YAE Member Stella Duncan (back) as the lovable Woodstock with cast member Kelsey Hett as Snoopy in our May 2024 production of
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Click YAE Logo to meet our current YAE Company
YAE Members Audrey Daniel (C) and Kylan Cotton (R), with cast member Jess Jennelle in our August 2025 production of The Amphibians
ThinkTank Theatre's
Young Artists’ Ensemble Apprentince Company
Info to Know!!!
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Are you ready to take your theater training to the next level?
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Who we are: ThinkTank Theatre is Tampa Bay’s professional theatre company dedicated to creating high-quality theatrical productions and programs for our target audience – Tampa Bay’s Young adults and families!
What is the YAE: Our Young Artists’ Ensemble (YAE) is a group of high school students from around the Tampa Bay Area who work with ThinkTank in an apprenticeship capacity. We are specifically looking for talented young performance and production track individuals to serve as members of our YAE Company for the remainder of our 24/25 season and on into our 25/26 season! As a YAE member, you’ll have the opportunity to rehearse, understudy, perform, direct, design, stage manage and so much more alongside those theatre professionals employed in ThinkTank’s Main Stage Productions. There are many incredible experiences that come with being part of the YAE Company, but the most significant is gaining a network of theatre professionals available to mentor you as you venture from high school to beyond
Guidelines and other Registration Info for Auditions/Interviews:
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Age Requirement: Those auditioning/interviewing must be a current 9th – 12th grader and at least 14 years of age by February 22nd, 2025.
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Audition/Interview: All those participating in the YAE Company Auditions/Interviews should secure an audition/interview time. Auditions/Interviews will take place at Lab Athletics Dance Studio located on MacDill Ave. on February 22nd, from 11:30am - 3:30pm. Walk-up slots are not available.
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Forms: Those auditioning/interviewing will need to complete a YAE Company Info Form and a Parental Consent Form which will be emailed to you after an audition time has been requested. The audition/interview guidelines stating what you will need to bring with you to your audition/interview can be downloaded from the tabs just below the "What happens after your Audition/Interview" section.
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Expectation: Each audition/interview will take approximately 15 minutes. When you email for an audition time, please request a time between 11:30am - 1:30pm or 1:30pm - 3:30pm. (You may also say anytime works for you.) If you are unavailable to attend the auditions on February 22nd, you may email and request a virtual audition/interview option. All this information is included in the audition/interview forms below.
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Email Contact: Education@ThinkTankTYA.org
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Please check out the Frequently Asked Questions Section below.
YAE Member Adeline Richardson (R) with cast member Lisa Malloy (L) in our Nov. 2024 production of Number the Stars.
YAE Members Sofia Acebedo Ciro (L) and Skye Stockard (R), with cast members Georgia Mallory Guy (BL) and Julia Rifino (BR) in our Jan. 2025 production of Matt & Ben.
YAE Member Tavo Perez (L) with cast member Alex Rodriguez (C - also a former YAE member), and cast member Jesse Julianna, during rehearsals for our Aug. 2025 PlayFest reading of
The House of Flightless Birds.
What happens after your Audition/Interview?
Offers: We will begin making offers to those accepted into the YAE apprenticeship the week of March 2nd. If offered a spot, the deadline to accept is by Monday March 10th.
Investment: There is a yearly program fee – $300 – that can be paid in two parts: $150 by March 31st and $150 by April 30th. This yearly investment allows us to cover the cost of insurance and assist with budgeting for YAE members cast in our professional shows and other YAE production opportunities! There is no cost to audition and scholarship opportunities are available.
Performance and Production Opportunities: New YAE members are eligible to be a part of our May Production of Song for a New World in addition to the remainder of our 2024/25 season. We currently have performance dates and opportunities in place from May - August of 2025 and we are in the process of planning our 25/26 season. YAE members have the opportunity to be part of each of these productions and projects! (Click HERE to learn more about our upcoming performances.)
YAE Member Julianna Spataro during rehearsals for our Aug. 2025 PlayFest staged reading of In Bloom
YAE Members, (C to R, Front to Back) Ashlin Sullivan, Eve Anton, Jules Navaratte, Yara Perez, Adeline Richardson, Samantha Bollinger, and Rio Ricardo goofing off backstage during our Nov. 2025 Production of
Number the Stars
YAE Member Ryan Pope performs at our March 2024 Spring Cabaret
Frequently Asked Questions:
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- When it says the YAE is an apprenticeship, what does that mean? It means we focus on the professional setting. When you come to rehearsals or perform with ThinkTank, you are working as one of our professionals. This is not a classroom type experience by any means. We expect that you will continue educational growth outside of these rehearsal/performance opportunities with classes you might be taking at your school, through other educational theatre programs, or through private study.​
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- Do I have to be involved in all of ThinkTank’s productions? That’s the beauty of being a company member. If you can be involved, we will make sure you are part of the production; if you can’t be involved, no worries. You still get the all the benefits of being a YAE member and we’ll see you for the next one! Plus, there are lots of ways to be involved in the show from a producing standpoint, as well. We can always use help with house management, social media, working or subbing backstage for a show, etc.
- What will happen in rehearsals and when will they be? We rehearse like other professional companies here in Tampa. For our Main Stage Productions, the commitment is usually 5 to 6 weeks. For a typical production, weeks 1-3 are for rehearsal, week 4 focuses on Tech and Opening Weekend, and weeks 5 and 6 are for the run of the show. Generally our rehearsal schedule week 1 - week 3 is Tuesday - Friday 6:30 – 10:15 pm (if possible, YAE are released early), and Saturdays from 12:00 - 5:00pm. Tech week usually includes lengthier rehearsals, but dates are given well in advance, and we prepare our YAE for the heavier work-load involved in this week. We also have opportunities for Understudy Performances which require some extra rehearsal time on Saturdays and during week 5 to prepare for those performances! Our Cabaret Series and Playwrights Festival have a slightly modified rehearsal schedule and the time commitment is generally 1 to 3 weeks.
- I’m a senior. Can I still audition? Absolutely! There is a discount available for those who are seniors, graduating in 2025, who are interested in auditioning.
- I’m an 8th grader. Can I audition? Unfortunately, no. All YAE Company Members need to be current high school students. This ensures that all YAE Members will have time to be involved in our program, because our schedule takes into consideration other high school activities that you may be involved in.
- I don’t have a lot of theatre experience can I still audition? Yes! We love young people who have an earnest interest in theatre and what it means to work professionally in this field!
- Can I earn Bright Futures hours through the YAE? Yes, you can! We have guidelines on how to qualify service hours for the time you spend with ThinkTank during a production.
- What if I’m interested in multiple areas? We love when our YAE want to experience multiple production platforms and yes there is opportunity to do so. For your audition/interview you’ll have to select one area – performance or production. During your interview, we can certainly chat about serving in multiple areas and what experiences you might have in each.
Cast Member Kelsey Hett with YAE Members Stella Duncan, Sofia Acebedo Ciro, Via Shea, Lilyanna Meyer, Yara Perez and Ashlin Sullivan at the sitzprobe for our June 2025 production of
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
YAE Members Atticus Failes (L) and Ellen Russell stage managed and ran lights and sound for our for our March 2024 Spring Cabaret