This might be an unusual post...and a bit long..but please try to offer me some advice...

I recently started a nonprofit children's theater, and we are approaching the auditions for our first show. We are expecting about 50 kids based on calls and emails we've received.  The community is very welcoming of our new group, and the parents are eager....However, I am only 20 years old, and I know that when 50 parents come to the auditions they might be a bit tentative about a 20 year old directing their children....(by communicating with us by phone and email, no one would guess that the majority of our Board is under 21)

However, although I am young, I have been doing theater since the age of 8, in community theater, schools, and professional theater, and I know I am well trained and perhaps even more professional than those who are older and run the same sort of program. 

I do have a few "adults" so to speak--if that means I am not one--working for me on our Board of Directors. And, I will also make certain that there are at least 2 parent supervisors at each rehearsal.  With that said, I know there will still be parents who feel uneasy about it. Although I know there is really no solution, does anyone have a good take on my problem? Id just like to know what to tell the parents who confront me! Thank You so much

Andrea --

Sounds like you've got your stuff together and are well set up to handle the potential problems. Be confident and professional. As 'Sister says, don't be apologetic about your age. Ground rules are very important in theater anyway, especially when working with children... make sure you explain them upfront, while the parents are there to prevent misunderstanding later.

Having once been where you are now (my qualifications today are worn in the gray of my hair), I can tell you that once you get through that initial meeting, if you handle it with confidence and speak as well as you write, you will have no problems. By the way, when I started doing this, I never mentioned my age... if anyone wanted to make an issue of it, they had to bring it up. I wasn't going to give them an opening. I just mentioned my credentials, talked about the show and explained the ground rules and the expectations that I had for my cast. No problems.

Good luck and enjoy!

Now i know I'm WAY too late but to anyone having the same problem I suggest having a parent meeting. Tell them about your experience. Tell them everything they need to know about the play. Also, explain your RULES, trust me, you will need rules while directing children. Remember to tell them that all rehearsals are open to parents unless otherwise noted (some shows have suprizes for parents that they don't want them to see).

WISHBONE

Andrea T, I TOTALLY know exactly what you are saying...partially because I am young and starting a youth theater company as well. Though I'm 15, not even legal! The whole company is run by teens, so we are always thinking about legal stuff, professionality, etc. We are also approaching auditions. I KNOW I will be speaking to everyone's parents at least once. We will be having one adult supervisor at every rehearsal and an adult on the audition panel who is a very experienced director. Although, I can't give much advice, because we're in similar boats, but I know one thing I will be focusing on is the organization of auditions. They NEED to run on time and it needs to look professional. Looking for thoughts and advice too,

-Anna