What is a Footliter Traveling Playhouse Theater Workshop?

Orange City Arts has partnered with Footliter Traveling Playhouse to bring this week-long theater learning experience to the community.

Designed for students at all levels of theatre experience, campers will audition, rehearse, and perform a musical alongside three professional teaching artists...in one week! The Vanishing of the Jolly Roger is a brand-new production with a script by Katie Colletta and original music by Jason Sifford.

About Footliters Traveling Playhouse

With over 50 years of experience, their alumni cherish the lessons they learned — skills in self-expression, problem-solving, teamwork, and imagination. Based at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts in Coralville, Iowa, they create a season of children's theatre productions and dozens of camps and classes annually.

Footliters Traveling Playhouse is a new touring program of Young Footliters Youth Theatre. Together with master teaching artists, they're creating engaging theatre experiences for students across Iowa.

Our week-long camps are open to students of all backgrounds, experience levels, and training. Footliters Traveling Playhouse is committed to "engaging and empowering students through an immersive, inclusive theatre experience." We put our students first and collaborate with parents and communities to make our theatre a safe and exciting space for all.

What makes Footliters Traveling Playhouse workshop special?

We believe theatre is for everyone. Each student receives a role, a costume, and the support they need to shine in this performance. Our team has decades of experience creating welcoming, engaging children's theatre programs. From the first rehearsal to the final curtain, we believe theatre should be educational. We teach every student skills like projection, improvisation, creative problem-solving, and how to work together to tell a story.

Who can participate in the production?

Students, ages 7 to 17 can participate. No theatrical experience is necessary!

How does the play get cast?

We meet the students on the first day of the workshop, and within a few hours, we will have auditioned them and cast them in their roles! Every child has an important role in the show. We're pros, and we are great at assessing students' strengths and assets quickly in auditions and casting them accordingly. Each child will have an opportunity to shine and grow during the week!

Should the students prepare anything for auditions?

Nope! We have a fantastic system that allows us to guide students through an easy step-by-step audition that allows us to observe their comfort with basic lines, movement, and singing.

My child is shy. How will the theatre residency help my child? Will they feel comfortable?

The program has been developed to give each student a support network onstage and off. They work in groups and are supported onstage by the other members of the cast, as well as by the three adult actor/educators who perform alongside them. This level of teamwork usually helps alleviate most students' initial fears and concerns.  It encourages the students both to feel safe and to grow throughout the week.

My child has never been in a play/musical; is that okay?

Absolutely! This program is designed to be customized and flexible to suit a wide variety of ages, experience levels, and talents. This is a great way for your child to have a fantastic week-long immersion in theatre.

My child is a veteran of the stage.  Is this program still right for them?

Since this program is designed to be customized and flexible to a wide variety of ages, experiences, and talents, the educators can adjust the teaching and guidance as well as the level of difficulty for each student, which means even if you have a budding star on your hands, they'll be glad to help nurture your child, challenge them to further growth, and give them another wonderful theatrical experience.

If my child is not available for the entire week or would need to miss the performance, can they still enroll in the program?

We understand you and your child are both busy individuals and have outside commitments from rehearsals; however, because of the very collaborative nature of the program, students are not excused from rehearsals or performances.

May I stay and observe?

Definitely! We understand parents' desire to be sure their student is well-adjusted to a new environment and for guardians to get familiar and comfortable with the staff. As long as your presence is not a distraction to the students, your student included, you are more than welcome to observe throughout the duration of our residency. However, please note that if at any time a staff member deems your presence may be hindering the student's ability to learn or focus, you will be asked to wait outside of the rehearsal space in a common area.

What does my family need to provide for the week?

For the whole week:

• • Pack a lunch for your child to bring with them daily and do not plan on deliveries. Breaks will vary slightly day-to-day and we do not want to have a student miss out because a delivery hasn't been made or rehearsal to be disrupted with food deliveries. The lunch or snack should be something that can easily be consumed in a 15-20 minute break.

• • A water bottle. It is important that the students can stay well-hydrated during rehearsal.

• • Comfortable clothes. We will be up dancing and moving a lot and it is important that students dress accordingly. We also request for students' safety that they only wear shoes with closed toes and heel. No flip-flops or sandals, please.

What play will the students be doing?

During our week students will learn, play, and perform The Vanishing of the Jolly Roger.

When is the theatre workshop?

The workshop will take place the week of July 10-14, 2023. Rehearsals will be from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm and the performance will be on Friday, July 14 at 6:30 pm.

Where will the workshop be taking place?

Rehearsals and performances will take place at NWC DeWitt Theater building in Orange City, IA

How much does it cost to participate, and how can I register my child(ren)?

$80 registration fee per student. T-shirts are also available for purchase for $10 during registration or purchase here.

Download the forms or Register online. Questions or need help? Contact us at  info@orangecityarts.org to request information.

How much are the tickets for the performance, and how can I get tickets?

General Admission Tickets are $7.00 and will be available online or at the door. Children 5 & under are free.

COVID Policies

Masks and vaccinations are encouraged but not required.