Professional Level Support

At NEYT we strive to build a scaffold that allows students to climb as high as they want.  For some, that may mean we offer a safe home in which to play, experiment and celebrate with friends.  For others, it might mean that we help develop the skills necessary for a career in the performing arts. The range of interest, desire and potential in our students is enormous; we, therefore, address each person individually while providing everyone with conservatory-style training.

Philosophically, we believe in teamwork and steady development; we are not in the business of creating child-stars ready to head to the professional stage or screen.  But we do recognize that some of our students will choose to continue their theatre studies beyond their time with us and/or even decide to make a vocation of it.  In that event, we will raise our scaffolding higher – as high as that student (or we) can go.

There are individuals who demonstrate unusual commitment through their actions; they prepare exhaustively, they take on meaningful responsibilities, they exhibit passionate enthusiasm, they demonstrate a great facility for handling themselves in front of an audience and they accrue a long and consistent involvement with NEYT.  At some point, at or around the high school age, these adolescents might begin thinking about a life in the theatre in earnest.   Usually in concurrence, the faculty and staff may notice the exceptional ability, potential and work ethic of such students and discuss how best to nurture this. Often, the families of these students approach the staff for guidance and advice on this same topic.   Thus, it is a three-fold selection that occurs as a result of the following cues: student desire, faculty recognition and family support.

After this, the path of these students begins to take some sharper turns.  He or she will be asked to take on greater responsibilities and bigger challenges (onstage and off) while meeting with higher and more discerning expectations. Particular roles or shows might be considered in light of that student’s strong need for growth in particular areas. Certain opportunities will become available to students of this category, such as our May Award Scholarship for continued professional study and our faculty coaching for college/conservatory auditions.  These are all pieces of the scaffold.

We use our classes, in particular, to focus on skill development and individual observation of students at all levels.  Here, in these small groups, there is more time and less stress.  Therefore, students mature exponentially and teachers can monitor that development closely and personally.  Moreover, the parent-teacher conferences scheduled at the end of each class semester allow families to discuss the progress and satisfaction of their children in a one-on-one situation.  These conversations are always helpful and often illuminating.  It is frequently out of these class experiences that students are identified/identify themselves as ready for professional level support.

Parents and students should be familiar with this process; it is not secretive nor is it elitist, though it is based on merit and ability.  Much like a varsity team, the strongest players get put into the toughest games.  There will always be a place for anyone who wants to be a part of NEYT and we will take each student as far as she or he is determined to go.