Summer Dinner Theatre: Student Information Guide
What You Will Get From Summer Dinner Theatre (SDT)
As a part of the SDT company, you will work with professional directors, choreographers, music directors, and designers to produce two exciting productions.
Our primary goal in this program is to give you an experience, in performance or technical training, which will better prepare you for future endeavors in theatre. We do that by training and improving existing talents and abilities, as well as providing an exciting and fun experience in aspects of the production you may be unfamiliar with.
Master Classes
In addition to rehearsals and performances, you will attend Master Classes taught by professional actors, directors, and designers from the Washington, DC and New York areas. These classes are designed to improve the your skills in the following areas:
- Choreography
- Auditioning
- Costume Design
- Set Design / Set Painting
Credit and Noncredit Options
Earn 3 Transferable College Credits
The credit course, THET 188 - Performing Arts Production, can earn you three college semester hours of music, theatre, humanities or general education credits. These credits are fully transferable to many institutions. Advance placement is also available in many instances.
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Noncredit 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.
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Auditions and Tech Interviews
Summer Dinner Theatre is a college-level course that focuses on the production of musical theatre in a dinner theatre setting. As a part of the Summer Dinner Theatre company, you will work with professional directors, choreographers, music directors, and designers to produce two exciting productions.
SDT is open to college and university students, high school students age 16 and older by May 3, 2024, and members of the Montgomery College community.
Students accepted into SDT are expected to participate in both shows and must be willing to work and help in all areas of the production. All students assist with responsibilities for both shows and, if they wish, are employed to work the front of house aspects before the public performances. More information about student employment can be found in the Working Dinner Shifts section.
All actors and technicians accepted into the SDT program must to register at Montgomery College for a credit or noncredit option. More information about registration can be found in the Class Sessions section.
Dates for the 2024 program.
Open Auditions/Tech Interviews
May 3: 6–9 p.m.
May 4: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
May 5: noon–5 p.m.
Callbacks:
May 7 & 8: 6–10 p.m.
Program begins: Monday, May 13: 5:30–10 p.m.
Program ends: July 31
Holidays:
Memorial Day: May 27
Juneteenth: June 19
Independence Day: July 4–6
Hours:
Note: Onsite rehearsal/shop hours for interns vary by internship.
Weekdays: mid-late afternoon through 10:30 p.m.
Weekends: Daytime hours on the weekend range from 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Cabaret Tech: June 7-13
Cabaret Opens: Friday, June 14
Cabaret Closes: Sunday, June 23
In the Heights Tech: July 12-18
In the Heights: Opens Friday 19
In the Heights Closes: Sunday, July 28
Student Cabaret Week
July 22–26: Interns produce and direct a late-night cabaret performed by SDT students.
Intern Restock & Restore Days
July 29-31: Daytime hours.
Summer Dinner Theatre Auditions
Auditions: May 3-5, 2024
COVID PROTOCOLS: Effective January 1, 2023, masks are optional in all MC locations.
Vaccination is not required for students, employees, contractors, and visitors to be present on campus.
Summer Dinner Theatre participants are encouraged/urged to wear a mask at all rehearsals. Regular testing will be required.
Audition Schedule
May 3–5, 2024
May 3: 6–9 p.m.
May 4: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
May 5: noon–5 p.m.
The first step for you to become part of Summer Dinner Theatre is the audition process. An audition is required for a performance position.
NOTE: You MUST be at least 16 years of age at the time of the auditions. Also, if you are planning to audition, but also would like to be considered for a technical position, please only sign up for a performance audition and check the appropriate box on your audition application.
All participants will be auditioned in the below areas:
- Singing: All participants need to prepare one piece, 32 bars in length. For the singing audition, participants must provide the proper sheet music in the correct key and cuts for the SDT staff accompanist.
- Acting: SDT will give you a side to read for the audition panel.
Before you sign up for an audition time, please review all the student information in this section, especially the SDT schedule above.
Please allow approximately 1½ - 2 hours for completion of your audition.
Callback Schedule
May 7–8, 2024
May 7 & 8: 6–10 p.m.
Summer Dinner Theatre staff will contact you to let you know if you have or have not been called back.
SDT call back sessions are broken down into specific call times. It is very important to be specific about any conflicts you have during the audition week as your call back times will be based off of your availability on your audition form. In addition, please be aware that during the SDT call back process you may be asked to stay longer or come back for an additional day/time.
Final Casting
If you have been accepted into the program, a SDT staff member will contact you by phone. The staff member will offer you a role(s) in one of the productions and will ask for verbal acceptance of this role. Those not accepted into the program will be notified by email.
Summer Dinner Theatre Class Schedule
All Summer Dinner Theatre company members must register for one of the two class options available. They are:
- Option 1: Earn 3 transferable college credits
- Option 2: Noncredit continuing education course
On the first night of class the SDT Managing Director will meet with all SDT company members to explain all the course options for the class. At this time, SDT will supply all company members information and registration forms. Please note that all class registration has a deadline or you will be dropped from the course and the program.
Full and partial scholarships, as well as student employment, are available to assist with tuition costs.
Technical Interviews
May 3-5, 2024
May 3: 6–9 p.m.
May 4: 11a.m.–5 p.m.
May 5: noon–5 p.m.
Individuals interested in being a theatre technician for Summer Dinner Theatre must sign up for an interview. The interview will be held with an SDT technical staff member. The purpose of the interview is to determine your areas of interest and your level of experience.
NOTE: If you are planning to audition, but also would like to be considered for a technical position, please only sign up for a performance audition and check the appropriate box on your audition application.
Before you sign up for an interview, please review all the student information on this page, especially the SDT Student Calendar.
Please allow approximately 1½ - 2 hours for completion of your interview.
The date for the first class will be in mid-May. The evening will consist of a full company meeting. Later in the evening all company members will move into their separate rehearsals/class with the evening concluding at 10:30 p.m. All actors and technicians will be expected to attend.
Class and rehearsal schedule to be announced.
Full and partial scholarships are available. If you are accepted into the class, Summer Dinner Theatre has been able to help those students in need of tuition assistance for this course. We have been very fortunate that we have not had to turn away a student in need, thanks to the generosity of our patrons.
Information regarding full or partial scholarships will be available at the first class meeting. The production staff will also explain the difference between the credit and noncredit options and will supply information and registration forms at the first class meeting. All class registration must be completed or you will be dropped from the course and from Summer Dinner Theatre.
Summer Dinner Theatre offers students a chance to work toward defraying some of the costs of the course. In past years, we have offered students employment to work various jobs before the performance. Depending on the caterer's policies, jobs may include greeting and seating guests, buffet attendants, and door attendants or other duties. If employment is available, you will be given various forms to fill out during the first few weeks of the course. You are not required to work, but most students do work, and they find it an important aspect of their “dinner theatre” experience.
Requirements for working are:
- Be 16 years of age or older
- Have a valid social security number
- Be able to prove citizenship. (Complete a Form I-9)
Additional information regarding this option will be given after the program has begun. Please note that students are not required to work.
Sign-up for an Audition or Tech Interview
Sign-up for an Audition or Tech Interview