Summer Dinner Theatre is a college-level course that focuses on the production of musical theatre in a dinner theatre setting. Students accepted into Summer Dinner Theatre are expected to be willing to work and help in all areas of the production. The students assist with the production responsibilities for the shows and, if they wish, are employed to work the food service aspects associated with the public performances. All students will be expected to participate in both shows in some manner. In addition to rehearsals and performances, there will be a series of classes and workshops designed to improve the students’ skills in the following areas:

• Improving Vocal Skills
• Character Development
• Stage Make-up Techniques
• Costume Design & Construction
• Food Service Organization
• Customer ServiceEffective Auditioning

• Effective Auditioning
• Vocal & Physical Warm-up Techniques
• Movement  for Musical Theatre 
• Acting Techniques
• Scenery Design & Construction
• Theatrical Lighting 

Auditions Back to top

The first step for you to become part of Summer Dinner Theatre is the interview or the audition process. An interview is required for a technical position and an audition is required for a performance position.

Theatre Technician Interviews:
For those individuals interested in being a theatre technician for Summer Dinner Theatre, an interview with the technical staff is necessary. The interview is to determine your areas of interest and your level of experience.

Performance Auditions:
Each individual will be auditioned in three areas: Singing, acting, and movement/dance. 
Singing: Please prepare one song of your choice. A piano accompanist is provided,
but please bring your sheet music for the accompanist to play while you sing.
Acting: You will be given material from one of the shows to read.
Movement/Dance: All of those auditioning will be taught a simple movement/dance
routine appropriate to the shows. Please dress in appropriate clothes and shoes.

Call-back Auditions:
If you are judged as having sufficient talent or ability in the initial audition, you will be asked to attend call-back auditions. In order that the call-back flows smoothly and is completed in a timely manner, all material that you need to know will be taught in one of two “call-back preparatory sessions.” You will be taught songs from the show and specific dance routines and may be given specific readings from the shows.

Orchestra Musician Auditions:
The musicals are accompanied by full orchestras.

Final Casting:
Based on the call-backs, a final cast list will be created. The production staff will cast you appropriately unless you specified on the audition form that you are only interested in a specific role. Be sure to think twice about auditioning for a specific role only, because if you are not cast in the role that you specified, you will not be asked to participate in Summer Dinner Theatre.

First Class Session:
All actors and technicians will be expected to attend this first meeting. Classes/rehearsals are held Monday through Friday evenings from 6:30 to 10:30 PM, although some rehearsals may run later as we get closer to opening night. Special rehearsals for specific individuals will be called on weekend days as needed.

Summer Dinner Theatre is a college course and... Back to top

Once you have been accepted into the Summer Dinner Theatre company, you must register for one of the options available. You may not participate in Summer Dinner Theatre if you do not register in one option or the other. Full and partial scholarships are available for both options. The two options are...

Option 1: Earn 3 Transferable College Credits

The credit course, RMU 140 - Musical Theatre Production, can earn you three college semester hours of music, theatre, humanities or general education credits. These credits are fully transferable to many institutions. Advanced placement is also available in many instances.

Option 2: Non-Credit Continuing Education Course

This option is provided for individuals who have an interest and ability and want to further their education and experience but do not desire or are not eligible for college credit.

The production staff will explain the difference between the options and will supply information and registration forms at the first class meeting . Scholarships are available! Information regarding full or partial scholarships will be available at the first class meeting.

Our primary goal in this program is to give the theatre student experience in performance or technical training which will better prepare him/her for future endeavors in theatre, whether back at their schools or in the profession. The way we hope to do that is by training and improving existing talents and abilities, providing a strong base for training and growth of undeveloped talents and abilities, and providing an exciting and fun experience in all aspects of the production of dinner theatre. For example, we will try to get the singing performer to start developing his/her dancing ability or vice versa. We expect the technical student who has had set building experience to gain other technical experiences such as hanging and focusing lights. We also expect that, when you complete Summer Dinner Theatre, you will know more about theatre and you will be better at it than when you started.

Class Dates & Information:

Classes / rehearsals are held Monday through Friday evenings from 6:30 to 10:30 PM, although some
          rehearsals may run later as we get closer to opening night.  Special rehearsals for specific individuals will
          be called on weekend days as needed.

Via the Washington Beltway • Take Beltway (I-495) to I-270 North to Rockville • Take exit 6A to Route 28/Rockville • At the end of the exit ramp, cross straight over Rt. 28 onto Nelson Street • Follow Nelson for appreoximately 1 mile to Mannakee Street • Turn left onto Mannakee Street and approximately 2 blocks on your left, you will see the Rockville Campus • The Theatre Arts Building is in the center of the campus and has a small concrete fish pond in front. Via Route 355-North from Bethesda • Follow Rt. 355 through downtown Rockville • In approximately 2 miles, turn left onto Mannakee Street • After about 1 block, turn right onto the campus • The Theatre Arts Building is in the center of the campus and has a small concrete fish pond in front Via Route 355-South from Gaithersburg • Follow 355 Rt. 355 past Gude Drive • Three lights after Gude, turn right onto Mannakee Street • After about 1 block, turn right onto the campus • The Theater Arts Building is in the center of the campus and has a small concrete fish pond in front

If you have any questions or comments about Summer Dinner Theatre
please call 240-567-7676, or send FAX to 301-279-0706, or e-mail summerdinnertheatre@montgomerycollege.edu