At CSOPA, we provide the following programs for those who are interested in exploring something more than just our default classes:
Mainstage Program
Want to perform infront of an actual crowd?
Please view the following information on our MainStage Program:
Lovingly compared as “the rep hockey of youth theatre programs,” by some of our previous students,
the MainStage program is a high intensity, pre-professional musical theatre program by audition only.
This class is a performance/educational hybrid designed with both Theatre career and life launching
skills in mind.
Each year CSOPA mounts a professional musical theatre production giving focus and real life training
to our senior students ages 13-19.
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Prerequisite to auditions, students must have taken a
performance-based class at CSOPA within the past year. Students learn all aspects of performing in a
professional theatrical production on a full scale stage.
Participants rehearse and prepare the acting, choreography and vocal components of the show for
five months with our professional directing team in acting, vocals and dance. They will work with
industry professional technicians for lighting, sound, set design, and costumes.
The Mainstage program promotes excellence in performance as well as teaches teamwork,
confidence and a commitment to work ethics. Students in Grade 10 to 12 may potentially apply to
their high school for credits in performing arts. 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 holidays in November, December and January. There are
a few days of school in January students must be prepared to miss.
It is also noted that for our high school students, our rehearsal and show schedule often coincides
with exam dates. Speaking to your teachers in advance about alternative exam arrangements is
crucial.
After a short break, MainStage students return in February to hone their musical theatre skills during
the Spring term program. There is a lot to theatre we don’t always get the chance to teach about
during our busy 5 mainstage months. Spring Term focuses on in-depth skill building in Dance stylings,
Acting history and textwork, Vocal Development, and more! (More information about Spring Term can
be found above).
Our Mainstage productions have a reputation of excellence in theatre. In 2024, CSOPA’s annual
Mainstage production ran for 15 public performances at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre (a 575 seat
theatre) and over 5,875 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 Mainstage program has a 11 show run spanning January 3-20, 2027. Students MUST be available
every day within these dates for dress rehearsals and shows. 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.
Junior Mainstage Program
Junior Mainstage Program:
Junior Mainstage is designed for students not yet old enough for mainstage to be part of the show in
an ensemble capacity. They come to half the rehearsal time and will not be considered for principal
roles. This class is meant to be taken alongside a regular CSOPA class such as Intermediate Musical.
Mainstage Spring Term Program
Mainstage Spring Term Program:
After the show concludes in January. Mainstage comes once a week on Mondays 4:00-6:00pm for
skill building. Students not in Mainstage are welcome to enroll in this term class.
Want to get yourself or your child involved in the Mainstage or Junior Mainstage Program(s)?
Please reach out to us by filling out the following form on this site, please include your email address, name and subject of your message because as it currently stands we do not take registrations for our mainstage program and our junior mainstage program, acceptance into these programs is done via audition so if interested please reach out to us with a message via the form below so we can see where to go from there.
Some Images From Our Previous Mainstage (Wizard of Oz) Program(s):
