Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join SLHS Theatre?
Any student currently enrolled at South Lyon High School in good academic standing (no Es on your report card).
Do I have to have previous theater experience to audition?
No! Students of ALL experience levels are allowed and encouraged to audition. So if you're new to theatre or you've done a million shows, ALL are welcome!
Can I do other activities while in a show (ie: I play a sport, I'm in Link Crew)?
Of Course! Theatre is fun and does take a commitment, but we don’t want to discourage any other extracurricular activities - we'll take a look at your schedule and make it work!
What is the audition process like? Is it scary? Do I have to sing alone in front of everyone?
While any audition you walk into may be a little nerve racking at first, we try and make our audition process as painless as possible. For plays and musicals you'll read from a script that everyone gets at the same time (also called a cold read so no one has an advantage over someone else) and always with at least one other person on stage with you (never alone). For musicals you'll also be asked to sing a small snippet from a song. These materials are posted well ahead of time so you can work on them or ask any questions! If you don't feel comfortable singing in front of people you can wait until the end and sing just for our staff OR sing in a group. Sometimes we also have a dance audition where we teach everyone a sample of one of the dances. Everyone learns at the same time and it's always in a group. But don't worry - we aren't judging choreography you JUST learned! We just want to see if you can move. Attitude is EVERYTHING. All around, everyone is very supportive during auditions; AND, there are NO CALLBACKS. This means that your audition is what goes for your part and you don’t have to wait a week for the list to go up!
Does the grade level I’m in affect what role I'll get in the show? Does the number of shows I've been in guarantee me a better part?
No! We cast on a show to show basis. Being in a higher grade does not guarantee you a better position. Nor does being a freshmen mean you're automatically in crew or ensemble. We evaluate everyone equally and what is right for the show. And NO PRE-CASTING. We will never pre-cast a show.
Do I have to be in the school Choir to be in Theatre?
No. While choir can be a great opportunity to build a collective voice and do some vocal training, it is not a requirement to be in theatre or to get good parts!
Is the rehearsal schedule demanding?
The only time that rehearsals are pretty demanding is during tech week (the week leading up to opening night). Other than that, they usually only last a few hours and are in the early evening, 3-4 days a week (no Friday, Saturday, Sunday rehearsals). This lets you have some down time between school and rehearsal and weekends off.
What are the options for people who don't want to be on stage?
There are many different positions for students who want to be back stage or help in other ways! From helping to run lights and sound, to props, to costumes and hair/makeup, there is a little bit of everything for everyone! All crew positions are equally important to putting each show together and just as important (if not more) as the actors on stage.
What if I have to miss a rehearsal?
Missing one or two pre-arranged rehearsals isn’t a big deal, but it is important to show up whenever you can, especially if you have a larger role. If you have to miss rehearsal for any reason, be sure to let Karen or the student director know as soon as you can.
Any student currently enrolled at South Lyon High School in good academic standing (no Es on your report card).
Do I have to have previous theater experience to audition?
No! Students of ALL experience levels are allowed and encouraged to audition. So if you're new to theatre or you've done a million shows, ALL are welcome!
Can I do other activities while in a show (ie: I play a sport, I'm in Link Crew)?
Of Course! Theatre is fun and does take a commitment, but we don’t want to discourage any other extracurricular activities - we'll take a look at your schedule and make it work!
What is the audition process like? Is it scary? Do I have to sing alone in front of everyone?
While any audition you walk into may be a little nerve racking at first, we try and make our audition process as painless as possible. For plays and musicals you'll read from a script that everyone gets at the same time (also called a cold read so no one has an advantage over someone else) and always with at least one other person on stage with you (never alone). For musicals you'll also be asked to sing a small snippet from a song. These materials are posted well ahead of time so you can work on them or ask any questions! If you don't feel comfortable singing in front of people you can wait until the end and sing just for our staff OR sing in a group. Sometimes we also have a dance audition where we teach everyone a sample of one of the dances. Everyone learns at the same time and it's always in a group. But don't worry - we aren't judging choreography you JUST learned! We just want to see if you can move. Attitude is EVERYTHING. All around, everyone is very supportive during auditions; AND, there are NO CALLBACKS. This means that your audition is what goes for your part and you don’t have to wait a week for the list to go up!
Does the grade level I’m in affect what role I'll get in the show? Does the number of shows I've been in guarantee me a better part?
No! We cast on a show to show basis. Being in a higher grade does not guarantee you a better position. Nor does being a freshmen mean you're automatically in crew or ensemble. We evaluate everyone equally and what is right for the show. And NO PRE-CASTING. We will never pre-cast a show.
Do I have to be in the school Choir to be in Theatre?
No. While choir can be a great opportunity to build a collective voice and do some vocal training, it is not a requirement to be in theatre or to get good parts!
Is the rehearsal schedule demanding?
The only time that rehearsals are pretty demanding is during tech week (the week leading up to opening night). Other than that, they usually only last a few hours and are in the early evening, 3-4 days a week (no Friday, Saturday, Sunday rehearsals). This lets you have some down time between school and rehearsal and weekends off.
What are the options for people who don't want to be on stage?
There are many different positions for students who want to be back stage or help in other ways! From helping to run lights and sound, to props, to costumes and hair/makeup, there is a little bit of everything for everyone! All crew positions are equally important to putting each show together and just as important (if not more) as the actors on stage.
What if I have to miss a rehearsal?
Missing one or two pre-arranged rehearsals isn’t a big deal, but it is important to show up whenever you can, especially if you have a larger role. If you have to miss rehearsal for any reason, be sure to let Karen or the student director know as soon as you can.