Interview: Paul Canaan Brings Musical Theatre Workshop Back to Orlando's Dr. Phillips Center

There is a trite saying that goes, "Those who can, do; and those that can't, teach." Well, in the case of Paul Canaan, while he does teach, he most certainly can do as well. For over a decade, Canaan has been a staple on Broadway, in shows like THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, LEGALLY BLONDE, and for the past two and a half years, Tony-winning Best Musical KINKY BOOTS, which Canaan departed last week.

Despite being one of the most respected performers on Broadway, Canaan also has a passion for bringing his experiences to young theatre lovers around the country. Having taught with Kid's Night on Broadway, Camp Broadway, Broadway Dreams, and the Jimmy Awards (a.k.a. The National High School Musical Theatre Awards), Canaan is coming back to Orlando's Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts with his organization Take it from the Top for a one-day masterclass, this Saturday, October 10th from 9:00am-4:00pm.

(You can get all of the information and register for this weekend's class here.)

In recent years, Take it from the Top has held camps and workshops around the country. Canaan often brings along some of musical theatres biggest names, like Laura Bell Bundy, Eden Espinsosa, Shoshana Bean, and many more, to help show Broadway's next generation what it takes to make it in the theatre. However, while Canaan and his crew put the young performers through the wringer, they also stress that it's important to make the experience enjoyable for all involved.

"I'm not there to say, 'You're not going to make it on Broadway if you don't, da da da da da,'" Canaan said. "I want to create a fun experience with theatre for the kids, so that they can see what it's like to move their bodies and sing a song in front of people and have confidence and focus on themselves."

Over the summer Canaan and Bundy, the Tony-nominated star of HAIRSPRAY and LEGALLY BLONDE, led a week-long camp at Dr. Phillips. While this weekend's trip won't be as long, it will still cover all of the fundamentals important for a young musical theatre performer.

"It's a one-day Broadway Master (Class)," Canaan explained. "We work from 9 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon, and we give them a quick, fun day. We teach different dance combinations, we listen to them sing, and we do some acting scene work."

Joining Canaan this Saturday is Curtis Holbrook, a veteran of eight Broadway shows, who this past spring wrapped up a year alongside Idina Menzel in the Tony-nominated IF/THEN. "Curtis Holbrook, who's been in a million shows, is going to teach a dance combination from a show he's been in," Canaan said. "I will probably have him do something a little more modern, and I will probably do a THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE throw-back style; more Rob Ashford."

Canaan said that Take it from the Top is designed to lay the groundwork for young performers to get a glimpse into what it takes to be a musical theatre professional. However, while the training aspect is important, he said that his program is primarily there to encourage young performers to push themselves while hopefully falling in love with theatre.

"(Paul) has tremendous insight into the skills kids need to make it in the business," said Ellyn Marie Marsh, Canaan's KINKY BOOTS castmate for over two and a half years. "He demands a great amount of effort on their part, but also manages to keep it fun, which is a tricky balance. However, he manages to do it, and to get exceptional results from his students."

Marsh, has led masterclasses in musical theater, improv, and voice across the country, and has taught students who have gone on to appear on Broadway in ANNIE, MATILDA, MARY POPPINS, KINKY BOOTS, FUN HOME, HOW THE GRICH STOLE XMAS, ELF, and A CHRISTMAS STORY. In addition to appearing on stage with him eight times a week, Marsh has also taught with Canaan on many occasions, and thinks that he is a special type teacher.

"Kids just want to work hard for Paul," she said. "They love him and admire him. Admiration is a tremendous motivator for young people. I've taught for dozens of organizations, but Paul's is my all-time favorite, and he paid me no monies to say that!"

Canaan traces his teaching style back to Jerry Mitchell, the Tony-winning director and choreographer of LEGALLY BLONDE and KINKY BOOTS. Mitchell is known for his positive, but no nonsense, approach to performing, which led to his signature phrase, "Full Out."

"I'm really close to Jerry Mitchell," Canaan said. "I've been in a room with him doing so much pre-production for a lot of his shows, and I just learned that in the world of professional theatre, you work better as a creative person when you don't take yourself too seriously. So, I do work hard, and I treat the students like professionals, but try to balance enough fun and encouragement with tough critiques."

One thing that Canaan tries to impart to his students is that a life in the arts is unpredictable, so it pays to always be prepared. While Canaan was attending Brigham Young University, MISS SAIGON was holding auditions in nearby Salt Lake City. Despite not thinking that he fit the show's type, he begrudgingly went with friends from school. Two weeks later, he was offered the job.

The day after moving to New York City, Canaan began rehearsals for the show, despite not knowing where the theater was, how the stage door worked, or even the basics to survive as a working musical theatre performer.

"I feel like it was the flukiest, 'doesn't happen to anybody' story. It was such a weird in to 'the biz,' but that's also my message to a lot of people," Canaan said. "I know that anything is possible. All you have to do is show up in your life, and anything can happen."

---

For more information on Paul's Take it from the Top Masterclass at the Dr. Phillips Center this weekend, visit their website.

Have you worked with Paul before? Let me know your best Paul Canaan stories in the comments below, or on Twitter @BWWMatt. If you want to follow along with my "366 in 366" articles, you can check out #BWW366in366 on Twitter.

Photo Credit: Curtis Holbrook