Photo Flash: Broadway Dreams Foundation Travels to Russia

The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) is bringing its unique brand of Broadway master class intensives to Russia, marking the first time in the country's history that Broadway professionals will offer programming of this kind. The renowned non-profit performing arts education organization is traveling a team of Broadway professionals to Moscow to offer a 10-day program for 60 professional and aspiring Russian performers, now through tomorrow, April 19, 2016. Scroll down for photos from the program!

In a landmark collaboration between BDF, the U.S. Embassy, Broadway Moscow, Stage Entertainment Russia, and Mikhail Shvydkoy, Russia's Special Presidential Representative for International Cultural Cooperation; the workshop will culminate in a final showcase on the stage of the Rossiya Theatre tonight, April 18, 2016 at 6:30 pm and 9 pm. Backed by a 15-piece orchestra, Russian and Broadway performers will come together for the first time ever to present musical numbers from some of Broadway's most beloved musicals, including Cabaret, Chess, Hairspray, Annie, West Side Story, and more.

"As we are developing the musical genre we are faced with an issue of scarcity of professionally trained musical actors," said Dmitry Bogachey, Producer and Managing Director of Stage Entertainment Russia. "We have nurtured a whole generation of artists who have become true musical theatre stars, but we need to keep searching for and cultivating new talent. This is why we decided to invite Broadway professionals to Moscow. Our collaboration with the Broadway Dreams Foundation will help Russia's experienced actors to take their craft to the next level and offer beginners a solid foundation."

"All of us at the Broadway Dreams Foundation are honored and proud to be the first American organization to offer this level of training in Russia," said BDF Executive Director Annette Tanner. "Russia's love for the American Musical Theatre is moving and we are eager and excited to share our skills and knowledge of the art form with Moscow's talented, musical theatre performers."

Leading the 10-day intensive are Broadway directors Stafford Arima (Allegiance) and Dan Knechtges (Lysistrata Jones), Emmy Award-nominated choreographer Spencer Liff ("So You Think You Can Dance," Spring Awakening), Broadway performers Ryann Redmond (If/Then), Quentin Earl Darrington (Ragtime), Matthew Scott (Jersey Boys), Tyler Hanes (A Chorus Line), music director Balint Varga, and BDF Executive Director, Annette Tanner. Participating in the master classes, which are free of charge for all students, are 60 talented performers as well as already established Russian musical stars from the casts of The Phantom of Opera, Singing in the Rain, and more. Students were selected via online video auditions and call-backs.

On Friday, April 15, Spencer Liff, Tyler Hanes, and other performers from the Broadway Dreams Foundation performed a, including excerpts from the upcoming show at Spaso House, home to the U.S. Ambassador to Russia.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to training, mentoring and providing career opportunities to the next generation of musical theater performers. Intensive programs are offered across the United States and Canada throughout the year, led by an exceptional faculty of high-profile Broadway professionals. BDF offers significant scholarships to hundreds of participants each year, ensuring that all qualified students are able to realize their Broadway dreams regardless of their financial status. This past year, 42% of all BDF students attended programs on full or partial scholarship. Over the past several years, BDF has been successful in placing over 100 students into Broadway and Off-Broadway productions and national tours, including If/Then, Beautiful the Carole King Musical, The Book of Mormon, Motown the Musical, and more.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation will also offer programming in 8 U.S. cities and Canada this summer on the 2106 "GENERAT10N" Summer Intensive Tour, including Atlanta, Omaha, New York City, Los Angeles, Aspen, Sacramento, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Toronto. Summer Intensive attendees will enjoy educational master classes and rehearsals, led by top industry professionals, in preparation for a Broadway style showcase at the end of the week, where they will have the unique ability to perform alongside their Broadway idols. For more information on BDF Summer Intensives and how to register, click here.

Moscow Broadway was created through an initiative lead by Dmitry Bogachev, and is dedicated to the development of the musical theatre genre in Russia. As part of this program, Moscow Broadway offers highly popular annual concerts in Pushkin Square on Moscow City Day.

For more information on Broadway Dreams Foundation's collaboration with Moscow Broadway, go to www.moscow-broadway.ru. And for more about BDF, visit www.mybroadwaydreams.com.