No! Skyline auditions are nothing to stress about. What actors should expect on “audition day” (the first day of class) is to move through a dance, song, and line reading so directors can get to know them and match their talents with a great role in the show. No outside preparation (and no prior audition experience) is necessary! Our directors walk the cast through a very low-stress audition process of learning a dance together, learning a song together which they will sing in small groups (or if in Stars or Performers, they have the option to sing solo, or by themselves), and then reading lines for characters that most excite them. At class 2, all actors will be given a named character and script.

Actors will warm up with theater games or a dance, then move into learning the day’s scheduled scenes, songs, and dances. At the end of rehearsal they will review material from the previous week (in order of show) to prepare for the final performance.

All actors should wear clothes allowing a full range of motion and dance friendly shoes (sneakers or jazz shoes to change into). Flip flops/sandals/snow boots are not going to allow actors to do their best footwork! All actors should bring a reusable water bottle since we sing and dance for 1-2 hours. We also ask that actors bring a three-ring binder for their script and a pencil to make notes starting the second week of rehearsal. Families will be provided with instructions for assembling a costume at home for the final show.

Skyline rehearsals are CLOSED REHEARSALS - We do not allow parents, siblings, or anyone that is not a member of cast or staff to be in the space.

Personal belongings brought in will be limited to only a water bottle, and printed script/pencil (after class 2). All valuable items should be left at home. Skyline is not responsible for lost or stolen items

• Details on venue, performance time, and ticketing will be shared via email later in the session.

• Actors will be asked to arrive early the day of the show for the dress rehearsal.

• Information on costumes will be sent out about halfway through the session. Families are asked to create a costume (based on suggestions provided by Skyline) that actors are proud and comfortable to perform in.

• Cancellations prior to the beginning of session: Skyline abides by cancellation policies of our community and park district partner locations. For school locations, there will be a $25 cancellation or transfer fee prior to the start of the session. Reach out to Skyline Children's Theater with questions regarding your specific class location's cancellation policies.

• Cancellations after the first class: No refunds or credits will be provided.

• In the case that state and local guidelines change to the point that we can no longer meet in person, there will be no refunds provided. We will continue classes virtually.

Skyline Children's Theater is a company that connects with park districts, schools, dance studios, and theaters to host our programming.

Summer 2025 you can find us in Barrington Park District, Glenview Park District, Lake Zurich (at Denise Sabala Dance Studio), Wilmette, and at Winnetka Community House and in Vernon Hills (at Discovery Day Camp).

We also have programming in the city of Chicago in Lakeview, Lincoln Park, and Ravenswood.

Yes! Not only does every actor need to memorize their lines, but also lyrics, choreography, blocking, and cues. Every actor will be very busy onstage and will be a valued part of our team! We will teach your budding actor great strategies to memorize and help them fall in love with the process of putting a show together. We also provide music links, choreography videos, and memorization tools via email and our password-protected Actor Resources page.

During the first class, actors are introduced to the show and taught a song, choreography, and lines. Each actor is encouraged to audition for a variety of roles. Our directors use these auditions to learn more about each actor's interests and what makes them unique as a performer! The Skyline director staff, composed of educated, theater professionals and experienced teachers, casts together as a team looking at each actor’s grade and age, audition, and past experience to determine the best fit for both actor and cast dynamics.

We host our program as an after-school rehearsal at schools all around the Chicagoland area. Previous schools we've had residencies at Wilmette District 39 schools: Central Elementary, Harper Elementary, McKenzie Elementary, Romona Elementary, Highcrest Middle School, Wilmette Junior High School; Chicago Public Schools: Burley Elementary; Private schools; Hillel Torah in Skokie, Sacred Heart, St. James in Lincoln Park, Goddard Schools, and more.

If you'd like to get an after-school or during-school program started at your institution, email skyline@skylinechildrenstheater.com with the subject line "School Residency" and include your location, contact information, and preferred start date. We'd love to start the conversation and bring theater education to your academy!

Get Skyline at your school and learn more on our Skyline After School page.

At Skyline, our philosophy is teamwork, building confidence, and creating an ensemble cast. We focus on the process of creating a show and the excitement of working together to tell a story. Our directors cast as a group and are committed to casting each actor in a named role where they will be most successful; we do not focus on the size of the role. We believe every actor deserves to feel confident and enjoy the magic of performing.

First, locate your closest program by looking at the menu at the top of our site. Next, click that link to find enrollment links. Sometimes, they will read "coming soon," which just means they are under construction and will be live soon!

To not miss out on enrollment announcements, make sure to subscribe to our email list.

Every actor may not have a lead role, but they will ALL have special moments in the spotlight. Everyone stays on-stage, participates in every song, and has lines in multiple scenes. Please demonstrate a positive attitude for your actor (they will be watching your reaction to their part) and encourage them to have fun with whichever role they play, even if it isn't one they expected!

Some actors play multiple roles due to cast size. Directors explain how to differentiate characters through acting choices like physicality and vocal delivery. In some situations, the director may combine the lines of two characters into a single role. All actors wear one primary costume representing their primary character throughout the entire show - with possible small accessories for the secondary character - no full costume changes. If your actor has questions, please encourage them to speak with their director.

Skyline does not cast actors because they bear a physical resemblance to an actor or animated character from a movie. We are an educational program and strive to thoughtfully place actors in roles that will both complement and challenge their talents to help them grow. Our goal is to build confidence. Directors reinforce this in class, but we ask for your support to help your child see their role as an opportunity to shine and develop new skills. If concerns continue, please reach out to us directly.

Our directors are great at supporting emerging readers in learning their lines. During auditions, we will use call and response to get an idea of the young actor’s ability to project and create a character. We will do the same in class until the actor has their lines memorized. While all actors should bring their script to every rehearsal, we do recommend that emerging readers work with their families to memorize their lines as soon as possible, so they can really have fun exploring their characters on stage!

Every Skyline actor will receive a named character and at least a few lines in the show - this gets them invested in the performance and gives them a chance to shine their own unique light and talents! If your actor doesn't want any singing solo, no problem! They can just tell the director this on audition day. If you as a guardian have any questions or concerns about your actor's part, you can always reach out to the director for clarity. We've found that actors tend to rise to the occasion and uncover courage and talent they may not have even known they possessed by the final show.

Not all locations have a pre-session audition workshop - and that's okay! Your actor does not need an audition workshop to be prepared for a Skyline audition day. Our directors are excellent at helping all actors whether they're brand new or experienced showcase their best selves at auditions. If your young actor has questions or nerves about auditions, you can always reach out to Skyline to learn the specifics of what to expect so that they feel excited and prepared.

• Pick up and drop off procedures differ based on class/camp location and age of the cast. If you have questions about the process at your location please reach out to your education director: Kiki at Community House Winnetka (winnetka@skylinechildrenstheater.com) or Kristen at all other suburban locations (skyline@skylinechildrenstheater.com).

• We request that parents be timely in pickup at the end of class. Late pickups without notification will receive a warning the first occurrence, with a charge of $1/minute late for any following occurrences.

At Skyline, our goal is for all actors to gain confidence and continue to grow their skill-set. We make our casting decisions based on what's best for the actor and cast. Each session, casts have a different dynamic (having a certain combination of age and experience levels) and these dynamics play a large role in casting. The casting process is based on your child’s audition in acting, singing, and dancing and the dynamic of the cast. Skyline focuses on the team and includes all actors in the final show. The reality of other theater groups is that there are auditions and not all actors make the show. This is not our philosophy–we want to see every child shine!