Auditions Being Held in Ft. Worth for Betty Buckley Master Classes

Broadway leading lady and Fort Worth native Betty Lynn Buckley will offer song interpretation classes at Casa Mañana Theatre in February and March 2006.

The Tony Award-winning actress will share her incredible vocal talent and acting techniques as she teaches her acclaimed full-length master class, "Song Interpretation Intensive," for the first time in Fort Worth. The course is designed for both dedicated students and advanced professional performers. Enrollment is by audition only.

A second and final round of auditions will be held Monday, January 16 from 6-8 p.m. (by appointment only) at Casa Mañana Theatre at 3101 W. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth, Texas. Students can call 817-332-2272, x125 to reserve an audition time. Prospective students should bring a current picture with a one-page resume stapled to the back. They also need one song with sheet music in their preferred key since the accompanist will not transpose music. Tapes or a cappella singing will not be permitted. Students must be at least 17 years old or a high school junior.

The "Song Interpretation Intensive" class schedule consists of six Monday night sessions: February 6, 13, 20, 27 and March 6 & 13, 2006. Classes begin at 6:30 p.m. and last 4 to 5 hours. Tuition is $900 per student. Tuition for auditors is $500. For more info, go to www.casamanana.org or call 817-332-2272.

The first class will begin with an introduction to Buckley's universal spiritual philosophy and meditation techniques as an approach to storytelling through song. Each subsequent class will start with meditation and move on to individual voice and song interpretation study and practice. An accompanist will be provided.

Buckley possesses one of the finest and most unique instruments in musical theatre - a versatile voice that pierces the soul both with its razor-edged belt and ethereal upper register. Her emotional connection to a song and to the audience is world-renowned, and that very connection is at the heart of the skill and knowledge she shares with students. Buckley's dazzling work in musicals such as Sunset Boulevard, Cats, 1776, Carrie, Song & Dance, The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Pippin, makes her the quintessential leading lady of American musical theatre. She is also a highly sought-after film and television actress. Critics continue singing her praises. New York Magazine proclaims that Buckley is "The voice of Broadway!" According to Entertainment Weekly, "Hers is the finest voice in musical theatre today. Betty Buckley's renditions are definitive, moving and letter-perfect." The Hollywood Reporter says, "Why is Buckley so good? Let me count the ways! For one thing, she has a voice that is one of the wonders of the world. In addition, she acts with great style, pizzazz, and above all intelligence!" And Jeremy Gerard of Variety writes, "Buckley owns the best pipes in the musical theatre and is a gifted actress as well! A singer whose instrument is a peerless melding of vulnerability and power!"

Buckley got her start in live theater at Casa Mañana Theatre. She made her professional stage debut at age 15 in a Casa Mañana production of the Styne-Sondheim-Laurents masterpiece, Gypsy. She gained additional experience by performing in Casa Mañana's many children's productions and summer stock shows. Buckley has been actively involved with Casa Mañana in recent years through the Betty Lynn Buckley Awards, an annual awards program honoring outstanding musical theatre among Tarrant County high schools.

About Casa Mañana:

Now in its 48th year, Casa Mañana is a Fort Worth-based live theatre company that produces and presents shows at two distinct performance venues – Casa Mañana Theatre and the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall. Casa Mañana combines the talent of award-winning directors, musicians and choreographers with outstanding professional actors from the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Broadway to create self-produced musical theatre productions that are among the best in the nation. The large number and variety of shows presented annually, such as Broadway's hottest national tours, Children's Playhouse shows, critically-acclaimed plays and world premieres, makes Casa Mañana the largest performing arts organization in Tarrant County. Since Casa Mañana is also dedicated to the community and education, the company has several outreach programs and a nationally-recognized children's theatre school. Casa is truly unique in its ability to bring together the top musical theatre talents in the country for the audiences of North Texas to enjoy. Casa Mañana has again been recognized as the "Best Live Theater Company" by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Readers' Poll and was also named in 2005 as "one of 10 great places to see a show off Broadway" by USA Today.

As a performing arts organization, Casa Mañana strives to create, nurture and advance live professional theatre unparalleled in artistic excellence for the enrichment and education of its diverse community and its future generations of artists and patrons.