HAIRSPRAY's Karen Mason Set To Teach Cabaret Workshop For Teens In Bayside

Karen Mason, Broadway star of Sunset Boulevard, Mama Mia, and recently Hairspray, will be heading to Queens this summer to teach students in a new Cabaret Workshop for teens produced by the Theatre Arts Center in Bayside. Ms. Mason will join other professionals such as, Angelo Fraboni from Jerome Robbins Broadway, Robbie Roby from Hairspray, Jim Osorno from Rocky Horror, Penny Aynn Maas from Cabaret, Carlos L. Encinias from Altar Boyz, and Connor Gallagher from Beauty & the Beast who teach and choreograph for the Theatre Arts Center's Summer Workshops & Camp. "To me cabaret is about the passion to sing and to share. I love working with young singers & actors because they are on the brink of their careers and are eager to share and learn" states Ms. Mason, who will be making her directing debut.

In addition to the Cabaret Workshop, talented youth, ages 7-19 learn professional skills at a Musical Theatre & Dance Workshop and a Teen Acting Ensemble. Auditions are being scheduled through May. The professionally based camp, in its ninth year in Queens, is in summer residence in Bayside at the Professional Performing Arts Center at Queensborough Community College. They offer aspiring young singers, dancers and actors four weeks of performing arts classes with Broadway Guest Artists like Ms. Mason. "While my 17-year old son has been in many theater camps in the Long Island / New York area," states Kim Oler, an Emmy Award and Richard Rodgers Award winning composer and Long Island resident, "never has he had such a memorable experience as he did with Robert Laconi and the Theatre Arts Center. In this workshop my son worked harder, with more professional expectations than he ever has, and the students shared an enormous pride in their accomplishments together. The staff is extraordinary."

The four-week workshops attract talented students from NYC, Long Island and as far away as Germany and Portugal. Many graduates have been successful in landing roles at HBO Family, PBS Reading Rainbow, Nickelodeon, a developmental project for Disney and Music Theatre International, The American Girl Theatre, On and Off-Broadway, Live at the Apollo and even The Soprano's. Long Island alumni Crystalyn Wynter was a 2008 finalist at Live at the Apollo, Isabella DaVivo made her Broadway debut as Young Chita Rivera in A Dancer's Life, and many more have been landing roles at Long Island theatres and schools.

Many of their students have been accepted into NYC's LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, Frank Sinatra School for the Performing Arts, local Performing Arts Schools, and the NYC Professional Performing Arts School.

Artistic Directors, Robert Laconi and Kristine Lewis brought the program to New York City from Bucks County Pennsylvania, where it grew out of the Bucks County Playhouse. Ms. Lewis is currently a producer on the Broadway -bound Busker Alley starring Jim Dale, and Mr. Laconi teaches, produces and directs between NYC and Bucks. Together they are able to attract a top-notch teaching staff, that often also teach at their Pennsylvania location.

When they were looking for a NYC home base, the 800-seat Professional Performing Arts Center at Queensborough Community College in Bayside was the perfect fit. Parents and students from the boroughs and Long Island are pleased to have a professional program in their own back yard, and parents from Manhattan like the suburban atmosphere of the CUNY campus. "This is an excellent match," says Susan Agin. Executive Director of Queensborough's Professional Performing Arts Series. "Our theatre, already the home of the Queens Symphony Orchestra and host to major artists like Chita Rivera, Joel Grey, Ben Vereen & Frankie Avalon, is a wonderful professional learning laboratory for budding talent," states Agin.

The Teen Acting Ensemble begins June 29 and the Musical Theatre Workshop for ages 7-19 begins July 6. The fruit of all the hard work are public performances at the 800-seat Professional Performing Arts Center and the Shadow Box Theatre July 25, 26, Aug. 1,2, 8 & 9.

Students interested in auditioning for the program should call 718-595-2905 for an appointment. Out of town students can submit a video tape audition. You can also find information and request an audition on their web site at TheatreArtsCenter.com.