BWW Student Center's School in the Spotlight: Point Park University

Last year, BroadwayWorld.com, the largest theater website on the Internet, launched a comprehensive Student Database listing college and university performing arts programs across the country. This free service makes it easier for prospective students by showcasing programs searchable by schools, location, degrees and concentrations.

With the new school year in full gear, BWW has updated the fully-interactive Student Show Calendar with 2011-2012 student productions. We have also made it easy for schools to upload photos, videos, cast lists, articles and other media content for each of their shows. In addition, BWW will be combing through all content regularly and will launch weekly feature stories highlighting productions locally and nationally that have provided us with this extra content. ***

BWW is thrilled to announce that this week's spotlight shines on the Conservatory of Performing Arts (CoPA) at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA! The Conservatory is a nationally recognized intense and comprehensive academic program taught by a renowned faculty. CoPA's Theatre program offers students concentrations in acting (including a Master of Fine Arts in Acting), musical theatre, technical theatre and design and stage management. Students entering the Dance program can opt to major in ballet, jazz, modern or dance pedagogy. CoPA boasts an impressive lineup of alumni including Broadway performers Nili Bassman, Melissa Rae Mahon, Pam Bradley, Case Dillard, Shua Potter, Mike Cannon, Lanene Charters, Anthony Hollock, Nadine Isenegger, Marty Lawson, Megan Sikora, Christina Sivrich, as well as a slew of television and film actors.

Complementing CoPA's academic calendar is a vibrant performance season with the Pittsburgh Playhouse hosting the Conservatory's performance companies which include The Rep., the school's professional theatre company, as well as three student companies. On stage at The Playhouse until October 30 is the classic musical 'A Chorus Line' Directed and Choreographed by original Broadway cast member Danny Herman. Making this production even more noteworthy is that the musical's composer, Marvin Hamlisch, is Point Park University 2011 Distinguished Master Artist in Residence. To check out a video from CoPA's production of this Tony Award-winning dance musical, click here! Upcoming shows offer a variety of dance and theatre productions including 'Twelfth Night', 'The Jazz Nutcracker', 'The Outsiders', and 'Dark of the Moon'. To view the full production calendar, please click here. And while at it, don't miss out on photos from last season's production of 'Thoroughly Modern Millie', as well as a video from the Conservatory Theatre Company's winter production of 'Evita'.

Congratulations on being selected as this week's School in the Spotlight, Point Park University! We wish you much success on what is clearly a bright year ahead!

(*** Schools: To add content and be considered for a BWW spotlight, search for your school in the Student Calendar and click on the show you would like to add content to. On the right side of the show listing, click on the appropriate link to the right to access the submission form. If you would like a hand submitting your content, please contact us at studentcenter@broadwayworld.com)

Questions/concerns/suggestions related to BWW's student center can be addressed to studentcenter@broadwayworld.com.