A two week full-day intensive musical theatre program introducing and preparing young actors for future training and/or performance in music, dance and theater. [Registration Form]

DATES: July 14 - 25 LOCATION: Playhouse On Park	TIME: 9:00am - 3:30pm INSTRUCTORS: Dawn Loveland, Kevin Barlowski, Hillary Ekwall

This summer program gives older elementary and middle school students instruction in acting, dance, and music. Each day, students will have a schedule of classes and rehearsals. Guest artists will also be brought in to teach students master classes in special topics. There will be opportunities for instruction both in small groups and as an entire ensemble. The emphasis of the program is on developing strong performance skills. As part of that goal, each student will be featured in a final performance as a singer, actor, and dancer. Students will also have opportunities to develop their own pieces during daily supervised rehearsals and will have a chance to perform their own "creative projects" for the rest of the students in the program each Friday.

Broadway guest artists will be brought in to teach students master classes in special topics, plus students will have a chance to learn from the Playhouse on Park cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Students may arrive as early as 8:30 am, and must be picked up by 4 pm. Students must bring their own lunches daily. Food will not be provided.

Cost: $600 if you pay before April 15, $650 after April 15. [Registration Form]

Schedule

8:30	- 9:00	Arrival
9:00	- 9:15	Welcome
9:15	- 10:15	Movement class or acting class in small groups
10:15	- 11:15	Movement class or acting class in small groups
11:15	- 12:15	Music
12:15	- 1:00	Lunch
1:00	- 1:30	Creative topics
1:30	- 3:30	Master classes or rehearsal
3:30	- 4:00	Dismissal

 

INSTRUCTORS

DAWN LOVELAND (Education Director) is the Director of Education at Playhouse on Park. Aside from teaching their classes for  grades K – 8, she has directed several shows for young audiences including GOODNIGHT MOON, GO, DOG. GO!, HOMEROOM, and IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE. She also currently teaches Creative Dramatics through the Bridge Family Center. Dawn’s additional credits in arts education include teaching, directing, choreographing and stage managing. Locations include Surflight Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Asylum Hill Learning Center, Middleground Theatre, Camp Acting Manitou, The Hartt School Community Division, and Simsbury Department of Continuing Education. Dawn is a graduate of Middlebury College with a BA in theatre, focused on directing.

KEVIN BARLOWSKI (Music Instructor)  is a Theatre Arts Instructor at Hall High School in West Hartford and a core faculty member at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts where he teaches in the Theatre and Musical Theatre departments.  He is a graduate of Circle in the Square Theatre School’s Musical Theatre program in New York City and holds a B.A. in Theatre Education from Emerson College.  As an actor, he has been seen on the Playhouse stage in such shows as CABARET, SWINGING ON A STAR, YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN, I THINK I CAN and IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE and has directed their productions of MAIN STREET KIDS CLUB, MISS NELSON IS MISSING and BUNNICULA. He also works as an accompanist, music director and vocal coach throughout CT, MA and NY. 

HILLARY EKWALL is a West Hartford native currently based in New York City pursuing a career in musical theatre. She is a graduate of Skidmore college with a degree in music and education. As an actor Hillary has been a part of the national touring productions of RAMONA QUIMBY and CURIOUS GEORGE LIVE! and most recently performed in NYC as Angelina in ANGELINA BALLERINA A VERY MERRY HOLIDAY MUSICAL. She has been seen many times on the Playhouse stage including: YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN, COMPANY, SWINGING ON A STAR, I THINK I CAN, and with STOP/TIME DANCE THEATRE. She has taught for West Hartford Public schools as well as various theatre and science programs around CT. When not performing, Hillary is a movement and gymnastics coach in NYC! www.hillaryekwall.com

SPECIAL GUEST ARTISTS HOLDING MASTER CLASSES

JOEL NEWSOME Joel was seen on Broadway in the Tony Award Winning revival of 42ND STREET, as well as the Mel Brooks Musical THE PRODUCERS.  He is playing Vice Principal Panch in Playhouse on Park’s production of THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE.  His National Tour credits include the role of Leo Bloom in THE PRODUCERS.  He toured for three years with the Elton John musical, BILLY ELLIOT performing the role of George.  Off-Broadway he was seen in the Jewish Repertory’s revival of KUNI-LEML.  He was a part of the original workshop of Jonathan Larson’s RENT at New York Theatre Workshop.  Joel played the role of Bob Hope in Florida Stage’s world premier of CAGNEY!, a musical based on the life of the late James Cagney.  Other regional: Goodspeed Opera House, Arizona Theatre Co., Florida Stage, Florida Studio Theatre, NC Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Houston’s TUTS, Caldwell Theatre Co.  Joel is a Graduate of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music and is a proud member of Actors Equity Association.

JANELLE A. ROBINSON  Most recently, she had the pleasure of originating the role of Mrs. Corry in Disney/ Cameron Mackintosh's Broadway production of MARY POPPINS. Other Broadway credits include: OKLAHOMA and the revival of SHOWBOAT. 1st Nat'l s: Flannery (THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE) and Queenie (SHOWBOAT). Off Broadway: Cherry Lane Theater, ENCORES.  Janelle recently was in Playhouse on Park’s cast of HIGGINS IN HARLEM, playing the role of Mrs. Higgins.  Other regional work includes Papermill Playhouse, North Shore Music Theater, Maine State Music Theater, Cleveland Playhouse and Summer Theater of New Canaan. You can catch her this fall in the film, "A Little Game", starring F. Murray Abraham and Ralph Macchio. Janelle is a proud member of Actor's Equity and would like to thank The Mine, family and friends especially Alita, for all their support and love. 

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