Interested in the EMBERS Program?
2026 Winter Production
"James and the Giant Peach"
Thank you for your interest in the TORCH/EMBERS program at St. John’s. This age group is for 10-11 year olds. All EMBERS students are within the age bracket by November 30th, 2025. Actors who have turned 12 before the deadline AND have participated in an earlier EMBERS production can contact the director to register.
For the months of December 2025 to early February 2026, practices will be Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 4:30-6:00 PM in St. John’s Mercy Hall. ​
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Registrations – Sunday, November 30th @ 2-4 PM.
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This is an NOT an AUDITION -- there will be simple stage games to evaluatge your child's acting abilities. All children will be assigned a role if registering, but principal roles are limited and will be assigned to those present at registration.
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This is a great change to meet the directors and fellow castmates, ask questions, review registration forms, learn the expectations ~ have fun!
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There are 14 speaking slots plus ensemble for casting in this script.
The EMBERS/TORCH cast members are scheduled for 2 performances as an EMBERS Festival:
Friday, February 6th DRESS REHEARSAL
Saturday, February 7 @ 11 AM and 3 PM
All performances should be approximately 80 minutes. There will be an admission charge of $10/person. Tech-week is scheduled the week prior to performances and rehearsals may run longer at that time. ​
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TORCH is a learning environment and your child will experience various aspects of a live performance. While EMBERS is a low-key instructional format, and we initially teach the actors to work as a team and expect a willingness to take direction for a stage performance. We do our best to accommodate everyone’s schedule(s), and it takes commitment and teamwork to make a TORCH family and great productions. We hope you’ll want to be a part of that.
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So your student can feel a part of a fine-quality EMBERS/TORCH production, the following are provided:
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a Script copy of the production
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Practice and performance space (Insured)
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Staging and Character direction
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Voice coaching and projection
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Costume assistance
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Make-up/hair Applications
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Sets & props
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Music/sound/lighting
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Play promotions
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Choreography direction
Tuition for EMBERS is $275. Complete payment will be required at auditions. Credit cards are accepted, and checks can be made payable to TORCH Drama Club. In addition to tuition, TORCH families might expect to pay some additional fee coverages: costumes, and performance tickets. This can sum up to a large financial commitment, so we ask that families plan ahead to ensure that your child enjoys the full participation in the club.
All cast members will be under the guidance of several selected TORCH veteran members who are designated assistants and representatives of the club’s standards. This year’s production will be led by Chris Galvin as the TORCH Director. Mrs. Galvin is the original founder of TORCH 2002 and has directed several productions in the past and has recently directed this year’s TORCH Production Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and the SPARKS Production, Robin Hood. She is also the Youth Director at St. John's and married to Deacon Ken Galvin.
We hope you choose to sign up with another season of incredibly talented students. Not only will your student perform in a really fun, wholesome production, but each cast and crew member feels important and makes long-lasting friendships. Many of our veteran TORCH members remain with us for several years on the Veterans team with directing, tech and set-work and promotional events. It’s a wonderful experience, and can be very fulfilling for everyone involved.