Bingham Camp Theatre Retreat Announces 3rd Season

Artistic Director Devanand Janki was recently honored by the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society for the creation and ongoing leadership of the Bingham Camp Theatre Retreat. Janki and BCTR were lauded for their premiere of a new musical written and performed by actors of color which has garnered artistic praise and tangible commercial interest for future projects.

BCTR celebrated this honor at its annual Spring Fundraiser, where headliners Andre?a Burns (On Your Feet, In the Heights), Laiona Michelle (Book of Mormon, Amazing Grace), and Maria- Christina Oliveras (Amelie, Here Lies Love) kicked off the third season, and raised close to $20,000 supporting the organization.

The star-studded cast also included Jonathan Burke (Mary Poppins, A Christmas Story) Jason Veasey (The Lion King), and Hansel Tam (Ping Pong at the Public, I Am Harvey Milk). This year's kickoff gala was attended by both the local Salem community and Broadway producers drawn to the growing success of BCTR's shows. Its debut musical, Call It Courage by Adam Overett has been optioned for Broadway, and The Family Resemblance by Masi Asare is headed to London for production next season.

Artistic Director Janki announced the winner of this year's two-week workshop set to begin September 11th and culminate with a public performance September 23rd. The new musical was selected from an international search that included over 100 submissions.

Pangaea is a bold new musical set millions of years ago before there were seven continents, and there was only Pangaea. With an eclectic score infused with pop/R&B and world music, the musical asks: is it possible to put a divided world back together? Pangaea is written by Janet Noh, 2017 Resident Artist at the Catwalk Institute; and AUDELCO nominee Lee Summers.

BCTR is a theatre retreat located in rural Salem, CT where theater artists of color create work exploring diversity onstage and encouraging dialogue between cultures.

BCTR is led by multi-hyphenate Artistic Director Devanand Janki whose career includes theatre, opera, and ballet. Janki began as a performer on Broadway, appearing in Miss Saigon, Cats, The King & I, and Side Show. For the past 15 years, he has been a freelance director, working regionally and in New York on over 50 shows including the award winning Off-Broadway production of Zanna Don't!, Aladdin, Junie B. Jones, Man of La Mancha, Rent, and The Full Monty.

For more information, visit www.binghamcamptheatreretreat.org.