Which comes first, auditions or classes?

Parents whose children want to give live theater a try often face a common predicament: What do they do first, sign their child up for an audition or pay for acting classes first?

The same questions arise when the itch to perform hits teens and adults for the first time.

The resounding answer from directors, producers and experienced stage parents is: "It depends."

Variables include an aspiring actor's age and the family's financial situation.

Most local theaters have an educational division that sponsors acting and musical theater classes. Teaching programs provide structured training and are an important revenue source for the theater. But extensive training isn't expected in the local theater arena, especially when the actor is of a tender age.

"There are a number of excellent programs for kids," said Sid Riggs, drama teacher at Orem High and a frequent director at Hale Center Theater Orem. "Whether (children) take classes depends on their age, depends on the kid and depends on the teacher," she said. "If you've got the right teacher in the right program, hooray."

On the other hand, directors like the "natural talent" children have for being, well, children. "Children are in shows not to be adults but to be children," Riggs said. "I have a real prejudice against dance groups that take a 10-year-old and have them seduce the audience."

Riggs said a lot of the education actors get comes while rehearsing and performing. When directing a show, Riggs said she always takes her "teacher" role along.

Hale Center Theater Orem's education department includes voice lessons at a cost of $80 per month for 30-minute weekly lessons and $100 per month for 45-minute weekly lessons. Hale's acting classes cost $90 for eight weekly classes, and a musical theater segment that costs $250 for 12 weekly classes. Several other Utah County theaters also sponsor classes.

Hale's classes expose new talent to a wide variety of theater skills, said Ryan Radebaugh, director of Hale's education department.

Children and teens up to age 17 are the target audience for Hale's education program. "The most important thing is building their confidence. It's funny to see these students on the very first day of the session versus the last day," Radebaugh said. "If they come out of the sessions saying 'Yes, I love doing this' or 'No, this isn't the field for me, I'd rather do something else,' I'm fine with either one because they've learned what they want to do."

Hale's summer classes drew 110 young actors this year and 120 the year before that.