Photo Flash: SHREK THE MUSICAL Star Sutton Foster Visits Broadway Artists Alliance

Tony Award-winning actress Sutton Foster delighted students as their special surprise guest during the Broadway Artists Alliance Summer Workshop and Summer Intensive (Session Two).  Foster also taught a master class on song interpretation during the Summer Intensive (Session One).

Sutton Foster lent her expert talents for a surprise Q&A’s with the students of Broadway Artists Alliance.  Foster shared stories about her career and provided expert advice about the business to the 120 eager up-and-coming young artists ages 10 to 21. Foster also worked with 25 students in a master class format focusing on song interpretation and audition repertoire.

The Q&A sessions were part of Broadway Artists Alliance's three-day summer workshop and two-week musical theatre intensive at Ripley Grier Studios, NYC. Current Broadway artists visit, mentor, and instruct the group of young and talented performers during this two-week master class series. Other instructors for the Broadway Artists Alliance Summer Program include TyRick Jones (BAA's Assistant Director, Hairspray, Finian's Rainbow), Megan Hilty (9 to 5, Wicked) Heather Parcells (A Chorus Line), Celeste Simone (top vocal coach), Jennifer Savelli (Guys & Dolls, The Boy from Oz), Tony Mansker (Mary Poppins), Katherine Tokarz (Rock of Ages, Wicked), Lisa Gajda (Finian's Rainbow, Pal Joey, etc.), Alexandra Socha (Spring Awakening), Holly-Anne Ruggiero (Jersey Boys associate director, upcoming White Noise), Steven Lutvak (Kind Hearts and Coronets), Tommar Wilson (Hair, Hairspray), casting director Bob Cline, Alexander Gemignani (Les Miserables, Assassins), Cara Kjellman (Billy Elliot), Jason Snow, (The Little Mermaid, Hairspray), casting director Megan Larche, Jessica Patty (9 to 5), Lauren Kennedy (Vanities, Spamalot), Lou Castro (13!), Joel Newsome (42nd Street, The Producers), Cameron Adams (Shrek, Cry Baby), Joe Langworth (South Pacific associate choreographer), Bridget Berger (Jersey Boys), Morgan Karr (Spring Awakening), Paul Griffin (City at Peace), Ross Stoner (BAA's Associate Director), Jennifer Johns (BAA's founder and Program Director), Gregory Jbara (Billy Elliot), Donna Drake (A Chorus Line), Kyle Dean Massey (Next to Normal, Wicked), Adam Kantor (Rent), Norm Lewis, (The Little Mermaid, Les Miserables, etc.) Allison Lane (Liars and Lunatics), Jennifer Swiderski (The Drowsy Chaperone), Angel Reed (Rock of Ages), Phil Hall, Seth Rudetsky as well as representatives from industry such as Jim Carnahan Casting, Binder Casting, and the Carson/Adler Agency.

Foster returned as a repeat guest, joining the Broadway Artists Alliance's roster of Tony winning guest speakers, which have recently included impressive talent such as Gregory Jbara, Laura Benanti, Norbert Leo Butz, Beth Leavel, John Gallagher Jr., Lea Salonga, John Lloyd Young, and Jason Robert Brown. Additional past guest instructors and speakers include Stephen Schwartz, Jonathan Groff, Megan McGinnis, AndRea Martin, Ashley Brown, Michelle Federer, Christopher Jackson, Stephanie J. Block and many more.

Broadway Artists Alliance recently completed a 3-day Workshop, and a two-week Summer Intensive.  They will present a 3-day Winter Workshop February 13-15, 2010.  Applications are available on their website: www.broadwayartistsalliance.org/application.

Broadway Artists Alliance will also continue with a new season of one-day master classes.  Upcoming master classes include a TV/Film workshop (September 13).  A full list is available at www.broadwayartistsalliance.org/masterclasses.

Photos by Laura McBride

Sutton Foster

Sutton Foster

Students

Jennifer Johns, Sutton Foster, Michelle Lehrman, and Ross Stoner

Sutton Foster and students

Sutton Foster and students

Sutton Foster and the students

Sutton Foster

Sutton Foster and students

Sutton Foster

Sutton Foster