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Young Actors Troop: Grades 3-5 (ages 8 through 11). ONLY 15 SLOTS AVAILABLE PER SESSION! One 1 1/2 hour meeting a week from September to May. $30 fee per session, or $50 for both sessions if paid at once. There is a $5 discount per child for multiple children. Meetings are on Thursdays from 4:15-5:45. Children may arrive no sooner than 3:30, however there is a child sitting fee of $5 per day per child, payable to the director of the troop on that day. Activity Center rules stipulate that no child under the age of 18 may be unsupervised in the building therefore, children must be picked up no later then 5:55. Parents will be charged $5 per 5 minutes, in 5 minute blocks, payable to the director of the troop the day of the incursion, no exceptions.

What is the Young Actors Troop?
The YAT falls under the Harford Drama Guild, which also encompasses the Teen Actors Troop, the Adult Actors Troop and Karaoke Koncerts(tm) and are programs established and run through the Havre de Grace Rec Committee by Tom Barnes. For more information on any of these programs, please follow the links to the left.

What ages are part of the Young Actors Troop?
This troop is for kids in grades 3-5 and in the age ranges of 8 to 11. 11 year olds in the6th grade must belong to the Teen Actors Troop. We only allow 15 slots. However, if we find the need to increase the number of slots available, we will do so as we add adult staff to our troop. (Parents that wish to volunteer may contact me at 410-702-5914)

When and where are meetings? **WINTER SESSION BEGINS SEPTEMBER 11th, 2008**
Meetings are on Thursdays from 4:15-5:45pm during September to May each year and are done in two sessions. The sessions are known as the Winter Session (September through December) and the Spring Session (January through May). Meetings are held at the Havre de Grace Activity Center located at 351 Lewis Lane in Havre de Grace (next to the HDG Middle School).

Is there a cost to belong to the YAT?
Yes, but the fee structure varies. Each Session (as mentioned above) is $30. However, if you pay for both sessions at once, the fee is $50 - a $10 savings for the year. And, if you have multiple children (or even yourself!) in the programs under the Harford Drama Guild, there is a $5 discount per person.

What happens at meetings?
The young actors are taught varying basic techniques that are age and grade appropriate. This is done through games, movies, "classroom instruction," handouts, etc. We have learned that while the actors like the preparation and rehearsals for an upcoming play, they find it a lot of fun to learn the "in's and out's" of how to act as well. So we keep the 'learning' as a core element of our program. Once a year, usually in January, actors will begin preparing for a small production which may either be on stage or in the multipurpose room of the Activity Center. There will need to be an increase in meetings so that we can rehearse. So, a word of caution: If your child is active in a lot of seasonal activities, do not encourage them to take on "lead roles" but instead encourage them to seek parts (even if its stage crew!) that meets their schedules. We have learned from previous experience that it effects the production if your child is not available to rehearse with the troop as a whole ona regular basis. It's no different then being on a lacrosse, swim, football or softball team... they need to dedicate themselves to the troop during rehearsal times so that everyone in the troop can be success.

What are the expectations of my child?
Acting is like life in general - a persons expectations has to be their own. Therefore, aside from proper behavior, we will not force your child to do anything they do not want to do. We will encourage them to be participatory (after all, the troop is not a babysitting service) but what is most important is that they do what they are comfortable with. Our goal is to encourage them to build character through drama, not to traumatize them so they are afraid of the stage.

Important Dates:
The YAT is off for the summer and will resume promptly on September 11th, 2008.