SRO Teen Ensemble

SRO Teen Ensemble

In its 14th year, SRO Teen Ensemble, our extraordinary high school-age outdoor experience, continued to take on new challenges with its 2025 production. During the two-week program, students delve into character development, explore safe stage combat and sword fighting techniques, prepare costume designs, and learn all aspects of presenting a Shakespearean production.
Shakespeare Royal Oak 2025: SRO Teen Ensemble presented A Midsummer Night's Dream!

“The course of true love never did run smooth.” — A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, ACT 1 SCENE 1

A Midsummer Night's Dream – a comedy about four teenagers and their entanglement in a fairy dispute when they run away to the forest. The plot involves a love potion, which causes confusion and jealousy between… well EVERYONE. The love potion was only supposed to be a trick the Fairy King plays on his Fairy Queen, but The Fairy Puck takes matters into his own hands to make sure everyone is under its spell, including a group of amateur actors rehearsing a play to perform at a Royal wedding. The play's characters include fairies, royalty, and rustics. There is something for everyone in this hilarious midsummer event!

SRO TEEN ENSEMBLE 2026 INFORMATION AND SIGN UP WILL BE AVAILABLE IN SPRING 2026

Please note experience is not required to be part of SRO Teen Ensemble! Join us for the most fun you will have all summer!

An optional pre-audition workshop was held Monday, June 9, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. (Royal Oak Admin Building) before auditions. Auditions will be held Monday, June 16, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. (Royal Oak Admin Building). After registering for the program you will be sent the link for the audition Signup Genius to select an audition time slot and more detailed information. All students who register will also receive an invitation to attend the optional (but recommended) pre-audition workshop. 

All students registered for the program will be in the production. Students may also attend as technical students (non-actor) and will be given theatrical technical training in stage management, sound design, dramaturgy, and choreography. Students wishing to do both will be given the opportunity to do so.
SRO Teen Ensemble 2025 ran two weeks in Starr Jaycee Park, beginning July 14 – 18 running from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., and  July 21– 25 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The experience concluded with three performances on the Shakespeare Royal Oak Stage  July 27 at 7:00 p.m., July 28 at 7:00 p.m., and July 29  at 7:00 p.m. 

Frequently Asked Questions

General Program Questions:

There IS a sheltered area at Starr Jaycee Park, so don’t worry. If the rain fails to pass over, we may contact parents by phone to pick their students up early. If we don’t already have your contact numbers, make sure you give them to us the first day of the program. Make sure you have an emergency contact listed so that we can reach someone at all times.

At this time in consideration of the health and safety of students, staff, and interns, if heavy rain is forecast before class begins, a Zoom session will be scheduled for the day. If rain is likely, a teacher or member of the Water Works staff will contact you either the night before or the morning of classes to notify you.

Call us at 248-399-3727 or email education@shakespeareroyaloak.com.

Starr Jaycee Park is located on 13 Mile Road between Main and Crooks. Student drop-off and pick-up will occur in the central parking area by the main sign.

SRO Teen Ensemble Questions:

The productions are presented free of charge, though we welcome donations to support the production and Shakespeare Royal Oak’s programs.

In the first week, we’ll spend some time getting to know each other and the script. We’ll likely begin staging on the second day of rehearsal. The rest of the first week will be focused on blocking, character work, and dance and fight choreography. In the second week, our days will be structured so that we neither burn out nor get bored – we’ll do advanced scene work as we put our show together, taking it scene by scene and building it into a full production. There will be plenty of time to review both movement and lines. By Friday (if not sooner), we’ll be able to run our show all the way through at least twice with all technical elements so that students are prepared for their performances. In an ensemble approach, even students who are not in a particular scene will have ample input into its staging, and there are virtually limitless possibilities in terms of casting and stage time for everyone.

Students interested in directing, stage managing, and design (costumes, props, sound) will have opportunities not only to shadow professionals as they work but will be asked to take initiative in their area of interest to actively contribute to the process and production.

Healthy snacks and water are provided daily in the second week; however, Water Works Teen Ensemble will not provide lunch. Be advised that this summer’s program will be nut free. It is suggested that each student bring a lunch packed with a beverage, insect repellent, and sun block. Loose, comfortable clothing appropriate to the weather, including a hat, is also recommended. For the comfort and safety of your student, we ask that NO Crocs, clogs or flip-flops be worn; sturdy shoes that buckle or tie are required.

Students are asked to memorize one Shakespearean monologue (1-2 minutes long) for their auditions. There will also be a free audition workshop that students are welcome to attend. No headshots or resumes are required!

Please note: Students who are interested in design and wish to attend auditions as part of their process need not perform a monologue. Please contact us for more information!

The ensemble will determine what costumes are necessary for our telling of this story, and parents/guardians should rest assured that they will not need to buy anything that cannot be pulled from closets!

Do you still have questions? Feel free to call us at 248-399-3727 or email education@shakespeareroyaloak.com. See you in the park!

Vickie Schmitt

Director of Education

Vickie Schmitt has a Master’s Degree in Educational Theatre from City University of New York and a B.F.A. in Theatre from Wayne State University. She has taught theatre classes and directed and choreographed plays at the Bronx Studio School for Writers and Artists and was a Teaching Artist at the TADA Youth Theatre in New York City for over 20 years. She was the Co-Director of Way Off Broadway Summer Theatre Programs in NY and CA. Vickie worked as a professional actress and choreographer at the Weston Playhouse in Vermont and directed their After-Show Cabarets. She is a member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA.

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