2025 Youth Summer Program
Pre-Teen Musical Theatre Intensive
For students entering grades 5-8 in fall 2025.
Program Description
- Three Weeks: July 21 – August 9, 2025
- Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
- Performances take place on Saturday, August 9 at 2pm and 6pm.
A great fit for students looking for focused, fast-paced theatre training. The pre-teen program introduces students to the joy of participating in a show. Students work intensely with a director, choreographer and music director over the course of three weeks to perform a junior production of a Broadway show. Broadway Junior musicals are condensed, author-approved versions of classic musicals. Students attend daily classes where material from the show is used to teach them skills in areas of music, drama and dance. Two performances of a 60-minute Broadway Junior show are held at the end of the program.
Please note, this is an intensive program which works at a fast pace and expects students to be flexible, adaptable, responsible, focused and capable of handling a high sensory environment.
2025 Tuition
- $1,260 (non-refundable)
Registration
Active conservatory students receive early registration access on Thursday, February 20 at 12 PM. Registration opens to the public on Friday, February 21 at 12 PM.
At the time of registration, you may choose to pay just the $300 deposit or the full tuition. Please fill-in all requested information about your student online. Once you complete your order, you will have registered your student. Additional registration material requests will be included in your registration order confirmation email. You can also register by phone at 877.571.7469.
Registration for female identifying students is now full. Click below to join the wait list.
Schedule
| Dates | Schedule |
|---|---|
| Thursday, February 20, 2025 at noon | Registration Opens for Conservatory Students |
| Friday, February 21, 2025 at noon | Registration Opens for the Public |
| Saturday, May 31, 2025 | Balances and Additional Registration Materials are Due |
YSP Pre-Teen Schedule
| Date | Schedule |
|---|---|
| Monday, July 21 | Program Begins, Monday- Friday: 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Classes in Music, Drama, & Dance 11:30 AM - 12 PM: Lunch (Students are asked to bring bag lunches) 12 PM - 2:30 PM: Rehearsals |
| Saturday, August 9 | Performances at 2 PM & 6 PM |
Auditions
Auditions will take place during the first day of the program. All Broadway Junior shows have many featured male and female roles as well as ensemble casts of characters. All participants will be cast in the production. Cast size will be 30-40. Audition materials will be sent to registered students in June after all registration materials have been completed and submitted.
About the Show
Guys and Dolls JR.
Book by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling
Music by Frank Loesser
Set in Damon Runyon’s New York City, Guys and Dolls JR. follows gambler, Nathan Detroit, as he tries to find the cash to set up the biggest crap game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck. Meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for fourteen years without ever getting married. Nathan turns to fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for the dough, but Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown. Guys and Dolls JR. takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, but everyone eventually ends up right where they belong.
Meet Our Educators
Jennifer Ivascyn-Dowdle
Jennifer Ivascyn-Dowdle (Director) is a Central Massachusetts native. Jennifer received her B.A. in Political Science from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). She was a member of Northwestern’s first Musical Theater Program and trained alongside Heather Headley (Lion King, Aida), Jason Moore (Avenue Q), Greg Berlanti (Dawson’s Creek, Love Simon) and Jason Winer (Modern Family). Jennifer has worked as an Actors Equity performer in Chicago productions of West Side Story, Guys & Dolls and The Will Rogers Follies. Favorite roles include Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors) and Graciella (West Side Story). Jennifer spent three years performing as a Radio City Rockette in The Great Radio City Spectacular with Paige O’Hara and Maurice Hines (Las Vegas) and The Radio City Christmas Spectacular (NYC). For the past 20 years, Jennifer has taught history, English as a Second Language (ESL), acting and dance in Worcester County public schools. She possesses a M.Ed. from Worcester State University and Massachusetts Teaching Certifications in Communication & Performing Arts, Social Studies and ESL. Jennifer has served as an adjudicator and clinician for the Central Massachusetts Show Choir Festival, and has directed and choreographed productions at Grafton High School and Worcester Academy Middle School.
Leah Marley
Leah Marley (Pre-Teen Music Director) graduated from Anna Maria College with a BA in music education in 2017. Since then, she has been teaching elementary music in the Worcester Public Schools. Leah is a classically trained pianist and has music directed many theater productions in the area including Framingham State University and Clark University. She also is an accompanist and is currently the accompanist for the newly founded Many Voices Youth Singers of Mechanics Hall.
Jilanne Hobson
Jilanne Hobson (Choreographer) is a highly trained dance instructor in tap, jazz, musical theater and ballet with over 25 years of experience teaching all levels of dancers. She received her Bachelor of Performing Arts at Oklahoma City University under the direction of Jo Rowan. Jilanne then went on to work professionally in various settings, including the Costa Classica cruise line, at Opryland USA in Nashville and as a featured performer at Caesar’s Palace in Atlantic City for Anita Mann Productions. She trained at The Edge Dance Studio in Los Angeles and also assisted Tony Capolla on the Joe Tremaine Convention circuit. Besides being a dance instructor, Jilanne is a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant, who treats patients ranging from pediatric to geriatric in gross motor activity, balance, coordination and strength training. Jilanne is also a Les Mills Certified fitness instructor, teaching classes in Body Combat and Body Flow.
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