For Parents: An Overview of the RFKT Programs
All rehearsals are held at The Random Farms Performing Arts Center in Elmsford.
All dress rehearsals and performances are held at the Tarrytown Music Hall.
These are large-scale, high-budget, commercial productions that are put on twice a year - once in the winter and once in the summer. They run for two weekends at The Tarrytown Music Hall. Participation is by audition only. Auditions are held in the fall for the February show and in the winter for the August show.
Rehearsals are held in the evenings (4:30-8:30 in the winter, 5:00-9:00 in the summer) 3-5 times a week (depending on role) for three weeks before the show opens, plus every night the week before the show. Auditions are open to anyone in elementary school through college, regardless of whether or not you participate in the Workshops. No prior experience is needed to audition. RFKT typically has 150-300 actors audition for its Mainstage productions. 4 casts of 35 are cast in the show. The casts rehearse two at a time but perform separately (each cast does aprox. 2 shows).
The Mainstage cast is made up of principal and ensemble roles. Actors cast in a principal role will have speaking lines and/or solos. Actors in the ensemble sing and dance as part of a group but do not always have individual lines or solos.
There is no fee to audition for a Mainstage production. A cast list is posted aproximately one week after auditions. If you are cast in the show, there is a $445 registration fee.
The workshops are RFKT's most popular program! We have taken classic Broadway shows and condensed them into easy-to-learn "mini musicals" that give everyone a chance to shine. It is the perfect place to hone your skills. The workshops are appropriate for kids with all levels of experience. The goal is for children to obtain musical theater training while rehearsing for a show. The "process" - especially teamwork and self-esteem - is stressed as much as the "product" - a 35-55 minute performance for family and friends.
The workshops are open to children in 2nd-4th grade and 5th-8th grade.
The workshops are divided into sections (Group A, Group B, Group C, etc.). Each section has 22 children in it. Each section puts on its own performance. There is no double casting or chorus - everyone has a featured part.
A workshop is comprised of aprox. 10 sessions. Each session is 2 hrs. 15min. long. The first session is the audition. Although everyone will end up with a speaking and singing role, going through the audition process is an important part of the learning experience. The next seven sessions are the rehearsals. The ninth session is a dress rehearsal at the theater. The tenth session is a final dress rehearsal, followed by the performance. The ten sessions are usually spread out over a 4-6 week period. A typical workshop will rehearse either on Saturdays or on Sundays (weeknights are sometimes offered as well). When choosing a group, parents can pick the time andday that is most convenient for them
There is a workshop in the fall (September/October/November), winter (January/February/March) and spring (March/April/May). Summer Workshop Instensives (9am-3pm, three days a week) at the beginning and end of the summer.
A workshop costs $395. This fee is paid before the workshop starts (registration begins aproximately 3 months before the program starts).
RFKT offers Advanced Workshops for 4th-8th graders and Teen Productions for 9th-12th graders. The Advanced Workshop has the same formula as the regular Worskhop, but is geared towards the more experienced performer. The show is often longer and there are more complex harmonies and choreography.
Performers must audition to be part of the Advancd Workshop. If they audition, and are placed in the program, they will be guarunteed a role, just like in the Workshop. Auditions for specific roles happen at the first rehearsal and, just like the regular Workshop, all performers will get a speaking/singing role.
Those who have participated in a past Advanced Workshop, Teen Production or Mainstage do not need to audition to be placed into the program. Those people are automatically eligible to register without an audition.
There is no fee to audition for the Advancd Workshop or Teen Production. If placed in the program, performers register and pay the $425 fee.
For high school and college students only. The Edge is a company for the serious actor looking to perform challenging material in a professional setting. Upon acceptance into the company, members are guaranteed a role in all productions with The Edge. Members will also help to choose future shows, develop new programs and work on productions in a technical capacity. Members of the company will play an integral role in marketing and publicity, fundraising and production. Company members will be chosen to serve as Assistant Directors, Stage Managers and Associate Choreographers.
Members will work on shows geared towards a mature audience, alongside staff that will include RFKT directors and special Broadway guest artists.
Acceptance into the company is by audition only. Those cast ipay a membership fee of $350. This guarantees you a role in any future productions produced through The Edge. It also pays for participation in one production. If, for any reason, you are unable to participate in the upcoming production, your membership fee may be credited towards any future production at The Edge.
This program was created for kids in Kindergarten through second grade. It is just like the regular Workshop, in that every child will get a part with speaking lines, solos and a terrific costume. However, the actual performance will be much shorter, and the rehearsals will have a greater emphasis on creative drama and improvisation.
Rehearsals are once a week for 1hr. 15min. There are a total of ten sessions: the role placement, seven rehearsals, a dress rehearsal and a final dress rehearsal and performance.
Registration is $325.
SIGN ME UP!
To register for any of the RFKT programs, go to www.randomfarms.com/workshops.hml and look for the registration link. If you know your child wants to participate in a Workshop, it is best to sign up early. The regular Workshops and Jellybeans often start to fill within the first twenty minutes of registration!
For more information, including what specific shows are being presented, schedules, and registration start dates, click on any of the programs above.
