FAQs

Spring/Summer 2022

Please note: the answers that pertain to 2022 supersede other answers that may be found in other sections of this page.

COVID-19 procedures and policies are subject to change as local ordinance and guidance changes.

What precautions are you taking to keep students and staff healthy?
We take the health and safety of our students and staff seriously. Please read through our CoronaVirus Response page and the FAQ’s below.

What do I do if I’m sick or someone in my family is sick?
If your child feels sick at all, for any reason, PLEASE STAY HOME. Send an email to registrar@paacolorado.org and include the symptoms you are experiencing. Any student who has a fever, cough, sore throat, diarrhea, or vomiting is required to stay home until they are symptom free for 24-48 hours. If you know you have been in close contact (Within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more) with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, PLEASE STAY HOME and check with your Health Care Provider unless you have proof of vaccination. Send an email to registrar@paacolorado.org and we will work with you on a plan of action.

Will students be required to wear masks?
At this time, masks are recommended but not required.

If my child was tested, can I bring them to PAA?
No, please do not send your child to PAA following a COVID 19 test.  In order to prevent a possible quarantine, please have your child stay home until you know the results of the test. If the test result is negative, your child may return to PAA.

Who are the governing bodies who have influenced these policies?
PAA Board of Directors, PAA Staff, St. Luke’s UMC, CDC, Tri-County Health, and the State of Colorado

What happens if my child gets sick at PAA?
We understand that not all illnesses will be COVID19 related, but we need to provide a safe place to handle illnesses. A staff member will be monitoring the student. We will call the parents when a child reports being ill, and if we have not heard from a parent or guardian within 30 minutes, we will begin to call the emergency contacts listed in the registration paperwork.

What if my child or another child has a fever not related to Covid? Can he or she return to PAA?
If a child has a fever above 100.4, they cannot attend PAA and we recommend contacting your health care provider if you begin to witness COVID symptoms.  Once a student exhibits no symptoms for 24 hours including a fever, the student may return to PAA.

What happens if a student, staff or faculty member tests positive for COVID?
PAA will consult professional care givers and follow current local and state health guidelines.  

FACILITIES

Are the restrooms cleaned regularly?
Yes! While we encourage students to utilize the bathroom facilities before coming to PAA, selected restrooms are available for use and are cleaned, disinfected and sanitized regularly during programming.

What is PAA doing to help increase ventilation in the classrooms to reduce the spread of COVID?
We have many commercial HEPA filtration units for rooms and have installed air unit filters with MERV13 or HEPA filters. We know the ACR or air change rate for each of our rooms, and are able to maintain safe capacities in each space.

What cleaning protocols are in place to ensure the safety of the children and staff?
PAA uses a line of cleaning products that have been approved by Tri-County Health from a company called Buckeye. Buckeye provides both a sanitizer and disinfectant that are used properly according to their labels.

Shows

What staff do you have for each production my child is in?  
Faculty production teams include a Director, Choreographer, Music Director, Technical Director, Stage Manager, Props Manager, Costume Designer, Sound Designer, and Light Designer. PAA supports the faculty production teams with staff members that include our Production and Site Manager, and Artistic Director.

How many students are in a show?
There are 25-50 students in a show depending on the age and level of the production.

What items does my student need to bring to class/rehearsal?
Students need to bring a water bottle, dance shoes (if applicable), pencils, and script every day. Students will be told when lunches also need to be brought. Please label all personal items.

What is the dress code?
We ask that students wear clothes that allow for ease of movement and cover private areas of their body.

What is the absence policy?
For last minute or emergency conflicts contact Sam Leahy at registrar@paacolorado.org, or 303-900-7041 x0. Please be advised that more than two unexcused absences, or many additional new conflicts not listed on the conflict sheet provided at auditions, may result in recasting.

What should students wear under costumes?
We ask that every student provide a base to wear under their costume. Unless otherwise instructed, the base costume is: Non-baggy shorts and tank tops in a neutral color without writing or graphics, and/or a dance leotard and tights for females. This clothing needs to be brought in at the beginning of tech week. The base costume will stay on site at PAA until the completion of the program.

What shoes does my student need?
FOR CLASS/REHEARSAL: If your student has dance shoes, please have them bring the shoes each day. Other than dance shoes, tie on shoes are recommended for students. Please do not wear “light-up” shoes. Closed toe shoes are required for all tech theatre students.

FOR PERFORMANCES: Dance or Jazz shoes (nude or black) are required to be worn for Fall and Spring performances and for Shareformances (unless otherwise instructed by the teaching artist).

Do you offer a shoe exchange?
PAA has an informal shoe exchange. If your student has outgrown a pair of dance shoes, they may be able to find a pair that fits them in the exchange box and swap. There is no charge for a shoe exchange swap.  However if you take a used pair without donating a pair, the charge is $5. Please note that this service is voluntary, not guaranteed and not monitored.

What are auditions like?
Audition information can be found here.

Where do performances and rehearsals take place?
Rehearsals and Classes take place at our facility on County Line Place in Highlands Ranch. During Tech Week for shows, rehearsals will move to our performance space, located in St. Lukes UMC on South Broadway in Highlands Ranch.

Musical Theatre Summer Camps are mostly located at St. Lukes UMC for the entirety of the camp. There are some camps that take place at High Schools in the community so be sure to check the location.

Do your shows require tickets?
PAA performances require a paid ticket for admission. Tickets can be purchased on our website or at the door. Shareformances are free to attend.

Can parents watch auditions or rehearsals?
In order to create a supportive, non-distracting environment for the students, we do not allow adults to view students’ while auditioning, rehearsing, or in classes.

Audition FAQs

Will every student have a role in the show?
Yes! Every student will have a role in the show and will be involved in the rehearsals! The exception is our Conservatory Level program where the auditions model professional auditions and not every student will get a role.

Can parents watch the auditions?
No, we ask that adults please wait outside the audition room. This allows the students to fully participate in the process without additional distraction.

Who are the people in the audition room?
The director is the person who oversees the entire show, and also does the acting and blocking (where you move on stage) rehearsals. The choreographer creates and teaches the dances with the cast, and may also do other parts of the show depending on how the director and choreographer choose to work together. The music director is in charge of all of the singing and music for the production. They work closely with both the director and choreographer to make it all tie in together. Occasionally, additional PAA Staff may also be in the room, someone like our tech director or production assistant.

What do I need to prepare for auditions?
PAA typically provides a selection of short monologues to choose from, a few song excerpts to choose from, and one dance routine to learn. These materials are provided to you when you register for the show, so the earlier you register, the more time you have to prepare for the audition.

Where do I find the audition material?
Please check your inbox! You will receive an email from registrar@paacolorado.org with the audition material for your show.

When will I know my role?
We will email the cast list typically 2-3 days after auditions. This may vary so please be patient with us. If you don’t receive any email within a week please check in with our producer, registrar@paacolorado.org.

How will I know my role?
PAA will send an email.

What if I don’t get the role I was hoping for?
This is one of those tricky things that doesn’t have a perfect answer. We suggest talking your feelings out with an adult you trust, then taking a new look at the role you have been given with the goal of finding a way “in” to making friends with your character.
It could be fun to imagine you are interviewing your character to find out what they like, dislike, their dreams and hopes, their fears and maybe a secret too. This type of game is fun no matter if your character is a person or animal! Try looking for clues in the script to help figure out who your character is, and then use that information to invent things that feel right to you about your character and their journey through the story.

Do you have callbacks?
Our Conservatory level program is the only PAA program for which we model our auditions after professional auditions, with callbacks and cuts. All other PAA shows have one-day auditions, without callbacks, and every student is assigned a role.