Welcome!
Welcome to the Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy Vocal Performance & Audition Skills Intensive! If you’re on this page, it means you have received an email confirming your acceptance into the program and have been registered through the Academy portal.
We are very excited to welcome you to the program this July! This page contains all of the information you need regarding participation in the Intensive.
PLEASE NOTE: All participants must come prepared with two musical theatre songs (approximately 32 bars each) and two pop rock songs to present. We also ask that you bring one additional song as backup, in case the instructor would like to explore something else with you.
Please bring printed copies of your sheet music on the first day. If you’d like us to print your materials, please send them to us ahead of time or arrive early to have them printed. If you have an audition binder with sheet music, we encourage you to bring it—it’s a valuable tool for this intensive.
Check out the Materials tab if you need guidance or suggestions.
About the Vocal Performance & Audition Skills Intensive
The Vocal Performance & Audition Skills Intensive is a one-week summer training program that will select 16 intermediate to advanced-level singers, aged 15-23, who are ready to take their vocal performance to the next level. Whether your focus is musical theatre or pop, this intensive will deepen your solo and ensemble skills while sharpening your audition technique and expanding your repertoire. The week includes attending a performance of the Drayton Entertainment production of Million Dollar Quartet and workshops with Juno Award-Winner, Stacey Kay.
Location Information
The Vocal Performance & Audition Skills Intensive will be held at the Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy facility:
Accessible Access
The DEYA facility is accessible to those with mobile disabilities. There is a ramp leading to the front entrance as well as automatic door controls on the main doors. To access the second floor, there is an elevator located at the rear of the facility.
Both all-gender bathrooms (main floor and second floor) are wheelchair accessible and have automatic door controls.
Parking and Transportation
There is free parking available onsite at the Academy facility. There is also an ION train stop (Northfield) and a bus stop (Parkside/Northfield) within a 5 minute walk of the Academy.
Million Dollar Quartet at the Hildebrand Schoolhouse Theatre
On Thursday night of the Intensive, participants are invited to a performance of Million Dollar Quartet at the Hildebrand Schoolhouse Theatre:
Participants must arrange their own transportation to and from the theatre. It is a 10 minute drive or 26 minutes by public transit from the Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy.
Intensive Schedule
Dates: Monday, July 7th – Friday, July 11th
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Please arrive at the Youth Academy by 9:00 am on July 7th to begin the program. The Academy doors will be open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm to accommodate early arrival and late exit.
Booking Residence Accommodations
Dormitory-style residence accommodations are available at The University of Waterloo, 20 minutes away from the Academy on public transit.
Summer accommodations at the University of Waterloo are located in both Ron Eydt Village (REV) and Mackenzie King Village.
Mackenzie King Village
Mackenzie King Village is the air-conditioned residence with four bedroom suites. Each bedroom includes a twin sized bed and mattress, desk, desk lamp & chair, dresser & closet, bookshelves & wastebasket (its measurements are approximately 3m x 2.4m). All suites come fully-furnished and include living room (two chairs, loveseat & end tables), kitchen (table with four chairs, fridge & stove), two full bathrooms and two storage closets. The suite is split into two sections with two bedrooms on each side. Each side has its own bathroom and storage closet. The living room, kitchen and entrance are placed between the two sections.
Rates
Regular 2025 rates are $112.00/night for a 2 bedroom, $126.00/night for a 3 bedroom, or $160.00/night for a 4 bedroom apartment plus applicable taxes.
This rate includes free WiFi, parking for one vehicle, linens & towels upon check in, and weekly linen/towel exchange.
Parking
Free parking is available to guests staying overnight at Mackenzie King Village in Lots “S” & “V” with overflow parking in Lot J. Day guests are also welcome to park in these lots for a fee of $7.00/day. Parking pass can be purchased through the Pay & Display machine located in Lot “S”.
Ron Eydt Village
Summer Accommodations at the University of Waterloo are located in Ron Eydt Village with a selection of double rooms for single/double occupancy. Each floor consists of 24 double rooms with 2 large communal washrooms per floor (1 male and 1 female) along with a common lounge for after-hours networking. Guests are welcome to use the weight room, TV lounge and games area, all located in the Ron Eydt Village. Please note that meeting rooms are air conditioned but guest rooms are not. There are a limited number of fans available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Rates
Regular 2025 rates are $64.00/night single/double occupancy for a Double Room plus applicable taxes.
This rate includes free WiFi, parking for one vehicle, linens & towels upon check in, daily cleaning of the common areas and weekly linen/towel exchange.
Parking
Free parking is available to guests staying overnight at Ron Eydt Village in Lots “S” & “V” with overflow parking in Lot J. Day guests are also welcome to park in these lots for a fee of $7.00/day. Parking pass can be purchased through the Pay & Display machine located in Lot “S”.
Check In & Check Out
The Front Desk, located in Ron Eydt Village, is open 7 days a week from 7:00am to 12:00am with on call support outside of these hours. Guests check-in is 4:00pm and check-out is prior to 11:00am. For the convenience of all guests “Quiet Hours” are designated from 11:00pm to 7:00am.
Accommodations Roommate Organization
If you would like to organize booking accommodations alongside a roommate from the program, please reach out to youthacademy@draytonentertainment.com.
We will add your name and email to the list below for participants to contact each other. If you are looking for accommodation roommates, please reach out to those below to coordinate.
| Name | |
Materials
All participants must come prepared with two musical theatre songs (approximately 32 bars each) and two pop rock songs to present. We also ask that you bring one additional song as backup, in case the instructor would like to explore something else with you.
Please bring printed copies of your sheet music on the first day. If you’d like us to print your materials, please send them to us ahead of time or arrive early to have them printed. If you have an audition binder with sheet music, we encourage you to bring it—it’s a valuable tool for this intensive.
Click the link below to access additional materials that can be added to your repertoire:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/5ytdmqivd8kc3a3nuwib1/h?rlkey=h7z30q8x5x3x6pv42jqnwcy0n&dl=0
Please find material to the group musical production number excerpts we will be studying during the week below:
Material Coming Soon
You will be given hard copies of all the material on your first day.
Policies and Procedures
Please review our DEYA Code of Conduct and Policies prior to the start of the Intensive.
Meet Your Specialty Workshop Leaders
Eric DaCosta – Vocal Instruction
Eric has been touring the world for the last four years in Hanna Moscovitch’s award-winning show, Old Stock. Previous credits include: Jersey Boys, Annie, Honk!, Snow White: the Panto, Peter Pan: the Panto (Drayton Entertainment); Key Change (Globe Theatre Regina); and Hollywood Hits (Stage West Calgary).
Kimberly Barber – Vocal Workshop
I have been teaching voice at Laurier since 2002 and am also involved in Opera Laurier, where I consult and teach creative process, passing on my knowledge of the performing arts industry to a wide range of students. I teach Body Mapping for Musicians as part of the Pedagogy and Wellness curriculum, and am a course instructor (and co-author!) in the new MMus C3 (or Collaboration, Curation and Creative Performance), a unique program for innovative musicians in Canada who wish to collaborate with like-minded peers. In my role as Associate Dean, External Relations, Partnerships and Graduate Studies for the Faculty of Music, I’m expanding our reach into the wider community to build partnerships for the Faculty of Music and grow opportunities for our students current and future. I hold a Bachelor of Music and Opera Diploma from the University of Toronto, was a member of the COC Ensemble Studio and sang as a company soloist at Frankfurt Opera from 1989-94.
Nationally and internationally, I have performed on operatic and concert stages in Paris, Chicago, New York City, London, Rome, Tokyo, Montréal, Seattle and Toronto. I have a passion for music of all eras and genres, and although I am now turning my sights more to education, arts advocacy and mentorship, I recently performed the leading role of Madeline Mitchell in the Canadian premiere of Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers for Winnipeg’s Little Opera Company (May 2022).
I interact with students in as many ways and different kinds of settings as possible — whether exploring vocal technique in my group class, leading auditioning, resumé and grant writing or Body Mapping workshops, or creating countless performing opportunities and professional connections. I enjoy discovering the unique capabilities and strengths that each student I interact with brings to the table, and helping them to grow artistically and personally throughout their time at Laurier and beyond.
Stacey Kay – Songwriting and Pop Music Performance
Stacey Kay received the GOLDEN BUZZER on City TV’s new season of Canada’s Got Talent, receiving a standing ovation from Simon Cowell! She is a Juno Award winning singer/rapper, and her song covers have received recognition from the original artists including BeBe Rexha, RuPaul, Meghan Trainor, Fergie, and Jennifer Hudson. Her unique and powerful singing voice paired with her machine-gun rapping has garnered her online videos millions of views with multiple videos going viral!
Check out her CGT performance here!
Stacey is a motivational speaker who travels the world spreading her message about body positivity, and what it is like being a curvy girl in the pop music industry. She has performed with/opened for David Foster, CeeLo Green, Stevie Wonder, Leslie Odom Jr., Bryan McKnight, Michael Bolton, and Carly Rae Jepson.
In 2020, Stacey became the song writer, producer and vocalist for Canada’s Drag Race host Brooke Lynn Hytes, and Canada’s Drag Race winner Priyanka. Stacey’s songs were featured on Drag Race Canada Season 2.
Stacey has a full-length album titled 11 O’Clock Number, and a comedic podcast with her sister called I Have To Call My Sister. Follow Stacey on all social media platforms to see what happens next! Insta: @staceykaymusic
Jade McLeod – Auditioning With Pop Rock
Most known for their critically acclaimed run as Jo on the Broadway National Tour of Jagged Little Pill, Jade McLeod is a Toronto-raised, New York-based performer, writer, teacher and activist. Recently, their focus has been developing new work that centers queer stories, with shows such as A Trip To The Moon (Parkside Lounge, NYC), Wakeman (Village Theatre, Seattle), WINNER (New York Theatre Barn), and Half World (East Village Basement). As a teacher, they love helping students find their authentic voice, both in a technical sense and through a storytelling lens.
Chad McNamara – Movement For Singers
As a proud member of Canadians Actors Equity and ACTRA, Chad McNamara is best known for creating and originating the role of Rooney Doodle on the Juno and Gemini nominated series, The Doodlebops. As a Doodlebop, Chad has recorded 3 albums with Universal music and toured across North America playing sold out shows at Madison Square Garden and LA’s Staple Centre. Selected TV: Doodlbops (3 seasons (Disney/CBC), How to solve a Problem Like Maria (CBC), Bomb Girls (Bravo),Walt Disney Christmas Parade (ABC), The Ron James Show (CBC), The Today show (featured performer/NBC), Queer as Folk (Showcase). Director/Choreographer: Recent: The World premiere(s) of Let’s Dance and Let’s Bop (Terra Bruce Productions) Anne &Gilbert (Island Theatre festival, PEI), Rock of Ages, 9 to 5, the Musical, Disenchanted, Bitter Girl The Musical, American Idiot (Stephenville Festival) Regional: In Common, a new musical, The 25th… Spelling Bee, 9 to 5… the Musical, Legally Blonde, Rent, Crazy for you/ Fight choreography, The Canadian premiere of Be More Chill.
Additional Summer Guest Artists & Faculty
To Be Announced Soon!
If you have any questions, please reach out to us:
youthacademy@draytonentertainment.com
519-804-1100 ext. 900