On May 2nd, A Class Act NY hosted a One-Day Workshop with not one, two but three stars of Broadway's newest smash hit, Billy Elliot at their Billy Elliot Workshop! Not only did kids work with Thommie Retter (Mr. Braithwaite), Casey Whyland (Tracie Atkinson) and Erin Whyland (Debbie Atkinson) but Nora Brennan, the children's casting director was also there to conduct mock auditions with the kids during the last half of class!
Twenty lucky students worked on the music and dance combination to the finale of the show with Thommie, Casey and Erin. Nora worked on musical theatre audition technique, where kids brought in 16 bars of their own music and she worked on scenes from Billy Elliot!
During lunch break, there was a question and answer session with Casey, Erin and Thommie. Students were thrilled to be able to pick Casey and Erin's brains about what it's like to be a child star on Broadway! All three stars signed autographs!
A Class Act NY's Artistic Director, Jessica Rofe said, "This was one of the most thrilling workshops we have ever done. I was amazed to see children teaching other children so thoughtfully. Casey has already decided she wants to be a Special Ed teacher when she grows up in case she decides not to pursue acting. I was so impressed with her teaching style. She's only thirteen but she is so mature. And Thommie Retter - what an amazing talent and educator! This is Thommie's Broadway debut. He was discovered while teaching a dance class at a studio in Los Angeles. He has such high energy and he knows how to relate to children. He was fabulous! It was such a pleasure working with them!"
Rofe continues, "I was so pleased when Nora agreed to do the Workshop. She is such a lovely woman and so well suited to working with children. I hope she will come back from another Elliot Workshop!"
To find out when the next Billy Elliot Workshop is going to be, be sure to check www.AClassActNY.com and sign up for their e-newlsetter list on their site.
To inquire about future workshops, one week Broadway camps, after-school and weekend classes or theatrical birthday parties, call 212.479.8480 or email info@aclassactny.com
www.AClassActNY.com | 212.479.8480 | info@aclassactny.com
Casey, Erin & Students
Erin & Casey Whyland
Casey teaching the Finale
Finale dance combo
Thommie signing autographs
Nora Brennan, children's casting director
Student dancing Finale
