Pat Birch and Donna McKechnie Join Broadway Theatre Project Summer Program

Broadway Theatre Project welcomes back Donna McKechnie and Pat Birch as visiting artists for the 2017 Summer Institute.

McKechnie, who received a Tony Award for her performance in the original company of A Chorus Line, is regarded internationally as one of Broadway's singing and dancing leading ladies, having starred in and choreographed productions in London's West End, as well as major theatrical productions in Tokyo and Paris.

Some of Ms. McKechnie's Broadway credits include HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS......, THE EDUCATION OF Hyman Kaplan, SONDHEIM: A MUSICAL TRIBUTE, (which she also choreographed), PROMISES-PROMISES, COMPANY, ON THE TOWN and STATE FAIR. (Fred Astaire Award)

In a career crossing all media, Director/Choreographer Pat Birch has earned two Emmy Awards and five Tony nominations. Other honors include Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Fred Astaire Award, and Theater Hall of Fame for her choreography and direction of music-driven projects ranging from Sondheim to the Rolling Stones.

Pat Birch created the musical staging for the original Broadway and off-Broadway shows including Grease, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Me Nobody Knows, A Little Night Music, Candide, Over Here, Diamond Studs, The Happy End, Pacific Overtures, They're Playing Our Song, Gilda Radner, Live from New York, Parade, Like Jazz, and LoveMusik, with Donna Murphy, Michael Cerveris; directed by Harold Prince.

Direction credits include: Celebrating Gershwin at BAM, On the Town with the London Symphony, the Melissa Manchester musical I Sent a Letter to My Love; Maurice Sendak and Carole King's Really Rosie, Band in Berlin, a docu-musical re the Comedian Harmonists; the Cy Coleman musicals Exactly Like You, and Like Jazz. Now: Orphan Train a dramatic musical. Ms.Birch just choreographed a new version of Candide for New York City Opera.

BTP is a program described by Playbill as "The world's most prestigious musical theatre arts education program for high school and college students", has extended its deadline for the upcoming 3-week summer institute held in July.

This year, other visiting artists and faculty include: Austin Pendleton (Actor, Director, Playwright), Chazz Palminteri (Actor, Playwright), Todrick Hall (Singer, Songwriter, Dancer, Actor, Choreographer, Playwright), Gianna Palminteri (Actor, Producer, Writer), Herman Payne (Dancer, Choreographer), Peisha McPhee (Vocal Coach) and Michael Orland (Vocal Coach). For a full list of faculty and artists visit: www.broadwaytheatreproject.com. Faculty appear schedules permitting.

The Broadway Theatre Project will be held July 9 - 30, 2017 at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Student housing and meals are provided. Apprentices must be at least 16 - exceptions will be considered on an individual basis. To apply, visit www.broadwaytheatreproject.com.

For those students just learning about BTP and would like to audition for the project, please call Debra McWaters immediately at: flodecarlo@aol.com or 888-874-1764- exceptions will be considered on an individual basis.

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