WORKSHOPS AND MASTER CLASSES

On this Page:

July 1: Master Class: Acting a Song with Janelle Robinson
July 14: Vocal Coaching for Musical Theater with Joel Newsome
July 15, 22, 28: Improv Master classes with Claire Zick
July 21: Master Class: Shakespeare's Clowns with Jan Neuberger

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JULY 1 -- MASTER CLASS: ACTING A SONG

This class will guide students to improve their performance of a musical theatre song.  Students should bring a few musical theatre songs to the workshop, and be prepared to present one of them.  The instructor will critique students on their acting and musical presentation, and teach them skills to take their performances and auditions to the next level.  Maximum 10 students.  Ages 16 and up.

Instructor: Broadway artist Janelle Robinson
Date: Tuesday, July 1st
Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00pm
Place: Playhouse on Park
Cost: $40.00 [Registration Form]


INSTRUCTOR

JANELLE ROBINSON originated the role of Mrs. Corry in MARY POPPINSon Broadway. She was also in the Broadway casts of OKLAHOMA and the revival of SHOW BOAT. She was also in the first national tours of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and SHOW BOAT. This past season Janelle performed in the Playhouse on Park world premiere of HIGGINS IN HARLEM.  She has numerous other regional credits including Papermill Playhouse, North Shore Music Theatre, and Maine State Music Theatre among others

 

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JULY 14 -- MASTER CLASS: VOCAL COACHING FOR MUSICAL THEATER


This class will be allow students to experience the feel of a New York audition. Students should prepare the song that they feel shows them off the best, and should also bring their book of music filled with other songs that they are comfortable performing. The instructor will provide feedback and opinions to guide students to improve. The instructor will also lead a question and answer session at the conclusion of the class. Maximum 10 students.

Instructor: Broadway artist Joel Newsome
Date: Monday, July 14th
Time: 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Place: Playhouse on Park
Cost: $40.00 [Registration Form]

INSTRUCTOR

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.

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JULY 21 -- MASTER CLASS: SHAKESPEARE'S CLOWNS

SHAKESPEARE'S CLOWNS – With a window into comedy Elizabethan- style, this class will focus on the
immortals: Touchstone, Feste, Falstaff, Mistress Quickly, etc., and the "festival time" they inhabit. Bring your
sense of play, wear comfortable clothes and be ready encounter the bawdy in the bard of Avon!
Ages 16 and up.

Instructor: Broadway artist Jan Neuberger
Date: Monday, July 21st
Time: 7:00pm to 10:00pm
Place: Playhouse on Park
Cost: $45.00 [Registration Form]

INSTRUCTOR

JAN NEUBERGER Original casts of WICKED (Midwife), HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (Grandma Who); BIG (Miss Watson); A CHANGE IN THE HEIR (Martha); and the 1974 revival of GYPSEY starring Angela Lansbury. A 40-year career that includes everything from Off- and off-Off Broadway to regional theatre to summer stock, concert work, cabaret and more. In CT: numerous productions at the Goodspeed Opera; Connecticut Repertory Theatre, the Ivoryton Playhouse, Seven Angels, Downtown Cabaret, and Playhouse on Park (BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, her own BOOMER GIRL: A ONE (MIDDLE AGED) WOMAN SHOW).  Shakespeare: President’s Group, British American Drama Academy’s Midsummer at Oxford. Mistress Quickly, HENRY IV, LaMama, etc. Trinity College’s Dando Prize for Excellence in Shakespeare Studies; Tyler Award for Interdisciplinary Writing for her one-act play, O HEAVY LIGHTNESS, based on THE TRAGEDY OF ROMEO AND JULIETand given its first reading at last fall’s Newtown Arts Festival.

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JULY 15, 22, 28 -- IMPROV MASTER CLASSES

JULY 15: The Start of the Scene – The first few moments of any improv scene are the most important.  All too often we miss important details.  In this workshop we will dive into the start of the scene and learn to connect at the beginning to ensure we build a strong foundation for every scene.

JULY 22: Master Monologues – Are you uncomfortable with monologues?  This workshop will focus on learning to tell engaging monologues in character or based on your real, personal stories.

JULY 29: Scenes, Scenes, Scenes – How do two people connect in a scene?  In this workshop we will explore multiple ways to connect with your scene partner and learn how to use those tools to strengthen our scenes.

Space is limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so please register in advance!  All improvisation master classes are for ages 18 and up. 

Instructor: Claire Zick
Date: Tuesdays: July 15, 22, 29
Time: 7:00pm to 10:00pm
Place: Playhouse on Park
Cost: $25.00/class [Registration Form]

INSTRUCTOR

CLAIRE ZICK moved to West Hartford from Seattle where she was an ensemble member at Unexpected Productions, Seattle's first and most reputable improv theater company. She performed weekly in Seattle Theatresports™ and long-form shows such as Harold, Spoken, Blank Slate, Fakespeare, The Melanie Game, Campfire, A(n) Improvised Christmas Carol , Black Eyed Blonde, Impressionistic Horror, and improvised versions of movie genres. She was also the Assistant Artistic Director and only female member of Sisters of Sal, a long-form improvisational comedy troupe that won Seattle CageMatch and performed with Ryan Stiles. She has studied improv at Unexpected Productions, Magnet Theater, and UCB Theatre. Her instructors have included Randy Dixon, Matt Smith, Jill Farris, Armando Diaz, Christian Capozzoli, Keith Johnstone and Mick Napier. Locally she has been seen in Vanities , Isn't it Romantic, Arsenic and Old Lace and Lend Me a Tenor as well as other scripted and improv productions in theaters around the state.