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

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.

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.

The tuition for participation in the 2025-26 season is $1,890*, 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 September 4, 2025 before midnight. 

*The tuition is allocated toward 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. This is in addition to ensuring we are able to compensate our skilled faculty in compliance with California’s Assembly Bill 5 (AB5). 

For the 2025-26 Season, the first tuition payment is due on the first day of the cabaret program orientation (September 6). If you choose our 50/50 payment plan, the remaining 50% of tuition will be charged on the first day of winter rehearsals (1/10 or 1/13). If you choose our 3-payment plan, one third of tuition will be charged on the first day of winter rehearsals (1/10 or 1/13) and the last third on the first day of spring rehearsals (4/7or 4/11). If you select either the 50/50 or 3-payment plan options, you must elect to save your card on file when registering online.

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.

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 2025-26 season during the mandatory student orientation on Saturday, September 6^th.

The 2025-26 season is comprised of a Fall, Winter and Spring program with a unique theme. For each program, ensembles meet for 8-9 weeks of rehearsals, plus a mandatory tech rehearsal and two culminating performances.

This link lists the FULL SEASON REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE CALENDAR DOC. All students must attend the full rehearsal session unless you are notified by the director ahead of time. All groups will have a tech rehearsal on a weekday in the week leading up to weekend performances. Dates subject to change.

Important dates also include:

• Auditions: August 26-28, 2025 (Offers will go out on Friday, August 29 with confirmation requested by September 2)
• Mandatory Orientation for ALL STUDENTS regardless of any Opt-Outs: Saturday, September 6^th: 12-4pm
• Zoom Orientation for Parents: TBD Week of September 8-14.

Weekly rehearsals take place at our studios at 30 Grant Avenue near Union Square. Performances (and tech rehearsal) will take place in either our Garret theater (Toni Rembe Theater fifth floor) or the Rueff stage at A.C.T.’s Strand Theater. 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

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 theatre/theater program.

Add-on Musical Theater Dance: 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. Cabaret students accepted into the 2025-26 season will receive a link to register in this class (with limited spots) when they receive their offer. Depending on the ensemble a student is cast in, this add-on class will take place either before or after their regular ensemble rehearsal.

Add-on Voice: 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. Cabaret students accepted into the 2025-26 season will receive a link to register in this class (with limited spots) when they receive their offer. Depending on the ensemble a student is cast in, this add-on class will take place either before or after their regular ensemble rehearsal.