COCA Pre-Professional Division Program

Students ages 10–13 who are cast in The Rep’s production of A Christmas Carol are encouraged to enroll in COCA’s Pre-Professional Division (PPD) Theatre Artist Program which includes rehearsals and classes at COCA. The PPD program runs on a school semester model and includes Fall, Winter/Spring, and Summer training and performance opportunities. A Christmas Carol is a professional performance placement opportunity for PPD students, but not a requirement for casting. COCA’s team is available to advise on course selection and tuition assistance through the Registration Office.

Audition Requirements

COCA and The Rep will cast over 20 students for the youth ensemble of A Christmas Carol. There are two ensembles of 10–12 students that will rehearse together and rotate performances. Students ages 10–13 are encouraged to enroll in COCA’s Pre-Professional Division Theatre Artist Program for the 2022–2023 school year.

Returning students from the A Christmas Carol cast in 2021 must reaudition and be prepared to move.

Students should prepare 32 bars of a song and one side from the following:

September Intensive

All students cast will initially receive an “as cast” status upon their first audition and are required to attend the Summer Intensive on September 6–9 from 5:00–7:00PM at COCA.

Youth Ensemble Rehearsals at COCA

Youth Ensemble rehearsals begin in September under the direction of the Youth Director, Adena Varner. Students will rehearse at COCA at the start of the semester through the first Rep full company rehearsal in October. 

Professional Company Rehearsals at The Rep

The Repertory Theatre’s professional adult cast rehearsals begin October 25, and the COCA Youth Ensemble will join them following their first day of rehearsal and continue to rehearse and perform with the adult company until the production’s closing date on December 30. The Youth Ensemble members receive a stipend for the professional rehearsal process.

Performance Requirements

The production will open on November 18 and close on December 30. The entire company will have Mondays off. There will be rehearsals during Thanksgiving Break and no performances on Thanksgiving and December 24 & 25. There will be two rotating Youth Ensembles to rotate performances, but the full rehearsal hours will be required of both companies throughout the process. Students should hold all rehearsal dates until confirmed.

Student Agreement & Time Commitment

A commitment to the full rehearsal and performance schedule must be made prior to auditioning. Upon receiving casting status, a student agreement must be signed and returned to COCA’s registration team to initiate the registration process. The tech and performance process includes missing extensive daytime hours during the school year and a letter for approval must be reviewed by your school prior to the first professional rehearsal. Conflicts will only be approved for major school and family events, at the discretion of the director. Due to the extensive rehearsal, tech and performance process, it is strongly encouraged that the youth ensemble members do not participate in additional productions outside of A Christmas Carol. 

Vaccination Status

All students are required to show proof of vaccination to The Rep Company Management Team to be cast in this production due to the requirements of the Actor’s Equity Association. They should be two-weeks post second vaccination shot by first rehearsal with the adult cast, October 25.

Casting

All casting and role tracks are subject to the director’s discretion. The tracks are designed to meet the needs of each individual ensemble and can evolve throughout the rehearsal process. All youth ensemble members, no matter casting status, could be asked to participate in ensemble scenes.

A Christmas Carol Synopsis 

At long last, the ghosts of Ebenezer Scrooge’s past, present and future have caught up with him. Now London’s most infamous miser must take a transformative journey as he faces the worst parts of himself and discovers unexpected redemption. Michael Wilson’s wondrous adaptation has delighted more than 1 million audience members throughout the country. The New York Times hailed it as “rousing” and “crowd-pleasing.” The Rep and COCA are proud to partner on this production of A Christmas Carol through an educational exchange that includes youth ensemble casting and artistic mentorship.

About The Rep’s Artistic Team

Hana S. Sharif

Hana’s multi-faceted theatre career includes roles as an artistic leader, director, playwright and producer. Hana is the new Augustin Family Artistic Director of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. She has spent the last two decades innovating producorial processes, strengthening community engagement, and producing multiple world and regional premieres. During her tenure as Associate Artistic Director at Baltimore Center Stage, she guided the theatre through a multi-million dollar building renovation and rebranding effort. As a fierce champion of new American plays and playwrights, she has helped develop over a hundred plays, including Pulitzer, Tony, and Obie award-winning masterworks. Hana is the recipient of the 2009–10 Aetna New Voices Fellowship, The EMC Arts Working Open Fellowship, and TCG New Generations Fellowship. She serves on the board of directors for the Theatre Communications Group (TCG) and the Sprott Foundation.

About COCA’s Artistic Team

Jennifer Wintzer

Jennifer Wintzer is the Artistic Director of Theatre at COCA (Center of Creative Arts) where she oversees COCApresents and the COCA Pre-Professional Division training program for emerging theatre artists. Jennifer joined COCA’s team from Shakespeare Festival St. Louis where she served as Director of Education/Associate Artistic Director. Under Jennifer’s leadership, the

Festival was recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Missouri Arts Council, and FOCUS St. Louis, as well as St. Louis Theatre Circle nominations and awards, including best new play and scenic design. In 2018, as lead producer for the launch of the Festival’s new works series, her producing work received four St. Louis Theatre Circle Awards with the regional premiere of Into the Breeches! by George Brant, including Best Production.  Before relocating to St. Louis, Jennifer worked with Lincoln Center Theater, Second Stage Theatre, and MCC Theater. Jennifer is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Program in Arts and Cultural Strategy. She earned an MFA from the Academy for Classical Acting at Shakespeare Theatre Company and George Washington University, and a BFA in Musical Theatre from the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University. She is a recipient of the Actor’s Fund Scholarship for the Marymount Manhattan College Arts Ed Program. She is a proud member of AEA, a RAC CAT Fellow, and serves as adjunct faculty in the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University.

Kirven Douthit-Boyd

Kirven Douthit-Boyd is Co-Artistic Director of Dance at COCA. He began his formal dance training at the Boston Arts Academy and as a member of Boston Youth Moves. Kirven studied as a fellowship student at The Ailey School and at the Boston Conservatory. He earned a Master of Fine Arts in dance from Hollins University. He began his professional career as a member of Ailey II from 2002–2004 and also performed at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival as a member of Battleworks Dance Company in 2003. In 2004, Kirven joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performing nationally and internationally for 11 years. He performed leading roles in works choreographed by Alvin Ailey, Judith Jamison, Robert Battle, Ron K. Brown, Geoffrey Holder, Jiri Kylian, David Parsons, Camille A. Brown, Ulysses Dove, Christopher Wheeldon, Hofesh Shecter, Twyla Tharp, Wayne McGregor, and Ohad Naharin. In 2016, Kirven joined Ron K. Brown/Evidence, A Dance Company as a guest artist. In 2010, Kirven performed at the White House tribute to Judith Jamison hosted by Michelle Obama. He appeared as a guest artist in ballet and contemporary dance galas in Argentina, Mexico, and Canada. He is the 2014 recipient of the Black Theater Alliance Award for his performance in Wayne McGregor’s Chroma, the 2015 recipient of the Next Generation in Leadership Award from the Freedom House in Boston, and the 2016 recipient of Boston Arts Academy’s Apollo Award. Kirven has choreographed for The Ailey School, The Juilliard School, Webster University, Boston Arts Academy, Boston Youth Moves, and COCA. He has also choreographed for Dallas Black Dance Theater, The Big Muddy Dance Company, The Black Repertory Theater, The Repertory Theater of St. Louis, and Ailey II. He is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum, and has completed Lester Horton Pedagogy studies under Ana Marie Forsythe in New York and St. Louis.