Dear Parents and Students s20

Kingsport’s ShowTime 2017Student ShowChoir Cast Member Performance Information & Guidelines

Introduction Thanks to our wonderful sponsors – Eastman, Food City, and WJHL-TV—we are going to present ShowTime 2017 as part of Kingsport’s Centennial Celebration. It is our goal to provide an early summer ShowTime experience for all three Student ShowChoirs. The Student ShowChoirs will perform as student cast members in our 2017 ShowTime performances on July 7th, 8th, and 9th. The shows will be presented in the Toy F. Reid Auditorium at the Eastman Employee Center.

Workshop Auditions will be held in May as advertised, and classes for the student ShowChoir cast will meet 2 or 3 times a week for the month of June. The length of class times are designed to be fun for the students, accomplish our goals, and complete the dance routines before the rehearsals begin at Eastman. We are looking forward to a great summer of classes, rehearsals, and shows.

The theme for ShowTime 2017 will be “The Spirit of Kingsport” A Centennial Celebration of music and dance through the decades. As usual, we will have musical selections that include Broadway, popular, rock, country, gospel, and patriotic song and dance routines. We include a wide variety of styles for family-entertainment. We usually have approximately 3,500 people in attendance.

After a seven-year hiatus, this will be our 24th major summer ShowTime event, and we are looking forward to working with our students. Our ShowTime students are very special. All students are welcome to attend our Workshop Audition—please share this information with your friends. We generally have 12 to 18 students in each age/grade group for the three ShowChoirs. If you need additional information, you may call 423-534-8874 or go to our website: www.KingsportShowTime.com .Thank you in advance for helping us with this ShowTime 2017 event. With your help, we will have great classes and a wonderful show !

General ShowTime Information Kingsport’s ShowTime is a musical revue and includes various styles and forms of music and dance—including Pop, Rock, Gospel, Country, and Broadway. The cast includes adults, teens, and children and was designed to provide family entertainment for the Kingsport community presented by people from the Kingsport area community.

ShowTime is not a talent show, although there are often opportunities for special parts or solos. The ShowChoir students will audition for solos or special parts in mid-June. The classes are fun and the Show Choirs, Dancers, and Boys are challenged by the opportunity to work together joining with the cast and crew to present exciting, family-oriented- entertainment.

Classes will begin the first Saturday of June, and we will continue with classes and rehearsals the entire month of June. The classes will be held at The Center For Performing Arts studio on Eastman Road in Kingsport. The required technical and dress rehearsals week will be July 26 – 29, and July 5 -6 with performances scheduled for July 7, 8, and 9 at Eastman’s Toy F. Reid Auditorium.

These classes for the students have been developed as performance classes that build on the instruction that they receive in the ShowChoir classes. The ShowChoirs will study musical revue (theatrical dance) culminating with a performance as part of the ShowTime performance. The classes will move quickly with the students learning 5 or more musical numbers for ShowTime.

Attendance Policy Due to the limited time the students have to learn the songs for performance, they may not miss class more than two classes (unless excused in advance) and are required to attend all the rehearsals (as necessary for their performance) the week prior to the performance when we are at Eastman. Classes begin with a Workshop on Saturday, June 3rd.

The Class Schedules may be altered slightly if necessary for the majority of students to attend (call if you have a problem with the schedule) or for special choreography. We often have guest choreographers. Absence from class may limit the number of songs in which the dancer may perform or require the student to be omitted from the performance.

When we are at Eastman—no young children are allowed in the lobby or in the theater unless supervised by an adult. No sibling of a ShowChoir member is allowed to watch unless seated with parents. Parents may take photos or videos of the Dress Rehearsals, but not at the performances. We will have a professional videographer to video the performances and videos will be available for purchase. Musical Theater Auditions Auditions will be held late May and/or early June. Occasionally, we hold workshops to help to improve theatrical performances for the new and/or experienced cast members. All young children and teenage cast members should plan to attend the workshops as notified via email or announced in class and on the ShowTime website: www.KingsportShowTime.com.

Location of Classes Most classes will be held at the Center for Performing Arts Studios located at 727 North Eastman Road in Kingsport.

Tickets for the ShowTime Centennial Performances Tickets are available from Vendini Ticket Sales through the ShowTime website, or at the Eastman Employee Center. Reserved Seats - $25 and $15 and General Admission $8 (Balcony) Students will receive general admission tickets 2 per family for the show of your choice. We are working on a plan so that the equivalent of these tickets will be refunded/exchanged for reserved seating. 1

Student Attire, Costumes, & Shoe Girl students are required to wear appropriate clothing with black tank-style leotards, black jazz style pants, or dance pants (shorts or dance skirt), and black character-style shoes for class rehearsals and shows (as pictured). Girls will need suntan tights for dress rehearsals and performances. Younger girls may wear the same style with one strap in a lower heel (like a tap shoe without the taps). The material is usually a man- made leather-look style not shiny.

Boys will wear comfortable clothes and shoes with smooth soles (not flip flops). Boys will be required to have black dress pants, black dress shoes, and white long sleeve shirts for the performances. Other items may also be required.

While most costumes will be provided by ShowTime, the students may be required to provide some items as necessary for performances. In previous years, for example, students have needed, black pants, tennis shoes, or an old tie and jacket, white sandals, or a summer sundress. We will send this type of information as soon as we can if you need to provide specific items. We may not have access to “plus size” costumes or adult size costumes for the younger children. We will do the best we can to fit each student. If alterations or other special items must be purchased, we may require help from the parents. Our costumes sizes for the younger children (ages 4 – 10) range from size 3 to size 12 -14 in regular sizes. Adult sizes range from small to large.

Volunteers And, parents are needed to volunteer to help in some area of the production: backstage, crew on sets, set up, take down, sewing, clean up, ushers, etc…The expectation is that a family representative (usually a parent) will volunteer to help in some capacity. When you are working backstage or performing, you are not required to have a ticket. We depend on volunteers for success! Student ShowChoirs Meeting Days & Class Fees Classes are scheduled to meet for 6 classes, and 2 workshops. Additional classes/ workshops/ rehearsals do not require an additional fee. The classes for young children will be held on Mondays/Wednesday and the Senior ShowChoir students meet on Tuesdays/Thursdays beginning on the week of June 5th. Additional class meetings or Saturday rehearsals may be required for special numbers or extra rehearsals. Other rehearsals and possible parade participation for the 4th of July will be announced.

All ShowChoirs Saturday Workshops: June 3 and June 17 Primary Girls Cast Ages 5 – 9, Grades K – 4 th Mondays- Wednesdays 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Class Fee $ 80 Boys Cast Ages 5 - 14 Wednesdays 5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Class Fee $ 50 Junior Boys & Girls Cast Ages 10 – 13 Grades 5 th – 8 th Mondays & Wednesdays 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Class Fee $100 Seniors Boys & Girls Cast Ages 14 – 18 Grades 9 th – 12 th Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Class Fee $ 120

Rehearsal Schedule at Eastman - Attendance This Week Is Mandatory June 26—First half of show & Finale June 27—Second half of show & Finale June 28—Full Show Rehearsal June 29th Technical Rehearsal (with costumes) July 5 Technical Rehearsal (with costumes) July 6 th Full Dress Rehearsal Performances: July 7 @ 7:30 p.m., July 8 @ 7:30 p.m., July 9 @ 2:30 p.m.

Fee Policy ---Class Fees & Registration The registration form with the class fee is due on or prior to June 3. The class fee is not refundable after June 5. Class sizes will be limited. The class fees are based on the number of hours of class and the level of the student. Please bring the completed registration form and the class fee to the June 3rd Workshop, or mail the completed and signed registration form with class fee to: Louise Dickson, Kingsport ShowTime 1316 Linville Street, Kingsport, TN 37660. We need this registration form as soon as possible to order the costumes and plan the choreography. Other Notes A few scholarships are available for students with financial needs. You will need to write a letter explaining the need for financial assistance, include a copy of the registration form, and provide a letter of recommendation from an educator, or a non-relative.

The students will be placed in class based on size of costumes, age, and the “appearance” of the groups. For example, some 8th graders may be in the Junior group or some 4th graders may be moved to Junior group, etc. ShowTime does not have access to “plus size” girls or women’s costumes. All costumes belong to ShowTime and must be returned at the Final performance. Photos & Videos for Program The tentative dates for Class Group Photos for the printed program are the third week of June. We will have a professional videographer for the performance. Ordering instructions will be announced. Photographs and videotapes of classes, rehearsals, and performances may be used in programs, on the ShowTime Webpage, and for ShowTime publicity.

More information is available on our Website: www.KingsportShowTime.com and on Facebook: Kingsport’s ShowTime. 2