As you know, Kristin Chenoweth's Broadway Bootcamp wrapped up its third year on Friday night, with a live show at The Kristin Chenoweth Theatre in the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center, in her home state of Oklahoma. The show also gave birth to the first-ever KRISTI Awards (named for Kristi Dawn Chenoweth) … the star's name commonly used, while growing up.
I just returned from Kristin Chenoweth's Broadway Bootcamp, my first. How did this happen? Well, it all happened in Kristin's Dressing Room, at the Lunt-Fontanne, when we were doing MY LOVE LETTER TO BROADWAY. Her 'bootcamp' for young, aspiring performers had already had two seasons and she was looking to really 'change it up.' The rest is history, as they say, and 'I' can say, in all honesty, that it was one of the greatest experiences I have ever had and those 43 kids and a handful of young interns, are in our hearts... forever.
Last night all eyes were on New York City and the 71st TONY Awards, but in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma at the Kristin Chenoweth Theater at Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center the hometown girl hosted a TONY viewing party to launch her Broadway Bootcamp this week. In attendance were 45 students who will participate in a series of classes and performance led by industry professionals who flew in and are arriving for the week's activities. They include, fresh from her Isabelle Stevenson Award win, Broadway's Baayork Lee, Tony winner, Faith Prince, Tony nominees, John Tartaglia and Lara Teeter, director, Richard Jay-Alexander, music directors, Michael Orland and Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Broadway photographer, Bruce Glikas, and even Craig Burns from Telsey Casting who will be participating via satellite.
In its third year, Kristin Chenoweth's Broadway Bootcamp is bringing energetic and exciting changes, starting with the namesake Emmy and Tony winner bringing a lot of her friends from across the country to help mold 45 young Broadway hopefuls during her camp June 12-16.
Wednesday night's opening of Kristin Chenoweth's MY LOVE LETTER TO BROADWAY allowed BroadwayWorld backstage for an exclusive look at things that you usually don't get to see.