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 13 - 24, 2015 LOCATION: Playhouse On Park	TIME: 9:00am - 3:30pm INSTRUCTORS: Dawn Loveland (Acting), Colin Britt, Sean Pallatroni (Music), Hillary Ekwall (Movement) *instructors subject to change VISITING GUEST ARTISTS: Susan Haefner, Ron Todorowski

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 Susan Haefner and Ron Todorowksi will each lead a two hour master class during the program. Scroll down to learn more about Ms Haefner and Mr Todorowski

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: $650 if you pay in full by May 1, 2015, $700 after May 1st. [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 (Subject to Change)

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.

COLIN BRITT (Music Instructor) has music directed several shows with Playhouse Artistic Director Darlene Zoller including the award-winning CHICAGO, SWINGING ON A STAR, MAMA D'S OUTRAGEOUS ROMP, and stop/time's SHOWSTOPPERS. Other credits include THE LAST FIVE YEARS, SIDE BY SIDE..., and COMPANY at Playhouse, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN with West Hartford Summer Arts Festival, and SWEENEY TODD, JOSEPH...DREAMCOAT, and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in his home state of Maine. Colin currently serves on the conducting faculty at Hartt, as director of music for Marquand Chapel at Yale, as the assistant conductor of the Hartford Chorale, and as the assistant music director at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. He lives in New Jerseywith his wife, Tori.


SEAN PALLATRONI (Music Instructor) is an EMMY® Award winning composer, songwriter, director and pianist. Originally from Bedford NH, he has studied performing arts at the Derryfield School under the direction of Laurel Devino, and completed his undergraduate degree in Music Composition at the Hartt School of Music. Sean has written for musical theatre, classical chamber ensembles, jazz, choir, and orchestra. His recent musical "Beyond this Paradise" was premiered in August 2012 in New York City, and was a finalist in the Thespis Theatre Festival. He also coaches and musically directs numerous shows in the southern New Hampshire and Hartford, Connecticut areas. Sean currently scores programs for Connecticut Public Television, including the shows "Empowering Connecticut," "Infinity Hall Live," and "All Things Connecticut." Sean is the recipient of Hartt's "Edward Diemente Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Composition," and winner of the 2010 Alabama Orchestra Association's Composition Competition for his work "When the Grass Was Still Green."

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

SUSAN HAEFNER is very excited to return to Playhouse on Park to teach summer master classes, having taught several in past years. She is thrilled to be part of the Playhouse on Park family as an actor and director as well. She recently appeared in The Dining Room at the Playhouse, and directed/choreographed 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in 2014. Susan is also a Broadway veteran, having appeared in State Fair, 42nd Street, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Her national tour credits include Damn Yankees w/ Jerry Lewis and Billy Elliot. As a teacher, Susan has taught at numerous Performing Arts Schools and Theatres such as Studio New Canaan, Shuffles Tap School, Weston Playhouse, and Geva Theatre Center’s Summer Academy. She is currently serving as Interim Director of Education and Outreach at Weston Playhouse in Vermont. For more information about Susan, please visit her website: www.susanhaefner.com.


RON TODOROWSKI is from Pittsburgh, PA and currently lives in New York City. He has had a diverse career in concert, musical theater and commercial dance. Ron's been a member of Twyla Tharp Dance, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, The Parsons Dance Company, Mia Michaels "RAW" and guested for many others. He was the Resident Director and played two principal roles for the first national tour of Twyla Tharp’s Come Fly Away. Broadway shows include Finding Neverland, Come Fly Away, Wicked, Guys and Dolls, The Times They Are A Changin, Movin' Out and Footloose. He starred in London's West End production and first national tour of Movin' Out playing the role of Eddie where he received a Helen Hayes Award for Best Actor in a musical. Off Broadway and other theater credits include Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party, Chess for the Actor's Fund with Josh Groban, Barry Manilow’s Copacabana, Spirit and Cinderella. Some television and film credits include Saturday Night Live, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The View, the Tony Awards, VMA's for the artist, "Ne-Yo", the feature film Winter’s Tale and lead dancer in the short drama "Now". He’s choreographed original work for Wayne State University, BC Beat in NYC and worked as Assistant Choreographer for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the Lyric Theater in Oklahoma City as well as Celine Dion’s A New Day in Las Vegas. Ron just shot a music video for the band, "Fun", for their new single, "A-Ha" and is currently performing on Broadway in the new hit show FINDING NEVERLAND. 

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