Cabaret Program

A variety of considerations are factored into the ensemble a student is invited to join. In addition to age criteria, experience, development and skills in voice, acting and movement are included in the casting decision. The age criteria breakdown is as follows:

• High School Cabaret Ensemble “Angelica” (Grades 11-12)
• High School Cabaret Ensemble “Eliza” (Grades 9-12)
• High School Cabaret Ensemble “Aaron Burr, Sir” (Grades 9-11)
• Middle School Cabaret Ensemble “Peggy” (Grades 6-8)

When considering “triple threat” performance skills for placement, experience and qualities, elements that are factored into decisions include:

• Vocal: Physiological age and development of the vocal instrument including muscular/vocal fold co-ordination, breath support, transition across the range, resonance and placement;
• Musicianship: intonation, ear training or sight reading, rhythm, harmonizing, ability to pick up melody/harmony, reading sheet music;
• Acting: maturity and variety in approach to acting the song, ability to connect to lyrics and play with imaginary circumstances
• Dance/Movement skills
• Curiosity and willingness to learn from peers and faculty
• Professionalism: taking ownership of assigned materials and coming to class “rehearsal ready”

Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming number of students auditioning for these ensembles, we are not able to accommodate requests to switch ensembles or audition only for certain groups based on factors other than those outlined above.

The 2026-27 season is comprised of a Fall, Winter and Spring program with a unique theme. For each program, ensembles meet for 7-9 weeks of rehearsals, plus a mandatory weeknight tech rehearsal and two culminating performances.

AUDITIONS, ORIENTATIONS & INFORMATION SESSIONS

• 2026-27 Cabaret Auditions: Friday May 1, Sunday May 3, and Tuesday May 5, 2026. Casting offers will go out in mid-May, and we will ask for an intent to participate at that time
• Final Deadline to Accept a Position in the Cabaret Program: August 1, 2027
• Zoom Orientation for Parents: Date to Be Determined
• Mandatory Orientation for All Students Regardless of Any Opt-Outs: Saturday, August 29, 2026, from 12-4pm

PROGRAM SEASONS & PERFORMANCE WEEKS
Specific tech/dress rehearsal and performance dates and locations to be announced

• Fall Tech & Performance Weeks: November 2–15, 2026
• Winter Tech & Performance Weeks: February 22–March 7, 2027
• Spring Tech & Performance Weeks: May 6–16, 2027
• Senior Showcase Performance: Date To Be Announced

Success and progress in the YC Cabaret program reflects a student’s deep commitment to classes and the rehearsal process. Students may elect to opt-out of one program (session) in the year if they have significant conflicts with the class and rehearsal schedule. More than one conflict per program is considered significant and participation will be at the discretion of the director. Specific session conflicts will be collected by the ensemble director prior to each session’s commencement.

• HS “Angelica" (Grades 11-12) Rehearsals: Saturdays from 1:30-4:00pm (with some spring Thursday rehearsals)
• HS "Eliza" (Grades 9-12) Rehearsals: Saturdays from 1:30-4:00pm (with some spring Thursday rehearsals)
• HS "Aaron Burr, Sir" (Grades 9-11) Rehearsals: Saturdays from 10:00am-12:30pm (with some spring Thursday rehearsals)
• MS "Peggy" (Grades 6-8) Rehearsals: Tuesdays from 4:15-6:30pm (with some spring Thursday rehearsals)

Weekly rehearsals take place at our studios at 30 Grant Avenue near Union Square. Performances (and tech rehearsal) will take place in either the 5th Floor Garret theater at A.C.T.’s Toni Rembe Theater, or the Rueff or mainstage at A.C.T.’s Strand Theater Complex. We actively encourage public transit as the commute is often impacted by traffic in and around the downtown region.

• CAR: There is a drop off zone immediately in front of the 30 Grant St entrance.
• BART: The Montgomery and Powell St Stations are a short walk, and many students commute together before and after class.
• MUNI: Any Muni service that runs on Market St or Geary will bring you a short distance from the 30 Grant St studios

Opting out of one of the three programs (either Fall, Winter OR Spring) in the year is permitted. There are no discounts offered if a student elects to opt out of a session. All conflicts must be submitted via a survey/form to directors before each program begins. More than one conflict per program is considered significant, and participation will be at the discretion of the director. 

Casting offers will go out in mid-May, and we will ask for an intent to participate at that time. The final deadline to accept or decline a spot in the 2026-27 Cabaret Ensembles will be August 1, 2026. If a student needs to opt out of one seasonal program (Fall, Winter, or Spring), the deadline to notify the ensemble director and YC staff is closer to the start of each program’s first rehearsal. Specific session conflicts will be collected by the ensemble director prior to each session’s commencement.

The tuition for participation in the 2026-27 season is $1,980,* payable in one, two or three installments. The tuition represents your membership for the full season, no matter how many programs you participate in. If you are not performing in a particular program due to conflicts with other events, there is no refund of any portion of the tuition.  Scholarships are available, and requests for scholarship applications can be sent to YoungConservatory@act-sf.org. Scholarship requests must be received by email by June 30, 2026, before midnight.

*American Conservatory Theater is a not-for-profit company. The tuition is allocated towards season-long expenses including administrative and support staff, director, vocal director or support coach, accompanist, choreographer, stage manager, front-of-house, concession, marketing, security, box office and facility/venue costs. These tuition fees ensure we appropriately compensate our skilled faculty in compliance with California’s Assembly Bill 5 (AB5).

For the 2026-27 Season, the deadline for the first tuition payment is the first day of the cabaret program orientation (August 26, 2026). Payment details and links to register will be sent to students in Summer 2026. If you choose our 50/50 payment plan, the remaining 50% of tuition will be charged on the first day of winter rehearsals. If you choose our 3-payment plan, one third of tuition will be charged on the first day of winter rehearsals and the last third on the first day of spring rehearsals. Details will be sent out to families prior to the start of each program. If you select either the 50/50 or 3-payment plan options, you must elect to save your card on file when registering online.

Actors do not need to have taken a previous YC class to audition for the YC Cabaret program. Due to the competitive nature of the Cabaret program, we do recommend students have some musical theater training prior to auditioning.

Students who are accepted into the Cabaret program should expect to push themselves and grow with a variety of musical styles and trust the expertise of the Cabaret faculty. Students do not select their own music for the YC Cabaret program (though they typically are provided choices by directors and given an opportunity to weigh in.) This is an educational program with the aim to provide students a wide range of repertoire across the season that will broaden their knowledge of the musical theater canon and thoughtfully support the development of the vocal instrument.

In order to build competency and self-sufficiency as performers, students may be responsible for finding, purchasing, printing, or copying sheet music (or providing the YC office with 72 hours’ notice to print).  Directors will always give clear instructions and reminders involving sheet music ahead of time and will provide sheet music whenever possible.

Yes! The composition and running order for each program is designed by the directors and is created to offer a particular thematic or stylized structure to the performance. Across the full season, the program themes provide a fun and well-rounded experience for students. We will announce the specific themes for the 2026-27 season during the mandatory student orientation on Saturday, August 29. 

A.C.T.’s Young Conservatory fosters a learning environment that helps students transition into the expectations of the professional theater industry. As such, we implement a policy that states that students are responsible for reading and responding to all communications within 24-48 hours of receipt. These communications will be directed to the students own accounts and cc'd or bcc’d to parents.

It is imperative that students provide an email address that they check frequently. Consistent lack of response may result in dismissal from the program. As a secondary form of communication, cabaret directors may elect to use “Remind,” a texting app that allows them to send announcements, and/or Google Classroom. But email is the primary mode of communication and MUST be a priority for students and parents.

There are a limited number of audition slots available and we recommend not waiting until the submission deadline, April 24, to sign up. If all slots are filled, please email YoungConservatory@act-sf.org to request being added to the audition waitlist. The YC Team will notify those on the waitlist via email if any slots open.

Back by popular demand! A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory Cabaret Program is a comprehensive pre-professional musical theater training and performance program that provides a launch pad for aspiring performers in the Bay Area. In recognition of the broad industry skills and college training elements demanded of "triple threat” actors, we have expanded the program to offer students in the high school ensembles access to additional training to support their performance skills. These add-on classes are highly recommended to students who are considering ongoing training at college in a conservatory based musical theater program.

Add-On Dance and Voice Workshops meet on Saturdays from 12:30-1:25pm. These classes will run in the Fall from September 12-November 14, 2026 and in the Winter from January 23-March 20, 2027. There will be no add-on classes in April and May, 2027. These Add-On Musical Theater Workshops are also open to non-Cabaret high school students. There will be a limited number of spots reserved for Cabaret students. There is an additional tuition cost for the Add-On Workshops.

Cabaret students accepted into the 2026-27 season will receive a link to register in these classes (with limited spots) when they go on sale in June (Fall Session) and October (Winter Session). 

High School Musical Theater: Dance Workshop (Saturdays 12:30-1:25pm)

Knowledge of dance fundamentals is an essential skill for the musical theater performer, and a required component of most competitive BFA Musical Theater program auditions.  In this add-on class that will be open to both Cabaret students and other HS musical theater students, we’ll be staging classic musical theater dance numbers to build greater physical awareness, improve confidence in storytelling through movement, and develop strength and flexibility. Additionally, students will have opportunities to practice learning sequences in a mock dance audition format to strengthen audition skills and build confidence. 

High School Musical Theater: Voice Workshop (Saturdays 12:30-1:25pm)

A singer can have a great voice yet not understand their instrument. Designed with the committed vocalist in mind, this class examines singing and vocal production through practical and knowledge-based activities aiming to broaden the singer's understanding of their instrument, its structure and function. Students will work on exercises to build breath support, extend vocal range and agility, enhance resonance, timbre and color, with the aim of releasing their authentic, free, resonant, and supported voice.