Summer Training Programs FAQs

SUMMER TRAINING PROGRAMS 2012

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What are your Summer Professional Training Programs and what are their differences?

There are two professional training programs that Paper Mill offers during the summer months.

•The July Conservatory runs from July 2 to August 4, 2012. In the July Conservatory, there are approx. 50 spots available in the Senior Company ($2,200 tuition), approx. 20 in the Junior Plus Company ($2,000 tuition) and approx. 20 ($1,700 tuition) in the Junior Company of the Conservatory. 

•The August Musical Theatre Intensive ($850 tuition) runs from August 6 to August 24, 2012. In the August Intensive, there are approx. 20 spots available in each of the two divisions (Senior or Junior.)

2. When are auditions?

There are two available days to audition, Saturday, January 28, or Saturday, February 4, 2012. Auditions are held at Wilkins Theater on the campus of Kean University in Union, NJ. Auditions are by appointment only. Please see http://www.kean.edu/directions.html for directions and a map of the campus. 

3. How can I schedule an audition appointment?

On or after December 28, 2011, send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it requesting an appointment.  Audition appointments are grouped by age and students will be assigned a time.  Morning and afternoon times will be available for all age groups.  In your message include:

                    ~  the student’s full name

You will receive an auto- reply acknowledging that we have received your message, and we will follow-up soon after with another email that indicates your appointment time. Appointments are first come, first served.  If your preference has filled we will offer you the next best option for your age. 

We will begin making audition appointments on Wed., Dec 28, 2011.  Appointments will not be scheduled prior to Dec 28th.  . 

4. How many people judge the audition and who are they?

5-8 people judge the auditions. They are members of the Paper Mill staff and teachers who teach and direct at the Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory.

5. How do they judge an audition?

There are 3 areas of scoring: Vocal, Personality/Presentation and Dance. Each judge will score these areas between a 1 and 5 with 1 being the lowest score and 5 the highest. We then tally all these scores and average them. The auditioners with the highest average scores in all three areas are admitted into the program. 

6. If accepted, in which program and company will the auditioner be placed? 

We try to place auditioners into the program and company we feel most suits them. We spend weeks deciding who will be accepted and from which program they would benefit most. Although age is used as a guideline, the talent, experience, ability and maturity demonstrated by the student at the auditions also plays a part in determining placement. 

7. What if we feel the auditioner is placed into the wrong company? 

We ask that you trust our judgment and know that every company of our programs is taught by fully qualified teachers and is challenging. 

8. Where do the programs take place and what times do they meet? 

July Conservatory:

•The Junior Company (ages 10-12) takes place at Paper Mill Playhouse, Monday – Friday, 9:45am to 4:00pm.

•The Junior Plus Company (ages 12-14) takes place on the campus of Kean University, Monday – Friday, 8:45am to 5:00pm. 

•The Senior Company (ages 15-18) takes place on the campus of Kean University, Monday – Friday, 8:45am to 5:00pm. 

August Intensive: 

•The Junior Division (ages 10-12) takes place at Paper Mill Playhouse, Monday – Friday, 10:00am to 12:00pm.

•The Senior Division (ages 13-16) takes place at Paper Mill Playhouse, Monday – Friday, 1:00pm to 4:00pm.  

9. Is there tuition assistance available?  

Paper Mill Playhouse has limited funds available to assist students who demonstrate financial need in meeting the tuition requirements of the Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory*.  (Tuition assistance is not available for the August Musical Theatre Intensive program.)  Income eligibility guidelines have been established based on family size and income, similar to those used for federal government aid programs.  This tuition assistance program is intended to lower the cost of the tuition for eligible students, not eliminate it entirely.  Every student will be expected to make some contribution towards their tuition.  Once tuition assistance awards are made, payment plans may be arranged for qualified applicants to pay the balance due.  

The deadline to request tuition assistance is March 16, 2012.

In order to be eligible for tuition assistance you MUST:

1) audition and be offered a spot in the 2012 Conservatory

2) download and submit a completed Tuition Assistance Request form including a budget indicating your family’s maximum contribution toward the required tuition.

3) explain the reasons for your request in the section titled, “Statement of Need”

4) submit ALL required support documents including:

a) most recent pay stub of your parents (both parents if applicable)

b) a copy of your parents’ 2011 Federal 1040 Tax Form, 

OR a copy of your parents’ 2010 Federal 1040 Tax Form

with a description in your Statement of Need detailing how your family’s financial circumstances may have changed since 2010.

Please Note: Applicants are required to submit family tax returns.  Since the deadline for Tuition Assistance Requests is one month prior to the 2011 Federal Tax filing deadline,  it is recommended that your family plans ahead and files their taxes early to meet our March 16 submission deadline.  If this is not possible, we will accept 2010 tax returns provided that in your Statement of Need you address how your family’s financial circumstance may have changed, if at all, since 2010.  If you do submit a return from 2010, you must provide us with a copy of your 2011 return as soon as it is prepared to corroborate the information provided to Paper Mill Playhouse in your application.  If your application information is not corroborated by your 2011 return, Paper Mill Playhouse reserves the right to adjust or revoke the tuition assistance award previously offered.

Determination letters for the 2012 Summer Conservatory will be mailed during the second week of March.  You don’t have to wait to be accepted into the program to submit your Tuition Assistance Request.  You may submit your request as early as January 2011provided it is complete when submitted.  Paper Mill Playhouse will keep all applications strictly confidential.  Your Tuition Assistance Request will be activated only if you are accepted into the Conservatory program.  It will then be reviewed by our Tuition Assistance Committee in mid-March.  Because tuition assistance funds are very limited, we encourage you to submit your Tuition Assistance Request as early as possible. 

Questions should be directed to Director of Education, Lisa Cooney, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

_{* Tuition assistance is not available for the August Musical Theatre Intensive program; however payment plans may be requested.}

_{10. Where can I download the paperwork?}

All e-forms can be downloaded from this website. Scroll to the bottom of this page to download the Audition Application e-form and the Tuition Assistance e-form. 

11. What is your policy on participating in simultaneous programs or productions during the July Conservatory? 

The Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Conservatory is a very demanding course of classes and rehearsals that requires exclusive commitment from all participating students.  Over the years we have found that when our students simultaneously rehearse for other productions or programs, their energy wanes, their vocal quality is compromised and they are at risk of physical injury which prevents them from being able to fully participate in Conservatory classes and rehearsals at an acceptable level.  It is for these reasons that any student accepting a spot in the Summer Conservatory, must agree to NOT participate in any other on-going productions or programs during the five week session.  Paper Mill requires this commitment to ensure the Paper Mill brand of artistic excellence will be met in the main stage New Voices concerts, and to protect students' health and focus while enrolled in the Conservatory.  Students accepted in the Conservatory must make this program their primary and exclusive priority until the program concludes August 4, 2012.  

12. If the auditioner does not get accepted initially, what are their chances of getting in if people drop out?

We have a wait list made up of every auditioner ranked by the scores they received from the audition panel.  Although it is rare that students do not accept the offer, when that happens we call the student with the next highest scores and offer the slot to them.  

13. Is it possible to find out how you did at your audition? 

Absolutely!  After the letters have been mailed, you can ask about your results by sending an email to Carrie Rubino, Education Program Manager at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We would be happy to share any feedback with you! 

14.  I was not offered a spot in the 2012 Summer Professional Training Programs at Paper Mill.  Can you reccomend another summer program I can explore?

Paper Mill cannot offer a spot to every student that auditions for our programs, but we do suggest that you refer to the "Class Act" website of the NJ Theatre Alliance.  This site will let you search for other summer programs and internships offered by all of the professional theatres in NJ.  

Go to:  http://www.classactnj.org/

Thank you for auditioning!

Downloads

File	File size
Audition Application e-form	714 Kb