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 15 - 26 LOCATION: Playhouse On Park

TIME: 9:00am - 3:30pm INSTRUCTORS: Dawn Loveland, Kevin Barlowski, Mackenzie Friedmann

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.

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.

Fee: $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

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 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 MISS NELSON IS MISSING and BUNNICULA. He also works as an accompanist, music director and vocal coach throughout CT, MA and NY. 

MACKENZIE FRIEDMANN (Dance and Movement Instructor) is pursuing her B.F.A. in Musical Theater at The Hartt School where her dance training includes ballet, tap and jazz. At Hartt, she has choreographed the musical WORKING, worked on NINE as Assistant to the Choreographer and has been seen performing in BIG RIVER, WORKING, and BOOK OF DAYS. She has also performed on the Playhouse Stage in the workshop of THE CLOWNS: A ROCK OPERA, MAMA D’S OUTRAGEOUS ROMP and SWINGING ON A STAR. She will continue working with Playhouse this summer in their upcoming production of CABARET.


Guest Artists (subject to change)

SUSAN HAEFNER (Guest Artist) Most recently, Susan has been touring the US and Canada in BILLY ELLIOT, performing various roles including Mrs. Wilkinson, Mum, Grandma, and her personal favorite, Clipboard Lady. Broadway credits include STATE FAIR, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and 42nd STREET. Susan also appeared in London’s West End in DAMN YANKEES with Jerry Lewis. She has performed regionally at theatres such as Milwaukee Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, Geva Theatre Center, and at Weston Playhouse in Vermont, where she has been a company member for over 20 years. Her favorite Weston appearances include MOST HAPPY FELLA (Rosabella), RAGTIME (Mother), …SPELLING BEE (Rona), KING AND I (Anna), HAIRSPRAY (Velma), and BAD DATES (Haley).

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. Directing credits include STUART LITTLE (Weston Playhouse), YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU (Castleton State College) and A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (SUNY BROCKPORT). Susan holds a BFA degree in Musical Theatre (SUNY Fredonia) and an MFA in Acting (FSU). She is a member of Actors Equity Association.

JAN NEUBERGER (Guest Artist) was a member of the original cast of WICKED, delivering the green baby nightly and stepping in frequently as Madame Morrible. Also on Broadway: Original casts of HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (Grandma Who); BIG (Miss Watson); A CHANGE IN THE HEIR (Martha); and the 1974 revival of GYPSY starring Angela Lansbury. A member of the cast of KRISTINA, an epic musical by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Anderson, Jan performed under the baton of Broadway legend Paul Gemignani on the stages of Carnegie Hall and London’s Royal Albert Hall and can be heard on the live recording. In the course of her 40-year career, she has done everything from Off-Broadway to regional theatre to summer stock, concert work and more. Connecticut audiences are familiar with her from numerous productions at the Goodspeed Opera; Connecticut Repertory Theatre, the Ivoryton Playhouse, Seven Angels, Playhouse on Park, and the Downtown Cabaret.  A Newtown resident since 1996, Jan is on track to graduate from Trinity College this May—it’s never too late!

 

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