Over the past few months our production teams have been working together to figure out a plan for our SPRING IN-PERSON productions of Green Day’s AMERICAN IDIOT, Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR as well as plans for presenting our productions of INTO THE WOODS JR , FROZEN JR and RAGTIME. We have put together what we hope you will find to be a very cautious and safe plan for both rehearsals and performances ensuring our community’s ability to put on socially-distanced in-person performances. While students aren’t able to take part in traditional theatre in school and elsewhere we are committed to providing a place where in-person collaboration and creation can take place; and safely. 

With this opening comes great responsibilities for all of us. Please take the time to read through and familiarize your student with OVATIONS THEATRE’s new safety policies and procedures for in-person performances. We expect all parents, students, and production members to review these guidelines to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that we are all taking the precautions necessary to keep everyone healthy. We appreciate your patience, understanding, and cooperation as we all work together to keep our environment safe.

MARYLAND STATE & CDC GUIDELINES

OVATIONS THEATRE follows all Maryland State and CDC guidelines. Depending on the circumstances, we may need to go back to virtual-only classes. All parents, students, and production teams should be fully prepared for this. The tuition for this year has been decreased to account for this possibility; we will not be offering refunds or credits in the event that we have to move to a virtual presentation.

COVID TESTING & HEALTH SCREENS

1. In-person production staff and students must test negative for the coronavirus within a 10 day period prior to starting in person rehearsals. Test results and test date must be provided to ovationstheatre@gmail.com no more than 10 days prior to their first in-person rehearsals. Additionally a second test must be submitted no more than 10 days prior to the first day of technical rehearsals. 
2. Every family and production member must complete a Covid Liability Release Waiver as part of their registration forms. Families who break the agreement will be dismissed from the production without any refund. 
3. Every week each family and production team member must complete and submit our Covid Questionnaire. Students will not be able to participate in rehearsals or performances if the questionnaire isn’t completed. It’s important that families are honest and upfront and know that their honesty is integral to keeping our students and staff safe as well as able to continue our programming during these unprecedented times. 
4. Any member of the productions, staff or student, who has travelled internationally or out of the state of Maryland will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days before returning to in-person rehearsals. 
5. If your child has underlying health issues, consult your physician for further recommendations on health precautions.

CLEANING & SANITATION 

1. OVATIONS THEATRE will disinfect all surfaces between each rehearsal and performance.
2. There will be no Lost & Found. Any items left behind will be discarded.
3. Hand sanitizer is available throughout and soap is available in the bathroom.

REGISTRATION

In addition to our normal online registration our families will be required to complete a Covid Liability Waiver. Also our Covid Questionnaire must be completed and submitted each week prior to the student’s arrival to in-person rehearsals and/or performances. 

We are expecting all families who want to participate in our spring and summer 2021 programming to follow these steps and to be honest when filling out the questionnaire — the health of others depends on it. 

Depending on the circumstances, families must be prepared for the reality that we may need to transition back to virtual rehearsals or virtual performances at any point depending on Covid related restrictions. If covid restrictions make it unable to have an audience we still plan to perform live and stream our performance. If science dictates that we are unable to perform in-person we will put on a virtual presentation. We will follow Maryland State and CDC guidelines should this be necessary. All parents and students should be fully prepared for this. In the event that we return to virtual-only due to the pandemic, no refunds or credits will be offered; tuition has been discounted because of this possibility.

Below we have laid out our plans for how we are handling our socially distanced rehearsal and performances as well as individual audition notices. Please feel free to reach out with any questions by contacting ovationstheatre@gmail.com.

AMERICAN IDIOT (Senior Company)

Video Auditions Due by Friday, December 11th

Zoom Callbacks will take place on Sunday, December 13th

Rehearsals begin Sunday, January 10th, 2021

Performances April 29- May 2, 2021

INTO THE WOODS JR IN CONCERT (STANDING_O)

Pick up rehearsals May 4 & 5, 2021

Performances Saturday May 8, 2021

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR (Junior Company)

Video Auditions due by Sunday, January 3rd , 2021

Zoom Callbacks will take place on Thursday, January 7, 2021

Rehearsals begin Sunday, January 17th, 2021

Performances will take place on May 20-23, 2021

FROZEN JR IN CONCERT (Junior Company)

Pick up rehearsals June 1 & 2, 2021

Performances Saturday June 5, 2021

RAGTIME (Senior Company)

Rehearsals begin Monday, June 21st, 2021

Performances July 15- July 18, 2021

Auditions and rehearsals for both GREEN DAY’S AMERICAN IDIOT and DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR are planned to start remotely after the new year and then move to outdoor/in-person with masks as weather/science permits. Rehearsals for INTO THE WOODS JR, FROZEN JR and RAGTIME are currently scheduled to be in-person. 

Students who participate in GREEN DAY’S AMERICAN IDIOT or DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR will receive vocal recordings for all group numbers and solo music that they will be responsible for working with a voice teacher. Once weather and science permits we will move to an outdoor, socially-distanced, mask wearing music rehearsals to work music. Dances will be taught both by ZOOM rehearsals and videos to begin. Once weather and science permits we will move to an outdoor, socially-distanced, mask wearing rehearsals where we will clean and shape the musical numbers of the show. Scenes and character work will be discussed initially for both content and staging over zoom and then worked in-person as weather and science permits. 

Students and families will be required to sign a strict social distancing and Covid-19 responsibility agreement. We are limiting our cast to 30 students. Principals will only perform in their principal roles and we may split the ensemble into two separate cast if needed.

HOW WILL PERFORMERS AND STAFF BE SAFE IN REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE?

Safety and the health of our community is our number one goal. Rehearsals and performances are planned for both virtual and outdoor in-person with mask. If we are unable to have a live audience the cast will perform the show for a live-stream.

 Anyone—whether a student or staff – for rehearsal OR performance — must not come if they are: 

*Running a temperature above 100 degrees F; 

*Experiencing other symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough, chills, or body aches (including headaches); 

*In direct contact with someone suspected of having COVID-19 in the previous 14 days; 

*Recovering from COVID-19 and do not have at least two negative tests indicating that the virus is no longer being carried; or 

*Are unwilling to comply with OVATIONS’s COVID-19 related procedures.

All students and staff will be required to wear a face mask for rehearsals and will have an option of wearing a clear full-face shield or half face shield during performances or a cloth mask. Students must wear face coverings at all times including when they are offstage. Students will have specific spaces where they must sit with face-mask on at all times with the exception of the clear face coverings we will allow students to use  for onstage dress rehearsals and performances.  

HOW WILL AUDIENCE BE SAFE IN PERFORMANCE 

Safety and the health of our community is our number one goal. Audience members will be required to have their temperature checked upon arrival and must wear a face mask at all times. Additionally all audience members will be required to submit contact information should there need to be contact tracing done in association with Covid. We are limiting our audience to 40 audience members per performance.  If Covid causes us NOT to be able to have a live audience the cast will perform the show for a live-stream.

Anyone—whether a student or staff – for rehearsal OR performance — must not come if they are: 

*Running a temperature above 100 degrees F; 

*Experiencing other symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough, chills, or body aches (including headaches); 

*In direct contact with someone suspected of having COVID-19 in the previous 14 days; 

*Recovering from COVID-19 and do not have at least two negative tests indicating that the virus is no longer being carried; or 

*Are unwilling to comply with OVATIONS’s COVID-19 related procedures.

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BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR

Music by Alan Menken

Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice

Book by Linda Woolverton

Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature Featuring students in grades 3-8* 

CLICK HERE to complete online registration paperwork

CLICK HERE to complete your Covid Liability Release Waiver

AUDITIONS

Auditions for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR will be made by video submissions emailed to ovationstheatre@gmail.com by Sunday, January 3rd. Students need to submit a vocal audition of 16-32 bars of a musical theatre song.

CALLBACKS

Callbacks BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR will be held via zoom throughout the day on Thursday, January 7th. Not everyone will be needed for callbacks. We will be meeting with individuals and small groups via zoom throughout the day. 

TUITION

We will announce accepted students into the program during our callback announcement. Full tuition balance is due upon acceptance of participation prior to callbacks. Payment will be made through PayPal. 

Tuition for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR will be $825. Additionally, there is a $50 costume fee. Families who are auditioning for our 2020/2021 season have the option to move their RAGTIME tuition towards their next main stage show. Families who do so would be required to resubmit payment for RAGTIME in two installments with the first being due March 30, 2021 and the second May 31st, 2021.

There is limited financial aid and/or payment plan options available for this production. Those interested should contact ovationstheatre@gmail.com. Full payment (unless payment arrangements are worked out ahead of time) is due with audition submission. Separation from the production, whether voluntarily or due to dismissal, is not grounds for a refund. Tuition in NON-REFUNDABLE. In the event that we are unable to perform the show in front of a live audience we will live stream a presentation for our families in lieu of a full live performance.

ROLES

Belle­ A ​vibrant, intelligent girl with beauty, who wants more out of life than an ordinary existence. She is optimistic, fun loving, caring, and eager to experience life.

Beast­ A​ Prince transformed into a terrifying beast for his lack of compassion. He is hot tempered and commanding, but has a warm, loving heart buried far beneath his gruff exterior.

Gaston­ T​he egotistical, ultra­masculine villain determined to marry Belle. He is manipulative yet charming and earnest.

Maurice­ B​elle’s loving, eccentric father. A child at heart and inventor in his own world. 

Cogsworth­ A ​tightly wound, enchanted mantle clock and the head of the Beast’s household. He is uptight, strict, and punctual but also hard working, faithful, and thorough.

Mrs. Potts­ A​ warm­hearted, maternal enchanted teapot. She is loyal, caring, and playful. 

Lumiere­ A ​suave, debonair enchanted candelabra. He is a loyal and steadfast servant. 

Chip­ A​n enchanted teacup and Mrs. Potts’ darling little boy. He is innocent, playful, and bright ­eyed.

Babette­ A​ saucy, enchanted feather duster, and the object of Lumiere’s affections. She is the playful, gorgeous, seductive French maid.

Madame De La Grande Bouche­ A ​former opera diva­ turned ­enchanted wardrobe. She has a caring, refined, larger than life personality.

Lefou­ G​aston’s bumbling sidekick. He is loyal, energetic, and optimistic, but not quite the brightest guy.

Monsieur D’arque­ T​he scheming proprietor of the local insane asylum. He is a dark, sinister villain who aides Gaston in his plot to marry Belle.

REHEARSALS 

Safety and the health of our community is our number one goal. Rehearsals and performances are planned for both virtual and outdoor in-person with social distancing and masks. In-person rehearsals are scheduled to take place in Montgomery County; primarily in Rockville

Anyone—whether a student or staff – for rehearsal OR performance — must not come if they are: 

*Running a temperature above 100 degrees F; 

*Experiencing other symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough, chills, or body aches (including headaches); 

*In direct contact with someone suspected of having COVID-19 in the previous 14 days; 

*Recovering from COVID-19 and do not have at least two negative tests indicating that the virus is no longer being carried; or 

*Are unwilling to comply with OVATIONS’s COVID-19 related procedures.

Rehearsals are generally Sunday afternoons 12:30-3:30pm and weeknight evenings from 4:30-6:30pm. A full rehearsal schedule breakdown is sent out to the cast during the first two weeks of rehearsal.

Sunday, January 17

Sunday, January 31 

Sunday, February 7

Sunday, February 14

Sunday, February 21

Sunday, February 28

Thursday, March 4

Sunday, March 7

Thursday, March 11

Sunday, March 14

Thursday, March 18

Sunday, March 21

Thursday, March 25

Sunday, March 28

Sunday, April 4

Thursday, April 8

Sunday, April 11

Thursday, April 15

Sunday, May 2

Thursday, May 6

Saturday, May 8

Sunday, May 9

Thursday, May 13

TECH WEEK

Held at an outdoor performance site in Montgomery County, MD. 

Saturday, May 15                    12:00-6:00pm

Sunday, May 16                         12:00-6:00pm

Monday, May 17                       5:00-9:00pm

Tuesday, May 18                       5:00-9:00pm

Wednesday, May 19                 5:00-10:00pm (Extended time due to rehearsal photos)

PERFORMANCES

Held at an outdoor performance site in Montgomery County, MD.

Thursday, May 20             7:30pm Performance

Friday, May 21                        7:30pm Performance

Saturday, May 22            7:30pm Performances

Sunday, May 23                      7:30pm Performance

CONFLICTS

Each cast member will be allowed a total of four conflicts.

OVATIONS THEATRE reserves the right to change the theater venue or cancel the production before rehearsals begin for any reason, returning tuition payment. After rehearsals there are no refunds. If the production cannot be safely performed in front of an audience it will be live-streamed whether in whole or part.