Here are answers to questions we hear a lot, many of them from young people. 

Q:	Do kids perform in Metro Theater Company shows?
A:	Our actors are generally adult, professional actors. Periodically we do cast young people into specific mainstage roles, when it is appropriate and necessary for the production.
Q:	How do actors get into Metro Theater Company?
A:	Actors are cast through a highly competitive audition process. Metro’s Artistic Director calls in  many actors to audition in order to select the ideal cast for each production.
Q:	Where do you get your ideas for plays?
A:	Ideas come from so many places. Sometimes a playwright suggests an idea. Sometimes a story comes our way that simply must be told. Sometimes the actors come up with an idea for something that sounds challenging. Sometimes national or world events lead us to a theme or problem to explore.
Q:	Where do you get your costumes?
A:	Our costumes are designed and constructed for us by professional theater artists. Each production has a specific design team who work with the director to provide creative ideas that support the director’s concept for the play. Among the very gifted costume designers Metro has worked with Clyde Ruffin (over 15 productions), Ruth Hanson, Robin Verhage Abrams, Lou Bird, and Teresa Doggett.
Q:	Where does Metro Theater Company go?
A:	Each year, Metro performs in hundreds of schools, community centers and theaters. Our home is St. Louis and we spend a big part of our season in our St. Louis community, mostly in schools. We also tour to rural and urban communities in Missouri and Illinois. In our 35 year history we have toured throughout the U.S. and have performed in international festivals in Canada, Italy, Japan and Taiwan.
Q:	What’s it like to tour?
A:	Honestly, it is very hard work. Metro Theater Company chooses to tour, because we care about making theater accessible to young people in lots of places.
Q:	Do you fly when you tour?
A:	Almost all of our tours are done by van. Sometimes (like when we went to Italy and to Japan) we have to fly because there’s an ocean in the way!
Q:	What kinds of training do you recommend for someone who wants to be an actor?
A:	Start now! If you are still in school, get involved in theater. Try out for the school play. If there aren’t any plays at your school, suggest the idea, or make up your own. Sing in choirs. Learn lots of ways to strengthen your body and develop it as an expressive instrument. (Dance is especially helpful.) Take part in speech and debate. Run for office in your school government. Volunteer to help out with a theater in your community. If you can go to college, choose a school that has opportunities in theater. Take classes in lots of areas. Great actors are great thinkers who are curious about the world around them. Some colleges and universities have undergraduate degree programs in theater; some have MFA programs also. Conservatory theater programs are likely to have auditions to identify gifted students prior to admission. Contact theaters to inquire about their internship opportunities. Audition, audition, audition! The more experience you have, the more likely you'll have another opportunity.