ATTENTION: We are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our young actors. Updates will be sent out soon which will lay out the new steps and precautions that our club will be putting in place to avoid the spread of Covid-19. Stay tuned! If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the director.
How much is Pay to Participate?
Pay to Participate is $100.00: this is for both cast and crew.
What does the PTP cover?
Pay to participate covers various snack and food costs for the cast and crew. It covers costumes for cast, and all the materials crew utilizes. This PTP also covers the cost for cast t-shirts, and it gives each student two complimentary tickets to the show (this includes crew). Everyone also receives a script to use for practicing and learning purposes, included in the Pay to Participate fee.
Who should I give the Pay to Participate to?
Students should turn their money into the office, or parents can pay online. Students can also turn in their PTP to the director, Pamela Rehn, at rehearsal. PTP must be paid by the date set by the director, or the student will not be permitted to perform on stage or receive their cast and crew t-shirt.
What method of payment can I use for PTP?
You can use cash or check if you're giving it to the office or to the director in person. Checks can be made payable to NWLSD. It is recommended that you place it in an envelope with the student's name and grade clearly displayed. Alternatively, the PTP fee will be added to the online service which student fees/lunch accounts are also paid, and you can pay the fee there as well. Contact the White Oak Middle School main office with any questions regarding how to do this.
Is there an attendance policy?
Yes: students are permitted to miss if I am given a reasonable notice in advance of practice. However, unexcused absences are not permitted more than 3 times. Once the student misses a total of 3 times unexcused, they could be at risk for removal from the production.
Furthermore, a student should not exceed 6 excused absences.
Lastly, dress rehearsals are not to be missed unless there are extenuating circumstances. In the case that this happens, contact the director immediately.
What is considered an "excused" absence?
Pre-made family plans/vacations; illness either in the student or in a family member; absence from school resulting in absence from practice; any kind of abrupt family emergency; other pre-approved situations cleared by the director upon notice.
***It is important to note that suspensions/detentions are not “excused absences.” If a student receives a 3-day+ suspension, the student will be removed from Drama Club per school policy.
Can students come to practice if they were absent from school that day?
No. Students cannot attend practice if they did not attend school.
Do you need parent volunteers or donations?
YES to both!
What happens if a student loses their script?
We do not purchase extra scripts. In the event that a script is lost, we will need to discuss how much it will cost to purchase a new book for the student in question, and the parent/guardian of that student will be responsible for purchasing that new book. (In short: don't lose your book!) Books can range anywhere between $10.00-$50.00, depending on the show!
We go by the same philosophy with damaged or lost costumes and props: we will contact the parent/guardian of the student who is responsible, and they will be held accountable for the cost of repair/replacement.
My child has a pretty serious allergy. Who should I tell?
Please notify the directors immediately!
"I know someone who is interested in doing cast/crew for the musical but they didn’t come to auditions. Can they join now?"
If they did not attend auditions, they cannot join in cast or crew.
I am going to miss auditions: what should I do?
Email the director at [email protected] to set up an early audition. There are no make-up auditions after the set audition date, so if you do not notify the director ahead of time, you will not be able to be a part of drama club.
What happens if the student's grades drop?
We take academics very seriously. We have the right to dismiss a student from practice(s) until they get their grades up, or ask them to provide grade sheets to us on a regular basis. If administration deems it fit, they can be pulled them from the show if no improvement is noted. We hope we will never have to do this, and we are open to working with students one on one to create a developmental plan, and get them back on track.
I need to reach my student during practice, will they have their phone on them?
Students are not permitted to use cellphones during rehearsal time. In the case of an emergency, we recommend calling the school and if they are not available, feel free to call the director.
Will my student have time to eat a snack at practice/have breaks to get drinks?
Yes, students can bring snacks from home or use the vending machine after school. (Side-note: the vending machines are not always going to be reliable, so bringing a snack from home or buying one at lunch for use after school would probably be more ideal).
Secondly, We ask that students drink only water at rehearsal and encourage everyone to have a personal water bottle with a lid and their name written on it somewhere. The director reserves the right to confiscate sodas, energy drinks, etc. that do not line up with this policy.
If the student has a medical condition that requires them to have something like Gatorade on hand, we can keep that for them, but it should never be taken backstage/on stage. Please contact the director if there is a medical issue she should be made aware about, or if a special exception needs to be made.
What is the best way to reach the director?
Via email! If you have a question that was not answered above, feel free to email [email protected].