FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE SUMMER PROGRAMS

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?
We are in our 8th year of producing musical theatre experiences for children and youth of the Quad Cities.  These projects give students a chance to participate in the process of creating a theatrical production.  No one is turned away from our shows.  Everyone gets a chance to be a part of this wonderful, community building experience.  Our goal is to take you or your child wherever you or they are 'at' and guide them through the process of creating musical theatre.  YOU DON'T NEED ANY EXPERIENCE. You'll get that here.

I've been in a show before.  Should I do this?
Up to you.  We have several students who come back every year, every show.  It's about more than simply putting on a play.  It's about the experience.  It's about the people you work with.  It's about having fun.  It's about making new friends.  It's about learning new skills.  It's about taking a chance.  It's about expressing yourself.   The only way to really learn about performing is to do it.  We offer that opportunity here. We take these projects very seriously and professionally...even if you're only 9 years old!.  While we strive to always keep it fun, we expect discipline and hard work from everyone.  It takes a huge amount of time and effort to bring a show together in a mere 2-3 weeks. 

What Does the Fee Cover? It seems like a lot of money.
The fee from the two casts combined covers the cost to produce these shows.  Both of these shows cost several thousand dollars just to attain the rights and licensing for the production.  Then we add the cost of building a set, creating costumes, securing lights and sound equipment, purchasing cast t-shirts, picture cds, dvds.  It usually breaks at about even.  

The price breaks down to less than $5/hour per student.  We feel this is very reasonable.

Do you Charge for tickets?
We certainly do!  Parents/guardians receive 2 half priced tickets to the performance.
We take the money from ticket sales to cover our costs of operating the Center for Living Arts.   Our summer production's income allows us to pay the bills and also offer special classes throughout the school year at greatly reduced rates to underpriveleged youth in the area.  We strive to serve nearly 100 'at risk' youth every year.  That's almost 1/3 of our total student population. 

Who are you? 
The Center for Living is run and owned by me, Dino Hayz, and my wife Tina Hayz. I am the Creative Director of the place.  We are a local 'mom and pop shop' that strives to earn our keep by serving our community through the arts, wellness and educational activities.  I have been doing professional educational theatre in the area since 1990.  I got my start at the Putnam Museum.  My degree is in performing arts: theatre AND music.  I love to work with children and youth.  I have been involved with nearly 200 professional and community shows throughout the past 25+ years.  I enjoy nothing more than creating community with people through theatre.

Along with being the Managing Director at the Center for Living Arts, Tina Hayz is the Director and Head Teacher at Blessed Beginnings Preschool in Moline, IL.  Her degree is in Elementary Education with an early childhood endorsement.  She has also been in professional educational theatre for several years.  One of her greatest loves is dance.   She is our in-house choregrapher who has an incredible ability to forward the story through dance and movement of any style. She has choregraphed our last several productions of SchoolHouse Rock, High School Musical,  Grease, Pippin, Camp Rock, Rent, Spring Awakening and All Shook Up, among many others.  She's a wonderful soul with an inextinguishable love for working with children of all ages.

We are two people who are dedicated to providing you/your child with a high quality experience that will benefit you/them for years to come. 


Why do I/my child have to audition if I'm paying for the class?
Everyone who signs up is IN the show!  We do have placement auditions to see who you'll be in the production.  The placement auditions will give us a chance to see where you best fit into the show.

What do I need to bring to the auditions?
Bring 16 bars of your favorite tune (with cd accompaniment OR sheet music).  You can also sing a capella (without music) if necessary.  Be prepared to dance and read from the script.

Both shows will audition on the same day in separate studios at the Center. 

Audition Dates:
May 18th OR 19th from 1-4pm. 

YOU PICK ONE!

If you cannot make these dates, we will schedule an alternate audition; just let us know.

The auditions will last 3 hours. Everyone shows up at 1pm and everyone will leave by 4.

A $50 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit is required at registration to hold your spot and will be deducted from your total tuition.