and until Monday, June 1, 2009 to submit their tuition to the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. Checks should be made payable to the University of Minnesota.
Are scholarships available?
Yes. Full and partial scholarships are available for Stage Elements. All applicants who would like to be considered for these scholarships should submit a separate statement of need with their application materials.
HOUSING
Do I have to stay in campus housing?
Due to the time intensive nature of the work, it is highly recommended that all students live in campus housing for the entirety of the Summer Theatre Institute even if they live in the Twin Cities or surrounding areas. Living off campus while attending the Institute will not decrease the amount of tuition a student will pay.
What kind of housing will be available?
Students will stay in double occupancy rooms in Middlebrook Hall, which is conveniently located across the street from the Institute, which is located in Rarig Center. For more information about housing, please visit the University Conference and Event Services website. They have a great page dedicated entirely to youth conferences: http://www.uces.umn.edu/youth.shtml
When are meals served?
The dining hall in Middlebrook Hall will keep the following hours this summer:
Monday-Friday
Breakfast: 7am-8:30am, Lunch: 11:30am-1pm, Dinner: 4:30pm-6:30pm
Saturday & Sunday
Breakfast: 8am-9am, Lunch: 11:30am-1pm, Dinner: 4:30pm-6:30pm
What if I have dietary or other special needs?
Be sure to e-mail uces@umn.edu with any special needs or questions you may have about your stay in Middlebrook Hall.
Will there be supervision?
An adult chaperone will stay overnight in the dorms with our students every night of the Institute.
Is there separate paperwork involved?
All accepted students will receive a packet with everything they will need to fill by the first day of the institute. In addition to a few forms from the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance, you will need to fill out a medical release form available on the University Conference and Event Services website: http://www.uces.umn.edu/pdfs/Medrelease.pdf
This form does not need to be sent in. Bring them with you when you check in on the first day.
TRAINING
What will a typical day be like?
Days are full at the Summer Theatre Institute. You can expect a schedule like the one below:
Monday– Saturday (week 1) & Monday– Thursday (week 2)
9am-12pm Workshops in Rarig Center
12pm-1pm Lunch break
1pm-4pm Workshops in Rarig Center
4pm-6pm Dinner break
6pm-9pm Rehearsal in Rarig Center
All students will attend a planned theatre outings and cultural events throughout the intensive. Previous outings have included performances on the Minnesota Centennial Showboat and tours of the new Guthrie Theater.
The Summer Theatre Institute will conclude with an informal showing on the evening of Thursday, June 26.