Palace Performance Company
Train. Perform. Excel.
Program Director: Kristen Rodgers | Company Manager and Lead Dance Instructor: Jesee Smart |
Lead Vocal Instructor: Rose Yurcina | Ensemble Building and Audition Technique: Molly Fonseca
Auditions will be held in August 2020.
Please email Company Manager Jesee Smart at ppc@georgetownpalace.com for more info.
The Palace Performance Company is a dedicated group of young artists looking to commit to a higher level of training and performance. These students are considering studying the arts at the collegiate level or pursuing a professional career. Students will work with professional artists to hone their crafts, build their skills and confidence, and find their voices and identity as artists. Palace Performance Company members will serve as ambassadors for the Palace in and around Georgetown.
All company members are required to be enrolled in two to three classes per semester. Classes are available in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, acting, improv, sketch, stage combat, and acting for the camera.
Once a track is chosen, students and families will further work with our faculty to construct a specific series of classes and performance opportunities that will both challenge and excite.
Apprentice | Company Members
After the initial audition, students may be invited to join the program either with full Company benefits or as an Apprentice. Once excepted into the program, as long as bills are paid and attendance policies are adhered to, students will never be cut.
Apprentice
Students may be admitted to the program as an Apprentice. Through training performances and workshops Apprentices are working towards full Company membership.
Apprentice members:
- Will be registered in two Education Productions: Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang Jr. in the fall and Seussical Jr. in the spring (or Shakespeare in Love if on the Acting Track). Rehearsals for these productions typically happen Sunday afternoons.
- Can take unlimited Academy and Studio classes. Students are required to be in at least 2-3 classes per semester. Classes happen after school (5:00 pm or later) and in the evenings Mondays – Thursday. The typical Apprentice will be up for classes two to four nights per week.
- Will attend at least two workshops with industry professionals
- Receive reduced rates for private voice, dance, or acting lessons through a Palace instructor (private lessons are not required)
- Receive annual assessments and evaluations from program staff
- Perform at the Christmas Stroll and Poppy Fest (April) and with the Tenors Unlimited (January)
Monthly Dues for an Apprentice is $225 per month, billed monthly September – May (9 months). A non-refundable four month commitment is required in the fall and a non-refundable five month commitment is required in the spring.
Company Members
Students who are admitted to the program as Full Company members receive the following:
- Attend Saturday Morning Company Time from 9:00 – 12:00 at the Palace staring in September.
- Will be registered in two Education Productions: Shakespeare in Love in the fall and either Chicago (Musical Theatre Track) or Crimes of the Heart (Acting Track) in the spring. Rehearsals for these productions typically happen Friday evenings and Sunday evenings. Younger Company members may elect to perform in Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang Jr. and Seussical Jr.
- Can take unlimited Academy and Studio classes. Students are required to be in at least 2-3 classes per semester. The typical student will be up for classes two to four nights per week.
- Receive reduced rates for private voice, dance, or acting lessons through a Palace instructor (private lessons are not required)
- Receive annual assessments and evaluations from program staff
- Perform at the Christmas Stroll and Poppy Fest (April) and with the Tenors Unlimited (January), and Industry Showcase (May)
Membership in the Company is $285 per month, billed monthly September – May (9 months). A non-refundable four month commitment is required in the fall and a non-refundable five month commitment is required in the spring.
Unparalleled Performing Arts Training
Saturday mornings starting September 7th, 2019, the Company will meet at the Palace from 9:00 or 10:00 am until 12:00. During this time we will work on dance and vocal rep, build our ensemble through acting games and exercises, work advanced group vocal skills, relax with some yoga, and prep for auditions and the end-of-the-year showcase.
Company members will participate in specialty events through-out the year. These events are all lead by industry professionals. Past workshops have included a voice master class with Broadway actor Ray McCleod, an audition workshop with Jill Leiberknight, MFA, a creativity workshop with Jess Pillmore, MFA, a talent agent meet and greet with agents from Collier Talent, a moch audition with casting director Donise Hardy, as well as several additional dance and vocal master classes. Last season’s highlight was a class with two members of National Tour of Waitress!
This season, Company members will have the exclusive opportunity to perform for The Tenors and appear on the Palace’s Springer Stage in January 2020!
Company members will perform rep for both the Christmas Stroll and Poppy Festival in Georgetown.
Program staff will pursue additional performance opportunities for the Company throughout the year.
Through their Academy classes, students will gain the skills and materials necessary for upcoming BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) auditions. The PPC is designed to be a multiple-year program, and by the time students reach the 11th grade they will be armed with vocal rep and monologues as well as crucial warm-up, interview, and audition skills.
At the end of each season, Company Members will participate in a showcase of scenes, songs, and monologues designed to connect our students with industry professionals. From previous showcases students have been cast in films, received work at the Vortex, and signed with agencies including Acclaim, Boysen, and Collier Talent.
Sample Musical Theatre Track Course of Study
Year 1 (grade 5): Ballet I, Intro to Improv, Broadway Vocals
Year 2 (grade 6): Ballet I/II, Jazz I, The Actor’s Process, Broadway Vocals II
Year 3 (grade 7): Ballet II, Jazz II, The Actor’s Process II, Adv Vocals
Year 4 (grade 8): Ballet II, Jazz II, Adv. Scene & Monologue Study, Adv Vocals
Year 5 (grade 9): Adv Ballet, Adv Jazz, Adv. Scene & Monologue Study, Private Voice
Year 6 (grade 10): Adv Ballet, Adv Jazz, Shakespeare, Private Voice
Year 7 & 8 (grades 11-12) Adv Ballet, Adv Jazz, College Prep Acting, Private Voice
Sample Acting Track Course of Study
Year 1 (grade 5): The Actors’ Process, Intro to Improv, Acting for the Camera
Year 2 (grade 6): The Actors’ Process, Improv II, Stage Combat
Year 3 (grade 7): The Actors’ Process II, Adv. Improv, Acting for Commercials
Year 4 (grade 8): Adv. Scene & Monologue Study, Improv Troupe, Adv. Acting for Film & TV
Year 5 (grade 9): Adv Scene & Monologue Study, Sketch Troupe, Improv Troupe
Year 6 (grade 10): Shakespeare, Sword Fighting, Improv Troupe
Year 7 & 8 (grades 11-12): College Prep Acting, Electives
