The Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy is now accepting applications to a Pre-Professional Triple Threat Advanced Training Intensive.
*Audition deadline is May 17!*
Ages: Pre-college and college students
Location: Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy (145 Northfield Dr. Waterloo)
Date: Monday, August 19 to Friday, August 23
Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $395 plus tax
Family Discount: 10% discount for each additional member of the immediate family from the same household.
Multi Class Discount: 10% discount for each additional summer session attended by the youth/teen.
We strive to ensure that everyone, regardless of financial circumstances, is able to participate. Inquire about our flexible payment plans and financial assistance programs.
About the Triple Threat Intensive
This auditioned course will select only 25 pre-college and college students who are serious about pursuing a career in the performing arts. Led by the Youth Academy’s Director of Education, David Connolly, students will work with highly skilled, working industry professionals to learn five unique, song and dance production numbers in addition to participating in Virtual Broadway Mentor Q&A’s and special in-person workshops in acting through song, monologue performance, audition technique, agent relations, improv, theatrical intimacy, and more.
On the final night of the program, Friday, August 23, students will celebrate graduation by attending Drayton Entertainment’s production of Kiss Me, Kate at the St Jacobs Country Playhouse in Waterloo as part of their tuition.
Dormitory-style residence accommodations are available at The University of Waterloo, 20 minutes away from the Academy on public transit with rates starting at $60 per night. More information can be found here: https://uwaterloo.ca/summer-accommodations/accommodation-information
Classes will run from 9:00am – 4:00pm daily.
A typical day:
9:00am-10:15am First Class
10:15am-10:30am Snack Break
10:30am-12:00pm Second Class
12:00pm-12:45pm Lunch
12:45pm-2:15pm Third Class
2:15pm-2:30pm Break
2:30pm-4:00pm Fourth Class
This intensive will be held at the Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy, a state-of-the-art training facility at 145 Northfield Dr. Waterloo.
Announced Workshop Leaders and Teachers are subject to change.
Video Audition Requirements
In one YouTube video please include the following:
- One, under one minute personal statement explaining why you want to attend our Pre-Professional Triple Threat Training Intensive.
- One, under two-minute, solo musical theatre song that demonstrate vocal range, musicianship, and performance skills. The use of music tracks is acceptable.
- One, under two-minute monologue that demonstrates acting range, characterization, and performance skill. Please choose something that is age appropriate.
- One, under one-minute minute video of solo movement that demonstrates technique, flexibility, characterization, style and musicality. We are looking for willing performers who have a strong sense of storytelling through movement.
Click here for steps on how to upload your UNLISTED audition video to YouTube.
*Deadline is May 17!*
Audition Form
In-Person Workshop Leaders
Rachel Fairbanks
Rachel Fairbanks was most recently seen on Broadway in Lincoln Center Theatre’s Revival of Camelot (Dance Captain/Female Swing). Other Favorites include: Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust Road (Off-Broadway: York Theatre Company & World Premiere: Temple Theatre), Cinderella (U/S Ella/ Gabrielle – 1st National Tour), First Wives Club (Young Elise/Patton – Chicago Premiere) as well as many shows regionally with NSMT and PCLO. BFA Musical Theatre: Penn State University. Originally from Boston, Rachel lives in NYC with her husband where they run their small business: @sparkandedge. You can follow along for updates and upcoming projects @rachelgeorgea
Kae Kae Lee
Malyssa Kae Lee (better known as “Kae Kae” Lee) discovered her passion for dance at just 7 years old, eventually joining Performing Dance Arts in Vaughan, training extensively in Jazz, Musical Theatre, Ballet, Acrobatics, Contemporary, Tap and Hip Hop.
Kae Kae’s talents began to take her across the world, taking on unique roles in various shows, such as Royal Caribbean’s Aqua production “The Fine Line”, Emmy award-winning Debra Brown’s “Brace Yourself” and Family channel’s “Big Ticket Summer Tour”. She has worked alongside artists such as Emeli Sande, Aloe Blacc, Natalie Imbruglia, Dave Stewart, and James Blunt, whilst touring with “Art on Ice” Switzerland, a show choreographed by Sean Cheesman.
Some of Kae Kae’s TV and film roles include Disney’s “Zombies 3” and “Spin”. Fox’s “What We Do In The Shadows”, Lifetime’s “A Christmas Dance”, CBC’s “Frankie Drake Mysteries”, and Family Channel’s “The Next Step”, as well as the music videos for artists including Rupaul’s Drag Race star, Priyanka, Liz Lokre, and Jade Eagleson. Kae Kae branched out into musical theatre appearing in Rock of ages as Dance Captain at Toronto’s Elgin Theatre, and various roles for Drayton Entertainment
Hailey Lewis
Hailey Lewis (she/her) is an Afro-Canadian triple-threat artist and graduate of the Music Theatre degree program at Sheridan College. Select Theatre credits include: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Mirvish); Alice in Winterland Virtual Panto (Ross Petty Productions); Hairspray (Drayton Entertainment & Theatre Aquarius); Anne of Green Gables (Charlottetown Festival); Mary Poppins (YPT); Shrek: The Musical (Globe Theatre); Grease (Irregular Entertainment); Prom Queen (Segal Centre). Select TV/Film credits include: The Boys (Amazon); Zombies (Disney); American Gods (Freemantel). Hailey is currently a “Standby Slayer” and dance captain for Mirvish’s production of Six: The Musical, while also teaching the first- and second-year Music Theatre Styles dance course at Sheridan. When not performing, you can find Hailey cuddling her dog Rigley, getting lost in a good book, facetiming her friends, spending time with her family (especially her mama) and eating lots of chips! As always: many thanks to her agency, her friends and most importantly her family for their on-going support and love. @haileyalexislewis
Nestor Lozano Jr
Nestor Lozano Jr is appearing as Tink in Wendy and Peter Pan and appears in Salesman in China during his second season at the Stratford Festival. Last year, he appeared there as Angel Dumott Schunard in Rent and Mrs. Whatsit in A Wrinkle in Time. Elsewhere: The Wizard in The Wizard of Oz: The Panto (Drayton Entertainment); Miss Understanding in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Stage West Calgary); Derrick in Peter Pan: The Panto (Neptune Theatre); Papa Ogre/Bear in Shrek The Musical (Globe Theatre). Training: Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance, Sheridan College; Wexford Performing Arts. Online: @nestorlozanojr.
Julia McLellan
Julia McLellan is a Canadian theatre performer currently in SIX the musical at Mirvish productions, alternating the roles of Jane Seymour, Katherine Howard, and Anne Boleyn. She has performed on stages across North America, including three companies of the Tony award winning hit Kinky Boots- at Mirvish, on the 1st national tour, and on Broadway. She has lead companies on some of Canada’s most prestigious stages, starring as Val Clark in The Stratford Festival’s A Chorus Line, originating the role of Persephone in the North American premiere of Mythic, and alternating the role of Dorothy Gale in the North American premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Wizard of Oz.
Her stage career intertwines with her climate activism, as she is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Canadian Green Alliance, the national not-for-profit dedicated to bridging the gap between theatre and sustainability.
A look back at our 2023 Pre-Professional Triple Threat Advanced Training Intensive
IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS
Paul Alexander Nolan
Originally from Rouleau, Saskatchewan, is currently playing Hugh Dorsey in the Broadway revival of Parade. Prior to that, he played Jim in the most nominated play in Broadway history, Slave Play. For his Broadway performances, he’s been recognized by the Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards. His Broadway debut was as Jesus in the revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, followed by Guy in the Tony Award-winning musical Once. Subsequent New York roles include Pasha/Strelnikov in Doctor Zhivago, Jervis in Daddy Long Legs, Jimmy Ray in Bright Star, Billy Flynn in Chicago, Tully in Escape to Margaritaville, Jim in Slave Play and Hugh Dorsey in Parade. Paul is a graduate of the Randolph College for Performing Arts who is an avid outdoorsman and huge hockey fan. @paulalexandernolan
Andrea Macasaet
Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, is currently playing Mimi in the Stratford Festival Production of Rent. Previously, she originated the role of Anne Boleyn in SIX on Broadway after appearing in the same role at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, American Repertory Theatre, The Citadel Theatre and The Ordway Center of Performing Arts. Andrea is a graduate from The Canadian College of Performing Arts whose other credits include Canadian productions of Heathers: The Musical, Avenue Q, Miss Saigon and Prairie Nurse. On TV and Film, you may recognize her from Propose We Never See Each Other… (Bed Bugs film); Ratatouille: The Musical (BCEFA); and Guest Performer appearances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The View, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Good Morning America, and the Today Show @andrea.cesyl.
Nestor Lozano Jr
Currently playing Angel Dumott Shunard in Rent and Mrs. Whatsit in A Wrinkle in Time at the Stratford Festival. Previously, he’s been seen as the Wizard/Wicked Witch U/S in Wizard of Oz: The Panto (Drayton Entertainment); Miss Understanding in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Stage West Calgary); Derrick in Peter Pan: The Panto (Neptune Theatre); Papa Ogre/Bear in Shrek The Musical (Globe Theatre); and Daddy Brubeck in Sweet Charity (Theatre Sheridan). Film/TV: Disasters at Sea (Discovery). Radio/Recordings: Guitar in Blues Clues & You! (Brown Bag Productions). Training: Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance, Sheridan College; Wexford Performing Arts. @nestorlozanojr
Jos N. Banks
a multi-award winning Visual/ Performing Arts Artist, Costume Designer, Stylist & Teaching Artist hailing from Chicago, IL. Tours: International (US, Canada, China & Singapore ) – KINKY BOOTS (Lola), North American/ Canadian – HAIR (Hud), THE COLOR PURPLE (Harpo). Regional: MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT – Joan Jett Blakk & CHOIR BOY – Pharus (Steppenwolf), THE COLOR PURPLE (The Muny), SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD (Farmers Alley Theatre), Yale Dramatic Association, Drury Lane- Oak Brook, Paramount Theatre, The Second City, About Face Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, Congo Square, Windy City Playhouse, Farmers Alley, Raven Theatre, Apollo Theatre, Boho Theatre, Black Ensemble Theatre, Pride Films & Plays, Theo Ubique, Royal George, Open Door Rep, Strawdog Theatre & Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre. Film: “Ocean” in Showtime’s “THE CHI”, “Dr. Greg Martinson” in Showtime’s “WORK IN PROGRESS” & Rise Against’ music video “Make It Stop” (Lead). @JosNBanks