Each year CSOPA mounts a professional musical theatre production giving focus and real life training to our senior students age 12-18. Auditions for roles in our annual January production are held in the June .
Students learn all aspects of performing in a professional theatrical production on a professional stage. The actors prepare the acting, dance and vocals components of the show for five months with our professional artistic director, music director and choreographer. CSOPA also hires a professional designers for our set, lighting, sound and costumes.
The MainStage program promotes excellence in performance as well as teaches team work, confidence and a commitment to work ethics. Students in Grade 10 to 12 may apply to their high school for credits in performing arts.
Rehearsals for the Main Stage cast start in September. The students must commit to 12 – 20 hours per week in the fall to rehearsals. Students must be available Mondays and Fridays from 4-8 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. as well as most Sundays and holidays in November, December and January.
After a short break in February MainStage students can continue to work on their musical theatre skills during the spring term program open only to the MainStage cast. In this term students will work on skill building in all three areas: vocals, dance, acting. Students will prepare short pieces and plays for presentation at CSOPA Spring Festival in early June.
Our MainStage productions have a reputation of excellence in theatre. In 2011 CSOPA’s annual MainStage production ran for 13 public performances at the new Chilliwack Cultural Centre (a 580 seat theatre) and over 4700 people attended the performances. Over 50 community volunteers, parents and work experience students provide the work force to build the set, props, costumes and work the show as crew.
The program fees include all costumes, script, music and a show t-shirt. Students will need to purchase specific undergarments, their own basic stage makeup kit and dance slippers or dance shoes.
The Intermediate Musical Theatre Program is a performance-based class for students aged 10-15. It expands and develops on the knowledge base from the teachings of the Junior Musical Theatre Program, while preparing students for future theatre study, such as CSOPA’s Mainstage Musical Theatre Program. The first part of the course will focus on performance technique in acting, singing and dance. Once a strong performance base has been established, students will then rehearse and prepare a small-scale musical theatre production to be performed at the annual CSOPA Spring Festival.
CSOPA’s Junior Program introduces children ages 8 and 9 to the world of musical theatre. The Program is split into two terms, theory & production. The theory term lays the foundation for basic music theory, singing technique, acting & dancing principles, as well as beginner stage management and script study practices. The production term applies these skills to the rehearsal & performance of a musical theatre production. This program prepares students for further study in the performing arts, including CSOPA’s Intermediate Musical Theatre Program. Through individual and group participation, students will benefit from increased confidence, clarity of speech, thought & emotion, personal & social awareness, and the ability to problem-solve & think creatively.
