Core Faculty for Playhouse on Park's Musical Theatre Preparatory Program Announced

The emphasis of the program is on developing strong performance skills. As part of that goal, each student will be featured in a final performance as a singer, actor, and dancer. Students will also have opportunities to develop their own pieces during daily supervised rehearsals and will have a chance to perform their own "creative projects" for the rest of the students in the program each Friday.

Kyle Reynolds serves as the program director and acting instructor. He is joined by Penny Brandt as music instructor and Mallory Cunningham as movement instructor.

Kyle Reynolds currently teaches at Western Connecticut State University, Post University and The Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts: Musical Theater Department. Kyle has performed, directed, and choreographed all over the State of CT including: Seven Angels Theatre, The Warner Theater, Chestnut Street Playhouse, Hole in the Wall Theater, The Palace Theater and The Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. Favorite credits include: Ambrose Kemper (HELLO, DOLLY!), Otto (SPRING AWAKENING), Leaf Coneybear (SPELLING BEE), WEST SIDE STORY (Co-Director).

Penny Brandt (music instructor) has conducted/directed musicals at the University of New Haven (ZOMBIES FROM THE BEYOND, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, SPRING AWAKENING), Trinity College (CARRIE), and others around the U.S. and Canada. Locally, she performed with Tony-nominee Emily Skinner at the Bushnell in 2013, with the Albano Ballet Company at the Mohegan Sun Arena in 2009, and with the United Girls Choir, Whitney Players, Roundtable Players, the Cheshire Youth Theatre, and Hartford Opera Theatre.

Mallory Cunningham (movement instructor) was seen on the Playhouse on Park stage last summer in HAIR and is currently playing Kristine in A CHORUS LINE! She studied and taught for several years at the Glastonbury Dance Center and earned a BFA in Acting from the University of Connecticut. In addition to teaching and performing, Mallory has choreographed numerous productions for regional theaters around the country. Some favorite roles include Eldorado Casino: FOOTLOOSE (Urleen); Cape Fear Regional Theatre: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Tzeitel) and SPAMALOT (Ensemble / Choreographer); Connecticut Rep: CABARET (Kit Kat Girl), INTO THE WOODS (Rapunzel); Woodstock Playhouse: LES MISERABLES (Fantine), WEST SIDE STORY (Consuela), CHICAGO (Annie), and LEGALLY BLONDE (Vivienne); Temple Theatre: CATS (Rumpleteaser / Assistant Choreographer), and THE MUSIC MAN (Zaneeta); and Granbury Opera House: SOUTH PACIFIC (Dinah).

Broadway stars Veanne Cox, currently starring in An American in Paris on Broadway and Laurel Harris, just off the National Tour of Wicked where she played Elphaba, are each scheduled to teach a master class during the program. Visit www.playhouseonpark.org for more information!

Each class meets at the Playhouse from 9:00 am-3:30 pm, Monday through Friday. The fee is $700. Students may arrive as early as 8:30 am, and must be picked up by 4:00 pm. Students must bring their own lunches daily. To register, visit the Education page at www.playhouseonpark.org, and download the registration form, or call 860-523-5900x10 for more information. Playhouse on Park is located at 244 Park Road, West Hartford, CT, 06119.

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