Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Early Entrance Drama Society?

The Early Entrance Drama Society, or EDS, is an entirely student-run drama club affiliated with the Robinson Center for Young Scholars at the University of Washington. In addition to hosting drama-related events, each year students in EDS produce a full-length play to be performed in spring for the RC community.

Do I have to have experience in acting or theater to be in the play?

Not at all! All EEPer and Acad students are highly encouraged to audition for the EDS play regardless of prior drama experience. The dates and times of auditions are typically announced during October or November of each year.

Where and when are rehearsals? Where are performances?

Rehearsals are held in classrooms at UW, and performances take place in the Ethnic Cultural Theater located just southwest of the UW campus on the corner of Brooklyn Ave. and NE 39th St. 

Rehearsals for the EDS play take place during winter and spring quarters. Specific dates and times for rehearsals are set after the play has been cast to accommodate the schedules of everyone involved.

What is the time commitment for participating in EDS?

EDS is designed such that RCers can fully participate on top of school, jobs, and other commitments. If you are acting in the EDS play you can expect to spend 2-4 hours a week in rehearsal during all of winter and part of spring quarter. This time will increase during the final week of rehearsals before the performances at the theater. For directors this number might be slightly higher. Tech crew, design, and stage management will have a lower time commitment, but will be more heavily involved in the few weeks leading up to performances.

How can I get involved in EDS if I don’t want to act in the play?

So many ways! RCers can participate in EDS as directors, stage managers, sound/lighting directors, costume and set designers, board members, animators, dancers, musicians, and more! EDS is led by a board that includes a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Communications Director. The board holds elections every spring for each of these five positions. All EEPers and Acads are eligible to nominate themselves for these positions and then run for election.

Does EDS ever perform student-written plays?