Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) Celebrates Broadway Weekend

Electric Youth, a musical theater ensemble trained at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA), saw their name in lights on a Times Square marquee billing their off-Broadway Showcase performed on January 9th. Electric Youth was represented for the first time at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Convention held at the New York Hilton, January 8 - 11. The Electric Youth showcase was staged at the Times Square Arts Center. Accompanied by their eight-piece band of Boston based musicians, they entertained an enthusiastic audience including New York guests and convention attendees as well as FSPA families and alumni.

Following the Electric Youth showcase performance, more than 150 people enjoyed a reception at the Times Square Arts Center celebrating Electric Youth's success and marking the 25th anniversary of FSPA. New York area alumni in attendance included Dan Beksha ('05), Kim Crowley Rezendes ('90), Colin Bryson ('05), Caitlin Cassidy ('07), Wendy Dorr ('87), Jill Lawton ('05), Chris LeBeau ('06), and Nadine Malouf ('05).

Electric Youth members were joined by 15 additional FSPA musical theater students for a weekend of master classes with the Broadway Artists Alliance (BAA) of New York City. The students enjoyed an Improvisation and Scene Study class with Tony Award winner Bill Irwin, currently appearing in Bye Bye Birdie on Broadway. Dance master class instructors included Heather Parcells who recently played Judy in the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line as well as Tyrick Wiltez Jones and Lisa Gadja who are both currently appearing in the Broadway revival of Finian's Rainbow. Following the class in which they learned choreography from the show, FSPA students enjoyed seeing Jones and Gadja in a matinee performance and were treated to a talkback with the cast after the show. Song Interpretation classes were taught by Alexander Gemignani whose Broadway credits include Les Mis, Sweeney Todd and Assasins, Joe Langworth of Broadway's South Pacific, Kyle Dean Massey of Broadway's Next to Normal and Matt Cavenaugh who played Tony in the Broadway revival of West Side Story. Donna Drake, who was an original cast member in A Chorus Line, taught an inspiring Interpreting Musical Theater Through Dance class. The master classes were held throughout the weekend at the Ripley-Grier studios on Eighth Avenue where many of the Broadway shows audition and rehearse.

FSPA Director Raye Lynn Mercer remarks, "We enjoy a fantastic relationship with the Broadway Artists Alliance. This is our third year collaborating on a custom master class weekend for FSPA on Broadway. Several of our students have been invited by audition to attend Winter and Summer Intensives with BAA. As a result, a few are working with New York agents and managers and have auditioned for off-Broadway and television opportunities. It is a great way for our serious students to complement their training at FSPA and to get a look inside the lives of professional performers." Twelve FSPA students have been selected and will attend the 2010 BAA Winter Intensive next month.

Electric Youth is preparing under the direction of their FSPA Creative Team for a 2010 European concert tour June 18 - July 12. They will begin in Vienna, playing shows in Austria, Slovenia and Italy with a closing concert at Lake Como. Electric Youth - Past, Present and Future to be staged on May 23rd at Mechanic's Hall in Worcester will serve as a bon voyage concert and celebration.

Electric Youth's next local performance is at Showcase Live at Patriot Place on February 28th. Doors open at 5:00 for a 6:30 performance. Dinner is available. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster or at the FSPA Box Office at 38 Main Street (508) 528-8668. Table seating is available at $15.00 and $25.00. For further information regarding Electric Youth please contact Raye Lynn Mercer or Hallie Wetzell at FSPA or visit www.electricyouth.com.

 

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