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Conservatory


Conservatory is not simply a class.
It is a company of young artists committed to building meaningful theatre together.

Youth Theatre Conservatory is a selective training program for serious high school actors who want deeper artistic challenge, collaboration, and performance opportunities. Students work in a small ensemble of 9th–12th graders and train together throughout the year in acting, voice, movement, and devised performance. The program emphasizes artistic discipline, creative contribution, and ensemble leadership.

Program Details

Grades: 9–12
Enrollment: approximately 16–28 students total
School Year Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays 6 pm - 8 pm
Summer Schedule: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 4 pm - 6 pm
Location: University of Utah Department of Theatre
Admission: Application and audition process

What Students Do in Conservatory

  • Train weekly in acting, voice, movement, and ensemble creation
  • Devise original performance material with the ensemble
  • Perform in public presentations, competitions, and festivals
  • Develop leadership and mentorship skills

Who Should Apply

This program is designed for students who:

  • are passionate about theatre and want serious training
  • enjoy creative collaboration and ensemble work
  • are willing to take artistic risks
  • can commit to regular rehearsals and performances
  • want to deepen their skills before college or professional training

Why We Work as an Ensemble

Conservatory is built around ensemble training rather than traditional casting structures. Our work focuses on shared stage time, collaboration, and artistic responsibility.

Rather than building productions around a few leading roles, Conservatory performances are designed to highlight the entire company. Every student contributes to the storytelling through acting, movement, vocal work, and collaborative staging.

Students help shape the work through creative contribution. This can include writing moments of text, developing staging ideas, contributing physical storytelling, and solving theatrical challenges together.

While students also develop individual skills through solo events and focused training, the heart of the Conservatory experience is the ensemble. Students learn how to support one another, share the stage, and build meaningful theatre as a company.

This structure allows for deeper artistic growth, stronger collaboration, and a rehearsal process where every student plays an essential role.


Save the Date

Thursday, May 21
6:00–9:00 PM
University of Utah Department of Theatre
Room 107

If you cannot attend this date, please contact Penny at p.caywood@utah.edu to discuss alternate arrangements.

APPLICATION FORM

What to Prepare

Monologue
Up to 1 minute
May be Shakespeare, contemporary, poetry, or another piece of your choice.
Material must be age-appropriate. No profanity.

Song
About 1 minute (verse and chorus)
Musical theatre or musical-theatre style.

Bring your own accompaniment.
A Bluetooth speaker will be available.

No a cappella singing.

Free accompaniment tracks can often be found on YouTube.

In the Audition Room

Students will perform their monologue and/or song.

The director may also ask a few brief questions such as:

Why do you want to be part of Conservatory?
What do you hope to learn or explore this year?

Important Notes

We aim to create a balanced ensemble across grade levels and experience levels.

Auditions are selective. Not all students who audition will be offered a place in the Conservatory.

2026–2027 Conservatory Season

At a glance

JUNE 2026

Summer Conservatory
June 2 - June 26

  • Shakespeare Comp Prep
  • MTCA Ensemble Piece Prep
  • Individual Coaching Rotations:
    for Shakes and MTCA 

JULY 2026

Summer Conservatory
July 6 - July 24

AUGUST 2026

Fall Session begins Aug 18
Tues, Thurs 6 - 8 pm

  • Full Shakespeare focus

SEPTEMBER 2026

  • Full Shakespeare focus
  • Showcase

OCTOBER 2026

Shakespeare Comp
October 1 - 4

Oct 6–12
FULL WEEK OFF

WINTER SESSION
Starts Oct 13

Oct 13 – Nov 5 (3 weeks)
MTCA Musical Production build

NOVEMBER 2026

Conservatory Break
Nov 7 - Nov 30

Optional Individual Lab
T/Th 6–8
Students sign up for coaching slots

DECEMBER 2026

December 1–18 (3 weeks)

  • MTCA Showtune Clean
  • MTCA Musical Production

Winter Break begins Dec 18

JANUARY 2027

We return Jan 5

  • MTCA Focus
  • Showcase

FEBRUARY 2027

MTCA Competition
Feb 4 - 8

Feb 15 - Early  May
Write New Show for
Off Broadway Production 

MARCH 2026

Write and Rehearse Show for
Off Broadway Production

APRIL 2027

Write and Rehearse Show for
Off Broadway Production

MAY 2027

Prepare Show for Off Broadway Production
New York/ New York
June 23 - 27, 2027

Conservatory Audition Form

Entering 9th–12th Grade

8th graders can apply to audition. 

This program focuses on the rehearsal process and production.
Students rehearse a show developed for the group while attending masterclasses with their instructors, university faculty, and guest theatre artists.

The session concludes with a public performance in the Babcock Theatre.

Tuition: $1050.00

Senior Ensemble Placement Form
Students enrolled in Senior Ensemble will complete a short supplemental form in the registration system.
The form includes a brief video (monologue or song) and a few short questions about interests and goals.
This is not an audition.
It simply helps our teaching team get to know students before the session begins so we can plan the work and support everyone’s strengths.
The form will appear in your registration account and is due 30 days before the session begins.
Students may apply for leadership roles including:
Assistant Director, Assistant Choreographer, Dramaturg, Stage Management Apprentice, and Design Lead.
Leadership Lab meetings support advanced artistic work.

Entering 6th–8th Grade

Students deepen their skills in acting, movement, and storytelling.
They choose a focus area such as Acting or Musical Theatre and select electives while rehearsing a one-act production with their ensemble.

The session concludes with a performance in the Babcock Theatre.

Tuition: $950.00

Entering 4th–5th Grade

Students train in voice, movement, character development, and ensemble collaboration.
They choose a focus area such as Acting or Musical Theatre and select electives that support their training.

Students rehearse a short one-act play/musical throughout the session and present it in the final performance.

Tuition: $950.00

Entering 1st–3rd Grade

Students explore acting, movement, music, and visual art through imaginative storytelling.
Each day includes theatre games, creative activities, stagecrafts, music and movement, and rehearsal for a short story dramatization with songs.

The session concludes with a mini-performance for family and friends.

Tuition: $950.00