Denise Summerford to Lead GETTING THE PART Workshop for Teens at Half Moon, 3/3-24

Half Moon Theatre School of the Arts is thrilled to announce a new opportunity for teens in grades 7-12 -- a theatre workshop just for them taught by award-winning Broadway actress Denise Summerford.

"Getting the Part" will be offered on Tuesdays at 6:00-7:30 p.m. from March 3-24 only. Whether it's an audition for the school play, a community theatre production, or the professional stage, students will be well prepared to face any audition challenge and build confidence to do their best.

"Many teens audition for their school plays, community theaters, and possibly even professionally," Summerford said. "The competition at this age gets more intense. Many are unprepared and don't really know how to give a good audition. How should you dress, how do you talk to an accompanist, how do you make a 16 or 32 bar cut in a song, how do you walk in the room?"

In addition to performing on Broadway in such shows as the Rosie O'Donnell/Boy George musical Taboo, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Saturday Night Fever, and Grease, Summerford has also worked as a casting director. "Our audition class is very different from any in the Hudson Valley because, in addition to still auditioning myself, I have sat on the other side of the table as a casting director," Summerford said. "I know what people who are trying to cast a show want and expect to see from an auditionee. I know what works and what does not. I have the inside scoop. I can help the young actor take the fear out of auditioning and help turn it into something they actually look forward to doing."

Students may register for "Getting the Part" as well as HMT School of the Arts' other spring offerings online at http://halfmoontheatre.org/school-of-the-arts/class-schedule-and-registration/ Workshop registration fee is $150. All levels of experience are welcome to attend.

HMT School of the Arts is housed at the Half Moon Theatre Black Box Theatre -- 2515 South Rd. in Poughkeepsie (off Route 9 just behind the Red Robin Restaurant).