Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pied Piper Players?
Pied Piper Players is a non-profit, volunteer-driven community theater organization that:
• uses theater to give children, young adults and other cast members meaningful exposure to collaborative teamwork
• fosters a positive learning environment, where teaching and study are highly valued
• presents challenging theater productions, striving to meet rigorous standards
Participants have the opportunity to work with theater professionals in a supportive, fun environment.

Where is Pied Piper Players located?
Pied Piper Players is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our rehearsal and performance locations are usually in the North Peninsula between San Mateo and Daly City depending on space availability. Recent performances have been at the Bayside Performing Arts Center in San Mateo.

How much does it cost to participate?
Tuition varies with each production. Please see our current production for details.

What is included in the registration fee?
We provide a professional learning experience in acting, singing, and dance choreography via workshops, rehearsals, and MainStage productions. You also receive a personal audition evaluation, head shot, show t-shirt, cast photo, and costume materials for use during the production run. (Costumes remain property of Pied Piper Players.)

How do I audition?
Upon receipt of your registration and tuition, you will receive information about initial cast and parent meetings, audition workshops, audition schedules and rehearsals.

What other costs can I possibly expect?
This is not an all-inclusive list, but it may give you an idea of what you could expect:
• dance/jazz shoes
• stage make-up
• show tickets
• raffle tickets
• meals during long rehearsals and Tech Week - optional
• photos - optional
• cast party - optional
• director/production staff gifts - optional
• socializing/dining with cast members following performances - optional

When are rehearsals?
Most rehearsals take place on the weekends. Weeknight rehearsals may be required depending on the actor’s role. During Tech Week, the week prior to opening night, participants are required to attend evening technical rehearsals. No rehearsal conflicts are allowed during Tech Week.

How many performances will I participate in?
Historically, there have been six to eight performances over two weekends: Friday evenings, Saturday matinées and evenings, and Sunday matinées.

Where can I find help with auditioning?

• Audition tips
• Auditioning outline
• Where to find sheet music (most of these can transpose music to your key):
  • Sheet Music Plus

    

  • sheetmusicdirect.com
  • musicnotes.com
• Where to find monologue books:
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Amazon.com

I am told to warm up vocally on the way to rehearsal. How do I do that?
To avoid harm, we strongly recommend warming up your voice prior to vocal rehearsals. Depending on call time, it is not always possible to do full vocal warm ups. Light singing on the way to rehearsal is helpful.

Warm up exercises you can do in the car (light singing, remembering to breathe):

• 5 note scales up and down
• Nya, Nya, Nya, Nya, Nya - Descending down the scale
• "I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I Know, I know, I know, I know"
• Where are you going tonight

• Capezio Dance Theatre Shop - Lisa Forte, 309 S B Street, San Mateo, 650 340.7066 - extends a 15% show discount to Pied Piper Players cast members
• DiscountDanceSupply.com

What does “volunteer-driven organization” mean?
It means we value volunteers and we need you to help create our productions. As a non-profit organization, we must keep production expenses down to a minimum. Pied Piper Players requires that each family contribute a minimum of 20 volunteer hours per particpant during the rehearsal period prior to Tech Week. During Tech Week, 5–20 volunteer hours are required. During the run of the show, each family is expected to work four shows (five if you have more than one cast member). There are many volunteer opportunities to suit every schedule and skill - you may learn something new in the process! Any adult family member of the participant can fulfill volunteer hours.

Besides volunteer hours, is there anything else that our family is expected to do?
Sell tickets. A large percentage of our budget depends on ticket sales. It is also much more fun for the actors to perform in front of a large audience. We would like each family to make a goal of selling 50 tickets. Our ticket sales committee can give you great ideas on how to reach this goal. Each participant is expected to provide their own shoes and makeup.

What are the basic volunteer duties?
During production, every family is expected to:

• Rehearsal Period: a minimum of 20 adult hours of volunteer time (Age 16+)
• Tech Week: a minimum of 5–20 hours
• Performances: work a minimum of 4 performances and 5 if you have more than one cast member (chaperone, stage crew, house duties, etc.)
• Participate in Strike (tearing down the set immediately after the final performance).
• Parents, working under the guidance of a volunteer coordinator and our professional staff, take on the following jobs:
  Costumes - Assist costume designers with taking performer's measurements, assigning, approving, and constructing costumes and accessories. Gather pieces from second-hand stores. Rent costumes as needed.
  Program - Design, layout and produce show playbill. Collect cast bios and kudos. Solicit advertising.
  Props - Gather or create required props from director's list.
  Set Construction - Build the set pieces and backdrops for the show.
  Painting - Paint the sets and flats made by the Set Construction committee.
  Cast Party - Plan and coordinate the Cast Party, typically held after strike. Choose location, track RSVP’s,
  collect money, coordinate the event including food, beverages, supervision, set up and clean up.
  Lobby Display - Create welcoming display in lobby using headshots, rehearsal photos, etc.
  Chaperone - During Tech Week and performances, supervise cast as they wait to go onstage. Monitor noise level, behavior and making entrances and cues. Supervise clean up of dressing rooms.
  Stage Crew – Work backstage moving sets and scenery; run the fly-rail, light board, special effects equipment and the curtain.
  Concessions - Gather and display refreshments and sell in the lobby before, after and during the intermission of performances.
  Flower Sales - Purchase flowers and prepare them for sale in the lobby before, after and during the intermission of performances.
  Ushering - Welcome and direct audience members to their assigned seats, be available to assist audience members during the show and monitor the lobby during the performance
  Publicity - Write and distribute press releases. Coordinate printed collateral pieces, posters, flyers, etc.
  Ticket Sales - Sell tickets! Run show Box Office. Encourage cast to sell tickets.
  Raffle - Solicit raffle prizes. Send letters, make phone calls, collect prizes and coordinate raffle ticket sales. Sell raffle tickets during the rehearsal period. Also, sell tickets before, after and during the intermission of performances.

I still have questions. How can I contact PPP?

• Send an email
• Call: 650 992.PIED (7433)
• Send a post:
  Pied Piper Players, Board of Directors
  PO Box 1996
  Burlingame CA 94011-1996
  
• Many answers can be found in the company handbook