Frequently asked questions

Auditions are held in the fall, usually over two evenings at Tappan Middle School Auditorium. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early to check in, and bring a resume and a headshot if you have one (they won't be returned).

Exact dates for the next season will be posted here once the show is announced.

Everyone who auditions is cast — auditions are how the production team finds the best role fit, not a cut. There are four steps to get your audition slot:

1. Register for the show
2. Pay your dues
3. Sign up for an audition
4. Pick a date and time slot

Registration opens when the season is announced each fall; the links will appear here.

You're welcome to bring your own music, or choose from one of the two songs from the show. The audition songs are shared with the registration materials each season.

3:45–4:50 PM. Students go straight from their classroom to the music room, where they rehearse with the kids-cast director.

Yes. Before rehearsals begin we give every teacher a list of the students in their class who are in the show, and which days they go to the music room after school. For our younger cast members it helps when parents remind their child and send the teacher a quick reminder email.

No — Burns Park Players provides snacks at every after-school rehearsal. Please don't send your own: some cast members have severe allergies, and we can't monitor outside snacks closely.

At 4:50 PM, cast members wait at the door nearest the parking lot — the same door Burns Park uses for car drop-off and dismissal. At registration you'll tell us how your child should be dismissed:

• Walkers — they have your permission to leave without an adult; they check out with a parent volunteer and go.
• CDC — dismissed to the CDC staff.
• Parent pick-up — a volunteer checks your child out to you at the door.

If your plan ever changes, just email the kids-cast coordinator and we'll make sure the volunteers know.

No — time commitments are per family, not per child.

A specific volunteer role, separate from work days, that keeps rehearsals and shows safe, smooth, and on time. During show weekend at the theater these include:

• Check-in — greet the cast, confirm attendance, direct to backstage
• Check-out — supervise dismissal and match kids with their adults
• Front of house / usher — greet guests, hand out programs, help with seating
• Show chaperones — supervise dressing rooms and backstage
• Backstage support — props and scene transitions
• Strike — clean-up after the final show

Leading up to the show, Rehearsal Captains supervise the after-school dance and vocal rehearsals and take attendance. Email us for more Production Job options.

A scheduled, hands-on build-and-organize session that gets the show ready for the stage — no experience required. When you arrive you're placed on a team with specific instructions; the goal is to keep the work efficient, organized, and fun, and to connect and share skills along the way. Typical jobs:

• Set construction — for anyone who enjoys working with their hands
• Scenic painting — for those who love color, texture, and bold visuals
• Props — great for detail-lovers and crafty hands
• Costumes — sew, cut, hot-glue, or just help label and organize (no sewing experience required)

Email us for more Work Day projects.

Strike is the post-show teardown and load-out right after the final performance. The goal is to return the theater to its original condition — safely, quickly, and respectfully.

Yes. A family can opt out of all time commitments for $500. That money helps hire the team it takes to put the show on, and supports arts programs in Ann Arbor's schools — see Our Impact for where our giving goes.

Burns Park Players operates as a nonprofit dedicated to community engagement through the arts. Your donation supports our mission in two main ways. First, it covers production costs — set design, costumes, lighting, and sound — so our performances are the best they can be. Second, a significant portion funds arts-education programs for children across all Ann Arbor schools, helping nurture the next generation of performers.

See Our Impact for a detailed breakdown. Thank you for your support!

Show dates for the next season will be posted here once the show is announced. Performances are typically a weekend in late winter at The Michigan Theater.