Welcome!
Whether you’re interested in performing on stage or working behind the scenes, the SEACT Student Company has a place for you! We’re a collective of student theatre artists from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience levels, and when we come together, we make magic! The Student Company carries on SEACT’s rich 50-year history of community-based theatre-making with an emphasis on education and artistic excellence. Each season includes multiple full-scale student productions, while offering classes and workshops that touch on all aspects of theatre. Our doors are open year-round to any student who is interested in joining our teeming theatre community. To join the SEACT Student company, all you need to do is get involved!
Here is an overview of student programming for the 23/24 season:
Shakespeare Monologue Workshops
Shakespeare in Performance Masterclass
Fall Break Creative Collaboration Camp
The Importance of Being Earnest
SEACT’s TheatreFest
How to Eat Like a Child
Mean Girls Jr.
National Performing Arts Festival at Universal Studios
SEACT Studio Classes
Audition Workshops
Spring Break Musical Theatre Camp
Get Smart
Summers With SEACT Camps and Intensives
Productions
The SEACT Student Company puts on multiple productions each season. At least one production caters to our younger students; one features content that aligns with Alabama’s English/Language Arts course of study; and another is a well-known musical with a large cast. Auditions are announced on SEACT’s website, social media channels, and the Student Company Band app.
Competition Team
We have two teams of students each year, our Local Team and Travel Team. The local team takes competition prep classes and then competes at SEACT's TheatreFest in November. The local team is open to students of all experience levels. Events include Monologue, Duologue, Musical Theatre Solo, Musical Theatre Duet, Musical Theatre Group, Technical Theatre, and 10-Minute Play.
The travel team is audition-based and the pinnacle of artistic excellence at SEACT. Students prepare a group musical theatre piece while receiving training from master teachers. The team then competes at one major competition each year. Past competitions include Alabama Youth Theatre Experience (AYTE), National Youth Theatre Experience (NYTE), Junior Theatre Festival (JTF), and the National Performing Arts Festival in Orlando (NPAF).
Educational Offerings
After School Theatre Classes (Ages 7-18)
SEACT after-school theatre classes for students of all experience levels, led by qualified teaching artists. Classes vary by semester and cover a wide range of topics ranging from Makeup Design to Acting Shakespeare.
Fall and Spring Break Camps (Ages 7-12)
Fall and Spring Break camps align with Dothan City Schools’ calendar. Each camp focuses on a particular theme or skill. Past camps have included Creative Collaboration and Musical Theatre.
Summers With SEACT (Ages 7-18)
Summers with SEACT features our classic PlayMakers Camps for younger students and Intensives for older, more advanced students.
FAQ
I’ve never done theatre before, so how do I get started at SEACT?
The SEACT Student Company is open to students of all experience levels, but camps and classes are the perfect entry point for anyone looking to learn the basics and build their confidence. You can find enrollment information here.
Is the SEACT Student Company a competition team?
We offer competition opportunities for our students throughout the year, but the SEACT Student Company is not a closed "competition team," nor do we cast our productions from an exclusive pool of team members. We want everyone who walks through our doors to have fair access to fulfilling artistic opportunities.
If I'm a SEACT Student Company member, does that mean I can't perform with my school theatre program or other companies?
We believe that all students who are serious about theatre should pursue a diverse range of theatrical opportunities. In fact, many of our students are leaders in their school drama departments and community theatres. While we expect students to honor their commitment to a Student Company production once they are cast, we also make every effort to schedule rehearsals and performances in a way that allows students to remain active participants in their school programs and elsewhere.
Why should I work with the SEACT Student Company?
The SEACT Student Company offers exciting theatrical opportunities to students of all experience levels from kindergarten through 12th grade. Our rehearsal rooms are safe and encouraging. Students serve in leadership roles and receive guidance from qualified teaching artists who are community leaders, university-trained teaching artists, and MFA-level practitioners. Our fingers are on the pulse of what’s happening in the American theatre, and we strive to select productions that will engage students of all backgrounds and creeds through the rigorous and joyous process of theatre-making.
Do you have a casting policy?
Student Company productions are cast based on the criteria set forth by the playwright, including but not limited to: age, gender, race, vocal range, and dance ability. Ultimately, an actor must embody the spirit of the character they play and meet the technical requirements of the role. We will bend typical notions of casting in order to promote artistic exploration and expression when given license to do so by the playwright.
Although audition requirements vary from show to show, roles are never precast and we demand that our directors conduct themselves in alignment with professional standards and practices. As a general theatre rule, we teach our students that talent might get their foot in the door the first time, but their conduct will ultimately determine the opportunities that are available to them in the future.
Does the SEACT Student Company have an honors society?
The SEACT Student Company offers membership to our International Thespian Society (ITS) troupe. To join, students must earn points through involvement in SEACT classes, camps, and productions. Aside from the invaluable reward of making theatre with like-minded collaborators, being an ITS member grants students a unique distinction that will help them stand out on college applications and job resumes. Applications are always open and induction ceremonies are held in May.
Do you have backstage opportunities?
Yes! The Student Company includes assistant directors, stage managers, crew members, technicians, and designers. If you’d like to work behind the scenes for a specific production, please fill out an audition form for a specific show and indicate your interest in joining the crew. Then, attend the auditions to interview with the director. You will not be required to perform. Over the summer, we typically offer at least one intensive to help students hone their technical theatre skills.
How can I stay up to date on SEACT Student Company programming and auditions?
Join the SEACT Student Company Band or follow us on our socials for the latest news and updates. Keep an eye on SEACT.com for audition announcements, tickets, and class registration.
Facebook @SEACT
Instagram: @seactdothan
TikTok: @seactstudentco
Where is the SEACT Student Company located?
We are located in downtown Dothan, AL. Most rehearsals and performances take place at the following locations:
Cultural Arts Center
909 S. Saint Andrews Street
Dothan, AL 36301
SEACT “Bus Station” Rehearsal Hall
285 S Foster Street
Dothan, AL 36301
Do you offer tuition assistance?
Need-based tuition assistance is available. Applications are available here and must be completed BEFORE registering for a class, camp, or production. Please allow 3-5 business days for processing. You will receive an e-mailed promo code to register if your application is approved.
I have more questions. Who do I contact?
You can email Program Manager Billy Hutto at billyh@seact.com with any questions you might have regarding SEACT’s student programming. You can also leave a message on the SEACT voicemail at 334-794-0400, and a staff member will return your call as soon as possible.