Youth Theater Festival
Texas Youth Play Festival 
June 10-14, 2009, Brenham, Texas

ALL fees are due now and go up on MAY 15!

Info for: Performers, Crew, Siblings, Other Students, and Parents

Please read this info carefully.  Participation is a huge financial and time commitment.

PERFORMERS
Festival fee is covered in the class fee.
Teen Touring Troupe
Austin
Bastrop

Plus room and board.

Registration Deadlines: 
Austin:  Feb. 25, 2009
Bastrop:  call 303-5516


For EASY Theatre YOUTH PERFORMERS ages 12-19. 

This is a great opportunity for students to continue to perform and meet other youth performers from around the state. 

The students will perform along with 14 other youth companies from around the state.  This year the festival site is at Blinn College, Brenham, Texas

The $80 festival fee covers:

  • Festival entry and performance fees
  • Six workshops taught by theatre professionals
  • Tickets to all Festival performances
  • Parties and social events
  • Sunday Awards Brunch
  • Festival T-shirt
  • Show T-shirt
What is not covered is room and board during the festival.  See parent info below.

What you can expect during the festival:

  • One scheduled rehearsal to familiarize performers with the stage and theater. *
  • Thursday afternoon official kickoff, party, and evening performances 
  • Friday and Saturday morning workshops with theatre instructors from around the state.*
  • Friday and Saturday afternoon performances and critiques*
  • Friday and Saturday dinners on you own
  • Friday and Saturday evening performances and critiques*
  • Scheduled social events
  • Saturday evening party with the festival participants.
  • Sunday Brunch and Award Ceremony to announce the recipients of the All Star Cast and Backstage Awards. 
* While at the festival, the cast and crew are required to attend six scheduled workshops, other companies' performances (when age appropriate), and a rehearsal.  All other festival events are optional.  If you don't feel that you can attend full day and evenings of classes and shows, then do not sign up as a performer or crew member.  Days are long running from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and then the parties start. 

For those who've paid to attend the festival ( but are not part of a crew or cast) everything is optional. 

CREW
$100 
Plus room and board.
For EASY Theatre youth CREW MEMBERS between the ages of 12-19. 

Crew will rehearse with the cast, and be at all performances. 

This year the festival site is at Blinn College, Brenham, Texas

The $100 fee covers:

  • All rehearsals and performances
  • Festival entry and performance fees
  • Six workshops taught by theatre professionals at the Festival
  • Tickets to all Festival performances
  • Parties and social events
  • Sunday Awards Brunch
  • Festival T-shirt
  • Show T-shirt
What is not covered is room and board during the festival.  See parent info below.

What you can expect during the festival:Wednesday cast rehearsals

  • One scheduled rehearsal to familiarize performers with the stage and theater. *
  • Thursday afternoon official kickoff, party, and evening performances 
  • Friday and Saturday morning workshops with theatre instructors from around the state.*
  • Friday and Saturday afternoon performances and critiques*
  • Friday and Saturday dinners on you own
  • Friday and Saturday evening performances and critiques*
  • Scheduled social events
  • Saturday evening party with the festival participants.
  • Sunday Brunch and Award Ceremony to announce the recipients of the All Star Cast and Backstage Awards.
  • * While at the festival, the cast and crew are required to attend six scheduled workshops, other companies' performances (when age appropriate), and a rehearsal.  All other festival events are optional.  If you don't feel that you can attend full day and evenings of classes and shows, then do not sign up as a performer or crew member.  Days are long running from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and then the parties start. 

    For those who've paid to attend the festival (but who are not part of a crew or cast) everything is optional.

    SIBLINGS

    $75 festival fee (or $72 cash)
    Plus room and board.
    For the SIBLINGS (ages 5-11) of EASY Theatre Festival performers or crew who are attending the festival with their parents.

    This year the festival site is at Blinn College, Brenham, Texas

    The $75 festival fee covers:

    • Organizational meeting
    • Six age-appropriate workshops taught by theatre professionals
    • Tickets to all Festival performances
    • Parties and social events
    • Sunday Awards Brunch
    • Festival T-shirt
    What is not covered is room and board during the festival.  See parent info below.

    What you can expect during the festival:

    • Friday and Saturday morning workshops with theatre instructors from around the state.
    • Afternoon performances
    • Dinner on you own
    • Evening performances
    • Back to your accommodations for the night to rest up so you can begin the whole process again the next day
    • Saturday evening party with the festival participants.
    • Sunday Brunch and Award Ceremony to announce the recipients of the All Star Cast and Backstage Awards. 
    • Since the children will be participating under the EASY Theatre banner, there will be one mandatory organizational meeting for the siblings and parents prior to the festival. 
    While at the festival registered siblings' attendance to age appropriate shows and workshops is totally optional.
    My Other 
    Students

    $75 festival fee (or $72 cash)
    Plus room and board.
    For students from my other groups (ages 5-19) who are attending the festival with their parents.  Note Parents of 18 &19 year olds do not have to attend.

    This year the festival site is at Blinn College, Brenham, Texas

    The $75 festival fee covers:

    • Organizational meeting
    • Six age-appropriate workshops taught by theatre professionals
    • Tickets to all Festival performances
    • Parties and social events
    • Sunday Awards Brunch
    • Festival T-shirt
    What is not covered is room and board during the festival.  See parent info below.

    What you can expect during the festival:

    • Friday and Saturday morning workshops with theatre instructors from around the state.
    • Campus lunch at a (reasonable catered price).  The students may also leave campus for lunch with their parents, or a chaperone (with prior parental permission).
    • Afternoon performances
    • Dinner on you own
    • Evening performances
    • Back to your accommodations for the night to rest up so you can begin the whole process again the next day
    • Saturday evening party with the festival participants.
    • Sunday Brunch and Award Ceremony to announce the recipients of the All Star Cast and Backstage Awards. 
    • Since the children will be participating under the EASY Theatre banner, there will be one mandatory organizational meeting for the siblings and parents prior to the festival. 
    While at the festival registered siblings' attendance to age appropriate shows and workshops is totally optional.

    Call me and let me know your intent.

    PARENTS

    $63 (or $60 cash)
    Plus room and board.
    Pay fees for 
    events attended.

    If you want a $13 festival t-shirt, then add it to your cart by clicking here:


    (or $12 cash)

    One reason that this theatre festival and conference workshop is reasonably priced is because parents make arrangements for their lodging, meals, transportation, and are responsible for getting their children to and from the festival events.

    We've taken EASY Theatre Youth Troupes to this wonderful festival in the past.  Parents found it preferable to arrange their own accommodations.  This ranged from camping, staying with relatives, to sharing hotel rooms with other participants.  Traditionally most of our Youth Troupe parents attend the festival with their children, or vacation in the same city while their children attend the festival.  By giving families the ability to make their own accommodation arrangements and keep their children with them, allows families to control their expenses. Where the children stay is almost immaterial, since almost all their time is spent at festival events.

    Parents and non-participating family members may purchase tickets to individual performance blocks (around $8-10) and the Awards Ceremony and Brunch (around $15).  A better buy is the all festival pass for $60 which includes all the shows and workshops, plus the Awards Ceremony and Brunch on Sunday. 

    Parents will be given info on the age appropriateness of each play and will choose which shows they wish their children to see.  Directors, cast, and crew sit together during shows.  Parents, guests, and siblings may also sit with us.  If your child isn't attending a show, they need to be with you.  In the past there has been one show per year which contained themes which I felt were appropriate for my teen, but not my younger child.  I left my teen with another parent and took my younger child back to the hotel for a nap and a swim.

    In the past the amount of parental involvement has ranged from sending their child to the campus with another parent and attending only their child's show, all the way to staying with and guiding their child to each workshop, meal, and play.  There have also been parents who sent their child with another family for the event.  Often it depends on the age of the child and the wishes of the parent.  For example:  My teen (like most of the participants there) got himself to all his classes, plays, rehearsal, and meals; while I took my 5 year old to all her events.

    Page up for more info.

    If parents want a t-shirt it is $13.
    Linda Lee takes photos at the conference and if you want a CD it is $15 (cash or $16 PayPal) and she will mail it to you after the conference.

    Some 
    LODGING
    Options
    HOTEL INFORMATION 

    Brenham is a top tourist destination spot with a limited number of hotels and rooms available, so please make your reservations early. We have reserved space at two hotels, listed below. Ask for the Texas Nonprofit Theatres' Group Rate. 

    Comfort Suites of Brenham

    2350 S Day Street
    Brenham, TX 77833
    Reservations: 979-421-8100

    Rates: $109+tax for Single King and Queen Doubles. All rooms are suites
    100% Smoke Free Hotel

    CUT OFF DATE:
    Friday, May 15, 2009 

    Amenities:
    * Complimentary Hot Breakfast Buffet
    * Interior Corridors
    * Indoor Heated Pool/Whirlpool/Hot Tub
    * Cable/Satellite TV
    * Computer hook-up
    * Hi-speed Web Service
    * In rooms: Iron, ironing board, hair dryer, coffee maker, mini refrigerator, microwave
    * Limited number of Handicap Rooms

    ****************************** 
    Holiday Inn Express 
    Hotel & Suites

    555 Hwy 290 W,
    Brenham, TX 77833
    Reservations: 979-836-4590

    Rates: $99+tax for double standard and mini suites
    $105+tax for double suites

    CUT OFF DATE:
    Friday, May 27, 2009

    Amenities:
    * Hot Breakfast Buffet
    * Cable/Satellite TV
    * High speed Internet Service
    * Wireless data connection
    * In rooms: Iron, ironing board, hair dryer, coffee maker, mini refrigerator, microwave
    * In Double Suites: all of the above with stove and full size refrigerator
    * Business Center
    * Health & Fitness Center, Sauna, Whirlpool
    * Outdoor pool, hot tub

    Check out other hotels in the area.

    Youth Theater Festival
    I must collect the payments in March and send all our payments in together.
    June 9 - 14, 2008
    Description
    Festival Fee
    Festival Fee for Performers
    More info
    This is an opportunity for those  taking either of the music/dance classes, or the play classes who wish to continue performing for an even larger audience at the a Texas statewide theatre and meet other youth performers from around the state.
    Part of the class fee.
    Festival Fee for Crew
    More info
    This is for kids 12-19 who would like to be part of the crew for our festival play and attend the festival workshops and events with us.
    $100 due in February
    Festival Fee for Siblings of Performers
    More info
    This is for siblings (age 5-11) of  performers who wish to attend the festival workshops and events with us.
    $75 due in April
    Festival Fee for our Students who aren't in the festival show.
    More info
    This is for any of Engela's students who wish to attend the festival workshops and events with us.
    $75 due in April
    Festival Fee for Parents of Performers and Engela's Students
    More info
    This is for the all festival pass for parents who'd like to attend all the workshops, shows, and the Sunday Awards Brunch.  Otherwise events are prices separately. $63 due in March
    More if paid in after May 7.
    Parents:  More summer theatre festival info can be found here.

     

    Companies at last year's festival

    National Endowment for the Arts
    Texas Commision on the ArtsTexans for the Arts
    EASY Theatre's Home Page Home page of john daniels, jr.