ENTER STAGE RIGHT Held At The Harbor Lights Theater Co

The Harbor Lights Theater Company, a professional not-for-profit company dedicated to illuminating the human experience through the highest quality theatrical production and arts education, announces its professional theater training program "Enter Stage Right" and its Spring Semester courses, for youth ages 11-18.

The SPRING SEMESTER, which runs from SATURDAYS February 5 - April 30, 2011, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Cottage E 2nd floor 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, New York. The cost of 10 sessions and a final showcase is $300. Scene Study classes lead by veteran Broadway actor Jay Montgomery, focuses on the acting and analysis of theatrical scenes both contemporary and classical. It emphasizes every element of an actor's craft - developing concentration, overcoming fear and self-consciousness, exercising voice and body, unlocking emotional availability, drawing upon personal experience, and most importantly, learning to use one's imagination - all in order to bring a character to life.

The class will emphasize developing skills for cold reading, improvisation, listening and responding, memorization, stage awareness, and isolating a character's objectives and obstacles. The class ends with a final invited showcase (date and time TBD).

Jay Montgomery, FOUNDING ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR of The Harbor Lights Theater Company, made his Broadway debut as 'Whizzer' in the Tony Award-winning musical Falsettos, opposite Mandy Patinkin and Randy Graff. He played 'Whizzer' in the national tour of Falsettos, and appeared in the Los Angeles production. Mr. Montgomery has twice toured the country with Heart Strings, the landmark AIDS benefit, which raised millions for local AIDS charities, hospices, and volunteer organizations in cities all over America. The original cast was written, directed, and choreographed by Bick Goss, and featured Christopher Reeve, Sandy Duncan, and Tommy Tune. The reprise production was written, directed and choreographed by David H. Bell, and added Oscar winner Lou Gossett, Jr. and the late Nell Carter as guest stars.

Regionally, Mr. Montgomery has appeared in over seventy productions, among them 'Antony' in Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, starring George Hearn and Judy Kaye,' the 'Gentleman Caller' in The Glass Menagerie, starring Kathleen Nolan as 'Amanda,' and 'Robert' in Company. Mr. Montgomery has played 'Che' in the Andrew Lloyd Webber blockbuster Evita a half dozen times (Atlanta's Post and Alley Award for Best Actor), and has played 'Curly' in the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic Oklahoma! five times.

During The Harbor Lights Youth 2010 Summer Intensive program Tottenville resident Jacqueline Murdocca participated. Jacqueline, 14, is a performer and has been since she is 3 years old. While participating in a competition for AMTC (Actors, Models, Talent for Christ) the feedback she received questioned why she wasn't also doing theater. Jacqueline's mother Susan chose to take their suggestion and broaden her daughter's scope but needed a program that was local yet had the professional quality of Manhattan. Over the two weeks she saw great improvement in her skills. "The difference is it isn't just about doing a production," said Susan, "It's about actual training."

Michelle DeSantis said about the experience, "I know that I speak for both my 12-year-old daughter, Alexandra who experienced the two-week Children's Summer Program, as well as myself when I state that Harbor Lights has been an exciting and beneficial addition to Staten Island. They have added a new dimension to the Arts by affording our children, locally, the opportunity first-hand, of learning from professionally trained Broadway actors, choreographers and talent scouts."

Mrs. DeSantis added, "Although there are additional significant artistic outlets for Staten Island children, Harbor Lights provide a different perspective for those students who are serious about breaking into the entertainment business. We look forward to participating in upcoming educational programs."

Additionally, Tamara Jenkins, Artistic Director of The Harbor Lights Theater Company, offers private voice and theater dance classes. For more information contact the theater company at 718-273-7516 or at info@theharborlightstheatercompany.org. Tamara specializes in teaching musical theater, specifically the application of good solid classical technique to the different style of singing required for stage repertoire.

Ms. Jenkins is an actress, writer, producer and organizer of special events. On the stage, Ms. Jenkins has appeared as ‘Velma' in the First National Broadway Tour of Chicago, originated the role of ‘Cosette' in the First National Broadway Tour of the smash hit Les Miserables, appeared as four felines in the original First National Broadway Tour of Cats, and covered the role of ‘Eliza' in the Richard Chamberlain revival of My Fair Lady. Off- Broadway she appeared in the recent revival of Jaques Brel Is Alive and Well at The Zipper Theater. On television, she has appeared in the recurring role of ‘Dr. Emory' on Guiding Light, as a guest star on Conviction, and on A&E's Curse of the Hope Diamond with Leonard Nimoy (actually wearing the Hope Diamond).