Wildhorn, Vereen, Etc. for FL Bway Theatre Project

Frank Wildhorn, Brandi Burkhardt and Ben Vereen are set to teach at Broadway Theatre Project in Tampa, Week Two.

Wildhorn teaches July 17-20. Broadway credits include Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Civil War (two Tony nominations) and Dracula. He also wrote additional songs for Julie Andrews in Broadway's Victor/Victoria. He composed and served as musical director the Opening Ceremonies of the 1998 Goodwill Games, and his songs have featured in the Olympics, the Super Bowl, the World Series and Presidential Inaugurals. Artists who have recorded and performed Mr. Wildhorn's music include Whitney Houston (Where Do Broken Hearts Go), Natalie Cole, Julie Andrews and many more. Mr. Wildhorn's new projects include Vienna, Cyrano and Alice.

There will be a BTP Special Workshop of Wildhorn's Alice. "Frank Wildhorn has created a new show inspired by the classic tale of Alice in Wonderland. BTP apprentices will work with Mr. Wildhorn as well as BTP Artistic Director Debra McWaters on creating the well-known characters in innovative and modern ways. Brandi Burkhardt will play the title role in the workshop. Original pieces created during this workshop at BTP will be presented in the final Broadway Theatre Project performance at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center on July 28th. (Contact ticketmaster.com for show times and tickets)," state press notes.

Brandi Burkhardt appears July 17-20. She is currently playing Emma around the world in the First National and International Tours of Jekyll & Hyde - The Concert, and appears on it's album release, Jekyll & Hyde - Resurrection. Burkhardt created the role of Mary Vetsera on the concept recording for Frank Wildhorn's new musical Rudolf, which opened summer 2006 in Budapest, Hungary, and is currently writing songs for her first solo album. Future recording projects include Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and Alice. On television, she was most recently seen on ABC's "Boston Legal" and stared in NBC's daytime drama, "Passions" as Siren. She has also been featured on "The Guiding Light," and "Earth Angels" on Lifetime TV. She has also worked on the films Washington Square with Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jennifer Garner, and Boys with Wynonna Ryder. She also has numerous regional theatre credits. 

Ben Vereen appears July 17- 20. From appearances on Broadway in Sweet Charity, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin, Grind, Jelly's Last Jam, Christmas Carol, Chicago, Fosse and the critically acclaimed, I'm Not Rappaport, Vereen channels his high-intensity performances into unforgettable experiences for audiences. His role in Pippin garnered him both the prestigious Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Musical. In 2002, he received the Black Theatre Award. Vereen again returned to the stage in 2005 starring as the "The Wizard" in the award-winning highly acclaimed show Wicked. While continually performing worldwide, Vereen's  He appeared as the unforgettable Chicken George in "Roots" and as Louis Armstrong in "Louis Armstrong – Chicago Style;" as well as many made-for-television movies, mini-series and specials. His own network special "Ben Vereen: His Roots," received nine Emmy nominations and won seven Emmy Awards. In the early 90's, he released a number of well-received children's Sing-Along musical videos. Vereen's film appearances include All That Jazz, Funny Lady (for which he received a Golden Globe nomination), Why Do Fools Fall in Love, the animated movie Once Upon a Forest and The Painting.

Founded in 1991, Broadway Theatre Project (BTP) is the world's most prestigious musical theatre arts education program for high school and college students. Under the Artistic Direction of Debra McWaters, the non-profit BTP is an intensive three-week training program focused on the key disciplines of musical theatre including acting, dancing, and singing, as well as the critical life skills necessary to work in the professional world of entertainment.

Please contact Samantha Taylor at (917) 647 4787 or (813) 974 1764 - e-mail sam@reputation-dynamics.com for more information.

Photo of Frank Wildhorn by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.