Frequently Asked Questions

About Rising Stars

ABOUT RISING STARS:

What is Rising Stars Youth Theatre Co.?
Rising Stars Youth Theatre Co. is Sussex County's only nonprofit youth theatre dedicated exclusively to young performers ages 7–18. Broadway World nominated and a Top 3 Best of Sussex County finalist for Live Theatre four years running, we have been transforming young talent into confident performers since March 2017 — now in our 10th year of programming.

Where are you located?
All rehearsals and performances are held at Pehrson Hall, located adjacent to the The First Presbyterian Church of Sparta, 32 Main Street, Sparta, NJ 07871
You do not need to live in New Jersey to participate — but you must have reliable transportation to and from our location every rehearsal day and on show dates.

Are you a nonprofit?
Yes. Rising Stars Youth Theatre Co. is a registered nonprofit organization.
Donations of all kinds are welcome. Monetary donations can be made via PayPal through our website.

REGISTRATION:

How do I register?
Registration is open on a first-come, first-served basis.
A limited number of spots are available for each intensive and workshop — enrollment is not guaranteed.
Visit our Summer Intensives page to register.

What is the registration fee?
The standard registration fee is $575 per child plus a mandatory costume fee of $25–$100 depending on the show.
Late registrations (after posted deadlines) are $600 plus the costume fee.

How quickly do I need to pay after registering?
Registration and payment must be completed within 24 hours of accepting a role.
Failure to pay within that window may result in the role being offered to another participant.

Can I register for more than one intensive?
Yes — each intensive is a separate registration.
Spots are limited so we recommend registering early for each program your child wishes to participate in.

Do you offer payment plans?
Please contact us directly at RisingStarsYTC2@gmail.com to discuss payment options.

What payment methods do you accept?
We accept PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.

AUDITIONS:

Who can audition?
Rising Stars welcomes students in grades 2–12 - and all experience levels are welcome.
All roles are youth-focused, and our productions are organized by age group — so there's a perfect fit for every child at every stage.

Are auditions required?
Yes. Auditions are mandatory for everyone seeking a lead or supporting role in any of our intensives or workshops.
Some programs may require auditions from all participants regardless of role.

How do auditions work?
All auditions are submitted via video only — there are no in-person auditions.
Visit our Auditions page for complete instructions on what to prepare and how to submit.

What should my child prepare for the audition video?
Your child will need to record a 2–3 minute song using a karaoke or backing track, and perform a monologue.
Full instructions are on our Auditions page.

My child has never performed before. Can they still audition?
Absolutely. Rising Stars welcomes all experience levels — from first-time performers to students already working professionally.
We proudly cast 90%+ of all who audition because we believe every child deserves a place on our stage

What if my child only wants to be in the ensemble?

The ensemble at Rising Stars is not for the faint of heart. 😄
Ensemble members are in almost every single number — singing, dancing, acting, and bringing the energy that
makes every scene come alive.
They learn full choreography, wear full costumes, and own the stage from the first note to the final bow.

Think of it this way — the leads may have the spotlight, but the ensemble? They have the party.

No prior experience needed. Just energy, enthusiasm, and a willingness to give it everything you've got.

When are audition deadlines for Summer 2026?

Bye Bye Birdie — March 30
Lion King Jr — March 30
Newsies — March 30

CASTING:

How will we find out if my child was cast?

Casting notifications are sent via email after each audition deadline has passed.
Make sure we have your correct email address and check your spam and junk folders regularly. We are not held responsible if you do not receive an email.

On occasion, audition deadlines are extended to give more students the opportunity to audition — when that happens, casting notifications will be slightly delayed.
We will always give advance notice of any extensions, so keep an eye on our website, Facebook and Instagram accounts for updates.

How long do we have to accept a role?
Once cast, you have 12 hours to accept or decline your child's role.
If we do not receive a response within that window — even after a follow-up email — we will assume the role has been declined and recast the part immediately.

What happens if we miss the acceptance window?
If your child's role has been recast by the time we hear from you, they are welcome to participate as an ensemble member (depending on availability) — but the original role will not be reinstated under any circumstances. No exceptions.

What is the difference between a lead role and ensemble?
Lead and supporting lead roles are awarded through the audition process.
Ensemble roles are available to all cast participants and are an equally important part of every production.

SCHEDULES & ATTENDANCE:

What are the Summer 2026 Intensive dates?

Bye Bye Birdie: June 22 – July 10
Shows: July 10 @7PM & July 11 @2PM & 7PM
Lion King Jr: July 13 – July 24
Shows: July 24 @7PM & July 25 @2PM & 7PM
Newsies: July 27 – August 7
Shows: August 7 @7PM & August 8 @2PM & 7PM

What are the daily hours for Summer Intensives?
Monday through Friday, 9AM–3PM.
For mixed or more complex productions, rehearsals may be extended to 4PM depending on the needs of the show.
Lead roles may also be asked to stay until 4PM.
Families will always be given advance notice of any schedule changes.

What is the attendance policy?
Attendance is critical as Rising Stars is a full production — and every cast member is essential to it.

From day one, your child is part of a team. Every scene and number depends on everyone showing up ready to work. When someone is absent, choreography stalls, scenes can't be rehearsed, and other children lose rehearsal time they can't get back.

Because of this, we hold firm to the following:

— Missing more than 3 days may result in removal from the program without a refund.
— Lead or supporting roles missing 2+ days may be recast to ensemble.
— Cast members late more than 4 times will be reviewed by the Board.

We enforce these policies because every child in that cast deserves a teammate who shows up for them.

What are the Spring and Fall Workshop schedules?
Workshops run on Sundays.
Junior Division: 1–4PM.
Teen Division: 4–7PM.
Additional rehearsals may be added at the director's discretion.

What is Tech Week?
Tech Week occurs the week OF each performance, starting on Sunday and usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays - and includes full run-throughs with costumes, lighting, microphones, and all final production elements.
Attendance during Tech Week is mandatory — no excused absences are permitted.

Are performances mandatory?
Yes. All performances are mandatory.
Please keep all show dates open when you register.

CONFLICTS:

How do I report a scheduling conflict?
All conflicts must be submitted in writing on the registration and audition form, or via email to RisingStarsYTC2@gmail.com.
Verbal conflicts reported to staff or directors are not valid and will not be recorded.
If it is not in writing, it does not exist.

WHAT TO BRING TO REHEARSALS:

What should my child bringto rehearsals each day?
Students should come prepared every day with a packed lunch, snacks, and plenty of water.
Summer Intensive rehearsals run Monday through Friday, 9AM–3PM.
Fall and Spring Workshops run on Sundays in 3-hour time slots.
Please plan accordingly for each program your child is enrolled in.
There are restaurants nearby, but only those over 14 may leave the "campus" to get lunch and this is strictly limited to summer intensives only.

DRESS CODE:

Is there a dress code?
Yes. All participants must wear comfortable athletic clothing and appropriate dance shoes every day.
Jeans, UGGs and CROCS are not permitted under any circumstances.
Please make sure your child arrives dressed and ready to move — there is no changing area available.

PICKUP & SAFETY:

How does pickup work at the end of rehearsal?
All children must be picked up from inside the building and signed out by an authorized guardian.
No child may leave unaccompanied.
This policy is mandatory and non-negotiable — it exists to ensure every child transitions safely from our supervision to their family.

BEHAVIOR POLICIES:

What is your behavior policy?
Rising Stars maintains a zero-tolerance policy for bullying, disrespect, negative attitudes, foul language, physical abuse, or inappropriate behavior of any kind — in person or online.
Any assault will be reported to local authorities.
Children dismissed for behavioral reasons will not receive a refund.

Does the behavior policy apply to parents too?
Yes. Parents and family members are expected to uphold the same standards of respect.
Any parent demonstrating disrespect, bullying, or violence will result in both the parent and child being removed from the program without a refund.

Is there a cell phone policy?
YES! Cell phones must be put away during all rehearsals.
Phones may be used during designated break times only.
Repeated violations may result in confiscation and ultimately dismissal from the program under the behavior policy.

SHOW TICKETS:

How do I buy tickets?
Tickets are available online only via Ticket Tailor at tickettailor.com/events/risingstarsyouththeatrecompany. Tickets are typically available for purchase by June 20.

How much are tickets?
Tickets are priced $15 to $20-person - depending on the show.

Can I get a refund on tickets?
Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged per Ticket Tailor's policies.

In the event of inclement weather, the Box Office will contact you with options to reschedule to another performance of the same show or a different show at no additional cost.

REFUND & TRANSFER POLICIES:

What is your refund policy?

Rising Stars Youth Theatre Co. maintains a strict no-refund policy. All sales are final.

The only circumstance under which a refund request will be considered is a verified medical emergency. A formal written request, supported by a letter from a state-licensed physician, must be submitted to the Board of Directors for review.
Approval is not guaranteed, and submitting a request does not constitute a promise or obligation of refund.
If approved, a $250 administrative fee will be deducted from the total amount paid.

Discounted registrations are not eligible for refunds under any circumstances.

Can I transfer my registration to a different intensive?
No. Registrations cannot be transferred between intensives or workshops under any circumstances.

COSTUMES, T-SHIRTS & PLAYBILL ADS:

What is the costume fee?
A mandatory costume fee of $25–$100 applies to every program. The exact amount will be announced by the director before the start of the intensive.

Are cast t-shirts available?
Yes — cast t-shirts featuring the show logo and Rising Stars branding are available for optional purchase.
Sizes up to XL are $20. Larger sizes are $25.

What is a Playbill Booster Ad?
You have the option to purchase a personalized ad for your child in the show Playbill, including a photo and custom text.
Order form links will be given to each cast member/family during workshop/intensive.
Families with multiple children may purchase one combined ad or individual ads.
Prices run from $40 to $70 for an ad. Playbill ads are optional and non-refundable.

COMMUNICATION & BAND APP:

How does Rising Stars communicate with families?
All official communications are posted on the Band App page of your registered workshop and/or intensive.
All cast members and parents must join our Band App as it is the sole means of communicating information, updates, photos, videos, choreographer, etc.
We closely monitor all activity and do not allow anyone access to our page unless it is a cast member and his/her parent.

Official emails come only from these addresses: