Billy Elliot's Tony Award-winning actor Gregory Jbara delighted students as their special "surprise guest" during the Broadway Artists Alliance Summer Intensive (Session One).
Tony Winner Gregory Jbara lent his talent for a surprise Q&A with the students of Broadway Artists Alliance, led by musician, writer, and comedian Seth Rudetsky. Jbara shared his thoughts and expert advice about the business to the 120 eager up-and-coming young artists ages 10 to 21.
Rudetsky had shared his talents earlier in the week, teaching a "Song Interpretation" class for the voice majors.
The Q&A session was part of Broadway Artists Alliance's two week musical theatre intensive at Ripley Grier Studios, NYC. Current Broadway artists visit, mentor, and instruct the group of young and talented performers during this two-week master class series. Other instructors for the Broadway Artists Alliance Summer Program include TyRick Jones (BAA's Assistant Director, Hairspray, Finian's Rainbow), Heather Parcells (A Chorus Line), Jennifer Savelli (Guys & Dolls, The Boy from Oz), Tony Mansker (Mary Poppins), Lisa Gajda (Finian's Rainbow, Pal Joey, etc.), Holly-Anne Ruggiero (Jersey Boys associate director, upcoming White Noise), Steven Lutvak (Kind Hearts and Coronets), Tommar Wilson (Hair, Hairspray), casting director Bob Cline, Alexander Gemignani (Les Miserables, Assassins), Cara Kjellman (Billy Elliot), Jessica Patty (9 to 5), Lauren Kennedy (Vanities, Spamalot), Lou Castro (13!), Joel Newsome (42nd Street, The Producers), Cameron Adams (Shrek, Cry Baby), Joe Langworth (South Pacific associate choreographer), Paul Griffin (City at Peace), Ross Stoner (BAA's Associate Director), Jennifer Johns (BAA's founder and Program Director), Sutton Foster (Shrek, The Drowsy Chaperone, etc.), Donna Drake (A Chorus Line), Kyle Dean Massey (Next to Normal, Wicked), Allison Lane (Liars and Lunatics), Jennifer Swiderski (The Drowsy Chaperone), Angel Reed (Rock of Ages), Phil Hall, Seth Rudetsky as well as representatives from industry such as Jim Carnahan Casting, Binder Casting, and the Carson/Adler Agency. Broadway Artists Alliance continues next week with their musical theatre summer intensive (Session Two).
Jbara joins Broadway Artists Alliance's roster of Tony-winning guest speakers, which have recently included impressive talent such as returning guest Sutton Foster, Laura Benanti, Norbert Leo Butz, Beth Leavel, John Gallagher Jr., Lea Salonga, John Lloyd Young, and Jason Robert Brown. The students of Broadway Artists Alliance will meet another surprise Tony-winning guest on Friday, August 7. Additional past guest instructors and speakers include Stephen Schwartz, Jonathan Groff, Megan McGinnis, AndRea Martin, Ashley Brown, Skylar Astin, Alexandra Socha, Morgan Karr, Michelle Federer, Christopher Jackson, Stephanie J. Block and many more.
Broadway Artists Alliance will also continue with a new season of one-day master classes. Upcoming master classes include 9-5 (August 16) and a TV/Film workshop (September 13). A full list is available at www.broadwayartistsalliance.org/masterclasses.
Photo Credit: Laura McBride
