• DEADLINES:

  • Registration for the Junior Conservatory is due no later than June 15, 2023 at 11:59pm EDT.

• PROGRAM DATES: JUNIOR CONSERVATORY

  • Sunday, July 2 thru Thursday, July 13, 2023

    • All inclusive program, including:

      • room and board

      • a field trip to see a production at a local professional theater.

Junior Conservatory students will spend half the day receiving combined Musical Theatre training in voice, acting, and dance with leading teachers in each discipline.

Classes may include:

• MUSICAL THEATRE

  • Acting — improvisation, character development, and scene study

  • Dance — ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and hip-hop techniques

  • Voice — vocal technique, interpretation, and acting/movement for singers

Class sizes will remain small (14-16 students per class) to ensure personalized attention between teacher and students.

Afternoon, evenings and weekends will be devoted to the stage production, including:

• staging rehearsals

• choreography

• music rehearsals

Casting auditions for the production will take place in-person on the first day of the program.

MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION: SHREK JR.

All listed times are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Dates and times are subject to change as below is only a sample schedule.

YAA will continue this summer with strict health & safety protocols in place to provide the safest possible environment for students and staff during our in-person programming.

CLICK HERE to learn more about YAA’s Health & Safety Protocols.

We are so excited in 2023 to be returning to our Conservatory campus at campus at The Clarice!

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center is a professional performing arts complex located on the campus of the University of Maryland (UMD) at College Park, MD.

The UMD campus is conveniently located right of I-95 & I-495, within 30 minutes from most of the DC/Baltimore metro areas. The campus is also within 30 minutes from the region’s three major airports (DCA, BWI. IAD) and only a 10 minute drive from the New Carrolton Amtrak and MARC train stations, allowing easy access for those coming in from out of town.

The Clarice houses six major performance venues, and multiple rehearsal spaces, including:

• Kay Theatre

  • 626-seat, Broadway-quality proscenium theatre

  • Main performance space for YAA productions

  • Professional theatrical lighting, audio, fly system, & scene shop

• Kogod Theatre

  • 126-seat black box theatre

  • Rehearsal hall for YAA

  • Multipurpose black box with theatrical lighting and various seating configurations

• Choreography Studio

  • 1,349 sf dance studio featuring:

    • sprung wood floors

    • full wall mirror

    • piano

    • built-in stereo system

HOUSING

Conservatory students enjoy double dorm rooms on North Campus at the University of Maryland, College Park. The residential hall amenities include:

• Air-conditioned double room with shared bathroom

• Large common lounge on each residential floor

• Wireless internet connections

• 24-hour service desk

• Laundry facility in each residence hall

• Direct access to the North Dining facility

• Located across the street from The Clarice

CLICK HERE for a Virtual Tour of a double room on North Campus.

DINING

Conservatory students will be provided three meals a day in the 215 North Dining Hall, adjacent to the dorms.

CLICK HERE to see a sample menu from 251 North Dining Hall.

When not in class or rehearsing for the production, Conservatory students will have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular recreational activities which may include:

• Swimming at the Aquatic Center

• Rock climbing on the Climbing Wall

• Theatre field trip to see a production at a local professional theater

• Movie nights

• ...and more

Artistic Faculty & Staff

Click here to read more about our Summer Intensives Faculty & Staff.

Terry Eberhardt, Director of SPAI

Paul Heinemann, Assistant Director of SPAI, Junior Music Director

Karen Collins Blake, Camp Mom, SPAI

Kristina Friedgen, Artistic Administrator, Stage Director

Carole Graham Lehan, Stage Director & Acting: Senior

Jackie Bautista, Production Stage Manager & COVID Compliance Officer

Kathryn Bailey,  Assistant Vocal Director

Wayne Allen  Lead Counselor

Colleen Daly, Voice

Madeline Rodrigue, Director of Dance

Julia Rippon, Dance: Junior

Alex Palting, Acting: Junior

Luke Spence, Director of Trumpet Academy

Malcolm Washington, Music Theory

Rolando Sanz, Producing Artistic Director

All students are automatically accepted into the Conservatory program upon registration.

Students should register by May 1, 2023 at 11:59pm EDT to guarantee a spot in the program.

VIDEO AUDITIONS (FOR PLACEMENT):

All students are accepted into the program upon completion of registration. A video audition will be required after registration for class placement purposes only. Students who do not submit placement videos will be considered novices and placed accordingly.

• Please prepare a video recording of a musical theatre song (32 bars or full song).

  • OPTIONAL: You may add a second song of a contrasting style (32 bars or full song) OR a 30-60 second monologue.

  • The optional second song or monologue should be in the same video recording.

IN-PERSON CASTING AUDITIONS (FOR PRODUCTIONS):

Casting auditions for roles in the Production will take place separately during the first day of each session.

If you are interested in learning more about our Daytime Junior Academy program (which includes full production in 2023), click here.

TBA Date

• MANDATORY Virtual Orientation for all students and families

  • Zoom link forthcoming to registered families.

Junior Conservatory

• Early-Bird Discount: ($200 discount)

  • $3,295 (automatically applied at registration through January 31, 2023)

    • includes Room and Board

• Regular Tuition:

  • $3,495 per two-week fully in-person session

    • includes Room and Board

Payment:

• A deposit of $500 is due upon registration

• 2nd payment of half of the remaining balance is due by May 1, 2023 (non-refundable).

• Final balance due on June 1, 2023 (non-refundable).

• Alternative payment plans can be arranged by contacting info@yaa.org.

Tuition Includes:

• Participation in the Junior Conservatory's in-person production: SHREK JR

• All morning classes, PLUS all afternoon, evening, and weekend rehearsals and social activities

• Extended recreational activities, which may include:

  • Movie nights

  • Rock wall climbing

  • Swimming

  • Field trip to see a production at a local professional theater.

  • ...and more

• A two-week summer overnight intensive experience that you won't soon forget!

Cancellation Policy: Should you need to withdraw from the program for any reason, please inform us in writing. If you have any funds due to you based on the above policy, we will return them immediately to the credit card on file in your account.

• PLEASE NOTE: Should we need to cease in-person programming for health and safety reasons, YAA will replace the cancelled in-person sessions with similar virtual ones and there will be a price adjustment for the costs of room and board only.

• Those who wish to be considered for a scholarship or financial aid need to submit an application to us no later than June 1, 2023.

• Please contact Lisa Larragoite at lisa@yaa.org for more information.

• Tuition Assistance is limited.