Being in an NEYT Show 

NEYT produces 10-12 major productions each year. Shows include comedies, original and popular musicals, serious dramas, children’s book adaptations, and more. (Visit Photo Gallery pages to see photos of past shows). Some of the productions require auditions, others are the result of classes where everyone gets a role.

Being in an NEYT show is a life-changing experience. It’s a big commitment and lots of hard work, but you’ll come away from it with a huge sense of accomplishment and pride. Being totally immersed in such an exciting, energizing effort, where everyone is working towards a common goal, results in an extraordinary feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself. You also benefit from knowing that your individual contribution was essential to the whole.

We encourage you to take some NEYT classes before auditioning for a show. That will give you some knowledge and experience in acting before you step up on the stage and perform. You can also register for our Melodrama theatre program, which runs for two weeks in the summer and is designed as an “entry-level” program that puts children ages 9-13 with little or no experience right up on stage from day one.

Generally upcoming shows are included in our classes brochure that comes out at the beginning of each semester, and is also posted on this site. Check the “Auditions” link here as well for upcoming shows.

Being in a show requires a huge amount of time from not only you but your family as well. Although auditions may have been held much earlier, usually rehearsals start about 6 weeks before opening night. Rehearsals are held 2-3 times a week after school, sometimes running as late as 6 or 7 pm. Often a director will let you know if you do not need to be at a particular rehearsal. Sometimes weekend rehearsals are held, particularly as opening night approaches. Performances usually run two weekends, both evenings and matinees, and often there is a mid-week school show, so you may be in as many as 10-12 performances for any one show.

Participating in a play is lots of fun!  You’re with a bunch of your peers, learning lines, trying costumes, helping to paint scenery, learning to put on make up and do hair, doing theatre warm-up games, singing, acting, and learning from wonderful theatre grown-ups such as Uncle Stevie, Sandy the costumiere, Jerry in lighting and Rick in the scene shop.

As an added bonus, NEYT also has a wonderful group of older teens who are mentors, and part of their job is to help the younger ones and those just starting out to feel comfortable at the theatre. Mentors also help young actors learn to understand the philosophy of being at the theatre, which includes respect for one another and respect for the theatre and its property.

To see photos of past NEYT shows, visit our Photo Gallery pages. We hope you will consider being in an NEYT show sometime soon! You can always call the NEYT office at 802-246-6398 if you have more questions.