Hartley Creates 'The Broadway Experience' Summer Intensive

A new and exciting Broadway summer intensive program called The Broadway Experience will launch this July, created by Ben Hartley, who is currently featured on Broadway in Disney's The Little Mermaid.

Hartley, who has been featured in such Broadway musicals as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Fiddler on the Roof, created The Broadway Experience to allow select students the opportunity to get an in-depth look at what it takes to have a career in musical theatre.  Students will learn the skills necessary to become better, stronger performers by taking part in week-long intensive master classes and workshops that focus on singing, dancing and acting.

Students will partake in classes such as ballet, jazz, tap, swing, voice, acting, scene study, auditioning, choreography, wellness/nutrition and much more.  The Broadway Experience includes both lower level and upper level programs.

The Broadway Experience will run for one week beginning Monday, July 21 and ending on Saturday, July 26.  Classes will be held at The Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) located at 37 Arts (450 West 37th Street).

The faculty includes Broadway veterans: Julie Barnes (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines (The Little Mermaid), Ron De Jesus (Movin' Out), Justin Greer (The Producers), Matt Loher (Mary Poppins) and Maria Torres (Swing!)

For more information on The Broadway Experience or to apply, please visit web.mac.com/tbenyc or email tbenyc@mac.com

Disney's The Little Mermaid is currently playing at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street).  "The Little Mermaid takes place in a magical kingdom beneath the sea, where a beautiful young mermaid named Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she'll have to defy her father, the king of the sea, escape the clutches of an evil sea witch and convince a prince that she's the girl with the perfect voice," describe press notes.

The playing schedule for The Little Mermaid is as follows: Tuesday – Saturday evenings at 8pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2pm, and Sunday matinees at 3pm.  Tickets for are $51.50 - $121.50 (includes a $1.50 facility fee), available through Ticketmaster at (212) 307-4747, online at www.DisneyOnBroadway.com, or in-person at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street).