Senior Development Program

Our Senior Development Program is designed for students who are ready to take their acting to the next level. Through intensive rehearsal, scene work, character development, and focused acting exercises, students will be challenged to develop their skills and deliver a compelling, polished theatrical performance.

Designed for students in Grades 9–12, this program offers a more intensive theatre experience for performers who are looking to deepen their understanding of acting, strengthen their stage presence, and challenge themselves with complex material.

Program Overview

Students will spend 10 weeks rehearsing our selected Fall 2026 one act play, Dystopia! The Hungry Maze Game of Divergent Death, while participating in drama activities and exercises designed to develop their foundational performance skills.

The program culminates in a December Showcase, where students will perform the play in front of an audience.

Students will work on:

Acting: Students will develop truthful, compelling performances through character work, scene study, objectives, relationships, and emotional exploration.
Character Development: Students will learn to build detailed, believable characters and make strong, intentional choices throughout a performance.
Production: Students will rehearse and perform a complete one-act play, gaining experience working with challenging material and sustaining a character throughout an entire production.
Performance Technique: Students will strengthen skills including projection, vocal expression, physicality, stage presence, focus, timing, and dramatic technique.
Ensemble Work: Students will learn how individual performances contribute to a cohesive production, developing trust, communication, and collaboration within the cast.
Professional Practice: Students will be introduced to the discipline and expectations of an intensive rehearsal process, including preparation, punctuality, focus, script work, and constructive feedback.

Fall 2026 Production

Dystopia! The Hungry Maze Game of Divergent Death - A Satirical Comedy for High Schoolers

Trapped against their will in a dystopian future, a group of teens must battle emotionally sensitive guards, limited budgets, and a trigger-happy Gamemaster to be proclaimed the winner in this bloodthirsty send-up of young adult fiction.

Dystopia! is a fast-paced, darkly comedic one-act that gives students the opportunity to explore complex characters, comedic timing, ensemble performance, physicality, and dramatic storytelling.

A preview of the script and characters can be found here:

Dystopia! Script Preview →

Program Schedule & Location

Attendance is an essential part of the Senior Development Program. Because students will be working on an intensive one-act production as an ensemble, consistent attendance is vital to the success of the play and to the experience of the entire cast. Students are expected to attend at least 80% of scheduled rehearsals and to arrive prepared and ready to work.

We understand that occasional absences are unavoidable; however, frequent absences can make it difficult for students to keep up with the rehearsal process and can impact their fellow cast members. Students and families should carefully consider this commitment before registering.

Rehearsal Schedule

Sundays 5:00–8:00 PM & Thursdays 6:00–8:00 PM
September 27 – December 17, 2026
Showcases: Friday December 18 – Sunday December 20, 2026
No rehearsal on Sunday, October 11 or Sunday, November 1.

Location

All Storytime Theatre rehearsals will take place downtown at Academic Hall, 135 Séraphin-Marion Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 1A2. Paid parking is available next to the building and in several nearby lots and garages.

Program Fee

The total Fall 2026 program fee is $300.00 + $60.00 costume deposit per student.

Payment Schedule

$180.00 due upon registration, refundable until September 30.
$180.00 due October 30.

We believe financial circumstances should never be a barrier to participation. Financial assistance and bursaries are available to families upon request. A number of $100 bursaries are available for the Fall 2026 program.

Program Registration

Entry to the Senior Development Program is by audition only. Those interested in joining the program can book an audition for the Fall 2026 term here: BOOK A FALL 2026 AUDITION.