Parent Aid
This link is intended to help you as parents better understand
and manage the activities of your child in WCSPA. The bottom of the page
includes (FAQs). If you would like us to include additional information here
or have ideas for new additions for this section please
contact Mr. Hart.
Additional Quicklinks:
*WCSPA Booster Club
*Year Calendar
*Other Links
*Ad Contract (for
Businesses)
*Ad Contract (for
Friends and Family)
*Advertisers
The
10 Most Commonly Asked Parent Questions:
1.)
What is a "Tech Week"?
Tech Week refers to the Monday-Saturday of any week in which we are
opening a show. During this week, we combine all of the technical elements
of the show (the scenery, lights, costumes, sound, front of house, etc.), along
with the performers in the performance space for the very first time.
These four rehearsals are by far the most important, complex and stressful days
involved with any production. The tech rehearsals are compressed into the
shortest amount of time possible to get the show ready for a public performance.
Tech weeks are typically scheduled for Monday through Thursday from
2.)
What is a "Shop Call"?
Shop calls refer to the time after school in which we build the sets, sew the
costumes and work on other technical areas of the shows in preparation for the
'Tech Week'. Shop calls are voluntary and usually run from
3.)
What is a "Team Day"?
Students from all four levels are
integrated together in one full day of Performing Arts activities. Team
Day is intended to build unity between Level One students and the students in
the Upper Levels. The day is filled with fun exercises and activities.
Level I students come to school just like they would on any other day.
They will be returned to their home school in time to take their regular
busses home.
4.)
What are "Thespians"?
The International Thespian Organization is a student organization that supports
theater arts and activities at the high school level. Many schools
throughout the state have a 'Thespian Troupe'. We are Thespian Troupe
1000. The students involved call themselves Thespians, named after the
first actor: Thespis. Students can become members any time after the conclusion
of Level 1. There is $30 fee to join the society, which includes a subscription
to a theater magazine. Members have occasional after school meetings that are
optional. Annually, we attend the Michigan Thespian Festival, which takes
place the first weekend of December.
We also participate in the ALL-STAR, all-state night that happens once a year.
The festival includes individual event competitions, workshops, performances,
theater booths, college information for all students participating as well as
scholarship opportunities for graduating seniors.
5.)
What is the Ad Campaign?
The Ad Campaign is the name given to the month and a half in which we solicit
advertisements for our Season Program. The "Ad Book" is a season
program that is handed out at each of our performances and it contains photos,
student biographies and advertisements. In order to pay for the printing
of our programs and to raise additional funds, students and parents alike are
asked to solicit advertising from local businesses. All the money earned
from the Ad Campaign in spent in that school year and is used to purchase
additional supplies necessary for production and theater related events. "Ad
Slams" refer to days when students from WCSPA go out together as a small
group to try and sell ads out-of-school for a couple of hours after school. Ad
Slams are optional, but offer students from all levels a chance to mix and get
to know one another. For additional details check out the
Advertisers Link.
6.)
Shop clothes and Dance attire:
Shop clothes are necessary for the days we are painting and working on the stage
sets in class. Essentially, shop clothes are just clothes that are either old or
damaged. There is no need to buy shop clothes. They just need to be
something that you don't mind being ripped or getting paint on.
Dance
clothes are required for the dance portion of class. Students are required
to wear dance clothing which includes comfortable, flexible clothing and Jazz
shoes or other dance wear. There are a variety of places to purchase this
clothing. We typically get a discounted rate of 20% from R&D
Dancewear. Most chains (Wal-Mart, Target, Meijer) now carry jazz pants as well
at a good price. Another great source for dance clothing is the internet.
Probably the cheapest online supplier is Discount Dance Supply:
www.discountdancesupply.com. If
anything, get a dance shoe on the larger side, since most students are still
growing, this will reduce the wear on the shoe. Level One students are
required to have jazz shoes; Level two either oxfords (guys) or character
shoes (girls); Level 3-4 students should also have tap shoes.
Other places for Dance Clothes:
-R&D Dancewear (
-Lynch's House of Sequins (Dequindre and
-Lucy and Ethel's (42281 Garfield, Clinton Twp., 48047 586-263-4350)
-Fancy Dancers (
-Creative Dance Supply (Ryan and
7.)
What are the out-of-school requirements for WCSPA?:
Although
we do not require a lot of out of school time, there are some specific days that
are required and are graded. This depends on the your son/daughter's
Level. Level One students are required to attend Shakespeare Night as well
as the Tech Week for both of the musicals.
These shows are Narnia and
Les Miserables this year. They should at least come to see any
mainstage shows that they are not in. See the
calendar for dates.
Level 2 must take part in at least two tech weeks as well, Level 3 (three tech
weeks), Level 4 (all tech weeks). In addition to the required shows
mentioned, students may volunteer to work on an additional show. In this
case, they must come to the tech week for that show as well, if they are
selected. On rare occasion we may need to have additional rehearsals before the
tech week of a show. In this case students will be notified well in
advance, but again, this is very rare and on a show-to-show basis.
8.)
How do classes work?:
Level One: Typically, level one is divided into three smaller
groups. Each of the groups sees each of the three teachers once a day for
approximately 30 minutes. When rehearsing for a show the class may be
subdivided differently depending on the needs of the show.
The student grade form WCSPA is a combination of all three teachers
equally. This grade is worth twice
as much as regular class, since the class is twice as long.
Levels 2-4: These levels are also divided into three groups, which
rotate between teachers equally, but instead they are divided by their level.
Each Level has a unique curriculum for each of the teachers. When in production,
the classes may be divided differently depending on the size and needs of the
show. Grading varies by quarter;
students are given a grading breakdown in paper each quarter.
*Occasionally, students in all levels will be taught by visiting guest artists
as well.
9.) What
is the banquet?:
The
banquet is our annual celebrations of all we do in WCSPA. It is generally
the last week in May or first week in June. At the banquet students
receive a medal recognizing their advancement for each level of the program.
First year students are eligible to join Thespian Troupe 1000 and get involved
with activities related to that organization, including the State Thespian
Festival. Some students also receive individual awards for accomplishments
related to WCSPA productions. Dinner is served in a semi-formal setting.
The night ends with an announcement of next year's season. Families are
welcome to come, but there is generally a charge to attend (to defray the food
and rental costs). The event is typically held at the Sterling Inn Hotel
and
10.) What
is a "Studio" Show?
A studio show is simply a play or theatrical event we produce that is in a
location other than the Big Theatre (PAC). Usually studio shows take place
in the Little Theatre (also known as “Lower Lecture”) at SHHS and are not
advertised in our “Season Program”.
The events may be added to our calendar throughout the year.
The only studio show Level One will participate in is their
Shakespeare Night.
Performing in Shakespeare Night is required for all Level One students.