Workshop Sucess

Tonight was Stage Right's first Austin, TX workshop.

I had gone round and round on whether or not I wanted to start doing workshops without knowing exactly where our permanent location would be, so I decided to just do one workshop as a "feeler" to see if there would be interest in a more permanent program.

I set up the first workshop to be "Singing the Story" which would be based around the core of musical theater, acting. Then sprinkled in some singing technique, learning a chorus number, and games. We even performed the scene we learned and the song at the end for the parents. I had a good turnout for a studio with no location and no students. HA HA. 5 girls. Not bad. I hosted the workshop at my daughter's dance studio, Dance Emotions in Cedar, Park, TX. and I have to say, Sarah, the studio owner has been AWESOME to work with. She has been very informative when I have asked her questions about leasing space and told me several things I was totally clueless about. So thank you again Sarah, you're a real class act! You can check their website out HERE

The kids were really great tonight! I had 5 girls ranging in age from 6-12 and let me tell you, these kids can sing. I chose to have them sing "Anything you can do" from Annie get your Gun. They were so enthusiastic and animated AND they sang on pitch and had beautiful voices. A definite perk. You don't always get that right out of the gate. The kids also practiced a short skit along with several acting games all mixed in with my lectures explaining what is was all for....the bigger picture.

All in all, the workshop was a success and I look forward to doing more in the near future.

Progress is slow going

Since I last updated, we have decided to hold off on renting a studio space for several reasons. The main reason being that we couldn't fit our specs into our time line. Originally, we planned on opening right before summer and that still seems to be our best bet.

In the meantime, we'll be holding several workshops in the next few months. With the first one being on November 20th at Dance Emotions in Cedar Park, TX.

Go HERE for more information.

Studio Space

We have been negotiating with 3 separate studio spaces int he Cedar Park area. I'd hoping something works out soon. We've narrowed it down to 1 space, and I'm pretty excited about it. We should have news soon.

How it all started.

So I kind of started a business this month by accident. Funny story really.

William and I have wanted to open a community theater for years. Especially when we were directing for local shows in Houston. We saw a definite NEED for some education to go into the community theater circuit. There were a few decent theater companies that gave classes in the Houston area, but there wasn't a place that was a studio combined with a theater.

So we decided we would try to make a go of this thing out here in Austin, and do a "triple threat" program. Form a couple of groups of kids, do some shows, teach singing, acting, and dance (hiring out teachers since neither of us can dance...lol)

So I began researching things, types of businesses (and decided on an LLC "limited liability corp", even though I'm currently operating a DBA "doing business as" as a sole proprietor) studio space, small business loans, tax information, terminology on things. (since I was and AM completely clueless) I've run the money side of my own private voice studio for 9 years, but I have no idea about actual businesses and renting retail space. Or at least I didn't.

I went and looked at a few retail spaces, and somehow got to the negotiation stage with 2 different locations. I played the against each other of course, and ended up getting what I THINK? is a good deal. 5 months free rent, they are installing our dance studio for us.

I kept pushing and holding the idea of starting this off to next summer. Somehow thinking that once Megan was 2 everything would be easier. I KNOW it won't be much different than now. The studio space has an area we're turning into a playroom, and really considering that we'll only be open during after school hours, I'll only ever have the girls for 2 hours a day up there. And with a teenager answering the phones, maybe I can pay her to also beat a kid a few times in there?

I will be teaching a few workshops at local studios to peek interest before we open our doors. Hopefully by January.

Who are we?

Stage Right Productions is run by Andrea Randall-Luyties and her husband William Luyties. 

William graduated from SMU in 2004 with a degree in music composition and computer programming. He has been in countless musical theater productions, and played piano for many more. Andrea graduate in 2005 with a degree in vocal performance. She has been teaching private voice for the last 9 years, and directing community theater for the last 5. The couple formed Stage Right Productions after collaborating on several community level projects and they saw a need for a program that included all aspects of theater, singing, acting, and dancing.  They have 2 beautiful little girls, Emma, born in 2007, and Megan born in 2009 and they currently reside in Northwest Austin.

Stage Right Production's studio space is set to open in the Spring of 2011 int he Cedar Park area of Texas.