Act One Update

With Fall Term classes fully underway, Act One wanted to update everyone on a variety of current and recent items.

These are:

• 2021/22 Fall/Winter Term Registration
• 2021 Arts-Focused School Audition Coaching
• 2021 Year End and Summer Camp Performance Videos
• Act One's Pending Vaccine Policy for Students Aged 5-11
• Act One's New Heating and Air Conditioning System

2021/22 Fall/Winter Term Registration:

Act One’s classes are now closed for the Fall Term.

The next opportunity to join an Act One class is at the start of the Winter Term (February 2022). Act One is able to accept a limited number of new students into existing classes at that time. On-line registration for Winter Term classes will open December 1/21 for any class that still has space. Act One will post Winter Term class availability information in December.

You can find more information on all Act One's 2021/22 classes on the school's Classes page.

2021 Arts-Focused School Audition Coaching:

For current Grade 8 students considering applying to one of the arts-focused high schools in Durham (All Saints – Catholic and O’Neill – Public) or Wexford, in eastern Toronto, or Grade 6 students considering the All Saints Grade 7 and 8 program, please be aware that they either currently are (All Saints), or soon will be (O’Neill and Wexford – late November) accepting entrance applications. Typically, acceptance requires an entrance audition in late January/early February. All Saints has posted its audition information. O’Neill typically does the same in November. As in past years, Act One will again be offering monologue and vocal/singing coaching assistance for those students who feel this may help them to be better prepared and feel more confident for their audition(s).

You can find more detailed information on the Other Programs page.

2021 Year End and Summer Camp Performance Videos:
A quick reminder that the 2021 year end performance videos for all the stage, musical theatre and Improvisation classes are now completed. They are all available on-line and via show discs (Blu-ray and DVD). All students in the relevant classes should have received an e-mail with information on how to access and view them. If you do not recall getting one, please contact me.
For students in the two On Camera classes, please be advised that I am currently working on those final film projects and will advise when they are completed.
For 2021 Summer Theatre Camp participants, the performance videos from both August sessions are also available on-line at the school website in the Student Gallery section.
As always, show discs are available upon request for most student performances from previous years. A $6 per disc materials fee will be charged.


Act One's Pending Vaccine Policy for Students Aged 5-11:
With the Canadian approval of the COVID vaccine for children aged 5-11 expected sometime in November, I wanted to give everyone a heads up on how that milestone will impact activities and students here at the school.
• As previously announced, Act One has implemented a vaccination requirement policy for all students aged 12 and older. When the COVID vaccine is officially approved and available to younger age groups, this same vaccination policy will be extended to students in those age ranges as well. We will be allowing for a 2-3 month grace period, in recognition that it may not be possible for everyone to get vaccinated right away or coordinate second shots (if required).
• If approval is granted by end of November, we would be asking all students within the approved age ranges to have at least their first shot by the start of the Winter term (February) and be fully vaccinated by end of March. This of course assumes the vaccine for younger students would be readily available in the province.
• The main impact of this policy extension is as follows:
  • It extends the vaccine requirement to younger classes and will allow us to expand allowable classroom activities to these ages, hopefully enhancing safety and the class experience for everyone.
  • It means that current “hybrid” Ages 11-13 classes (On Camera and Musical Theatre), where both vaccinated and unvaccinated students were accommodated in the same class, would become fully-vaccinated only programs for the Winter Term
• Act One and its staff realize there may be additional concerns regarding vaccination for younger students, but the school will be putting its faith in the expertise and guidance of provincial and federal health authorities and proceeding on the basis that full vaccination will offer the greatest level of safety for all: staff, students and their families, while at the same time allowing us the best opportunity to offer all students as close to a “normal” drama experience as possible for the remainder of the year.
Act One's New Heating and Air Conditioning System:

Act One is happy to finally announce that we have been able to invest in installation of a fully independent HVAC system for the school facility. This means that going forward, the school will be able to better control both heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. The practical impact of this investment is to allow us to ensure that all programs, events and activities taking place at the school will now take place in a climate-controlled environment. It is our hope that this contributes to enhanced student and audience comfort and enjoyment.

We hope the above information helps students and families with planning for the upcoming months.

If anyone has any questions regarding this update or any other topic, please feel free to contact the school.

Sincerely,

Mark Nathanielsz

Owner/Artistic Director