The Manhattan School of Music's Professional Musical Theater Workshop, led by Artistic/Musical Director Paul Gemignani, takes place from June 5th through June 30th.
"Since 1991, Manhattan School of has joined forces with
Paul Gemignani, world-renowned musical director of more than 35 Broadway shows, to create an intensive summer program that provides musical theater training for musical theater performers by some of the industry's top professionals," state press notes.
"When the workshop first began, Harold Prince acted as its Advisory Committee Chairman along with other committee members
Stephen Sondheim and
Lonny Price, to name a few. These individuals helped to develop what the workshop has become today. This year marks the program's 15th anniversary, bringing together a faculty comprised of Roundabout artistic associate/casting agent Jim Carnahan, hair and make-up artist Phyllis Della, pianist Paul Ford, auditions technique instructor Joanna Merlin (
Fiddler on the Roof), acting instructor
Lonny Price (
A Class Act, upcoming Ravinia
Gypsy and Roundabout's
110 in the Shade) and dance instructor Ginger Thatcher, among other Broadway and theater greats." Robert H. Smith will serve as workshop director.
The Professional Musical Theater Workshop is a four-week long training source for young performers and features vocal and dramatic coaching, song preparation, scene preparation, seminars in audition technique and career management, classes in dance and movement, and master classes with distinguished artists and noted theater historian Robert Kimball. After the four-week program, individuals meet with coaches for private consultations to discuss their progress in technique performance.
The program is open to anyone through an intensive audition process, and acceptance is limited to a select few. This year, 16 talented individuals were selected to participate, most whom reside in New York City. Some out-of-town participants hail from Hawaii and California. The group is very versatile, ranging from full-time college students to working professionals. Past year participants have gone on to further their musical theater training and experiences.
Gemignani was the musical director of the original Broadway productions of
Stephen Sondheim'
s
A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll
Along, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, and
Passion. He
is frequently invited to be guest conductor with many of the leading
symphony orchestras of North American and Europe. Gemignani is the
conductor of the American Theater Orchestra. They can be heard on many
recordings on BMG, EMI and Sony Classics, including Sondheim: A
Celebration at Carnegie Hall. He received a special Drama Desk Award in
1989 and the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award in 1994, both "in
recognition of consistently outstanding musical direction and
commitment to the theater."
"Manhattan School of Music is a preeminent international conservatory of music, granting bachelor of music, master of music, and doctor of musical arts degrees. Founded in 1918, the School is dedicated to the personal, artistic, and intellectual development of each of its students, who range in age from pre-college through postgraduate level. The School trains students in performance and composition and provides a broad-based education in music theory, history, and humanities."
Visit
www.msmnyc.edu for more information.
.png)
.png)
