Photo Flash: ANNIE Past & Present at Broadway Artists Alliance

With Annie returning to Broadway in 2012, Broadway Artists Alliance of New York City was pleased to present the first of several Annie-themed master classes on April 17th. 25 eager and very talented young ladies participated in a full day of triple threat training, including scene study, song interpretation, and learning choreography from a production number in the show.

Special guests included Kristi Coombs, who played the role of Molly in the 1st National Touring Company of Annie and was later elevated to the role of Annie in the 2nd National Tour (1980-1982), and BAA alum Madison Kerth, who also played the iconic title role on the most recent National Tour. Participants enjoyed a Q&A and shared advice from both generations of Annies. A casting representative from the upcoming Broadway production was also on hand to work one-on-one with each student on song interpretation and audition technique, sharing valuable feedback with this talented group.

Broadway Artists Alliance will host their popular 3-day Summer Workshop and two-week Summer Intensive for talented young performers ages 10-21 this July and August. For students 18 and older, BAA is excited to announce their new College Audition Preparation Workshop, and the return of their Adult Professional 3-day Workshop in August. BAA will also continue their season of one-day master classes throughout the year. Upcoming master classes include a 13-themed master class (May 1st) and a TV/Film workshop on Saturday, May 21st. A full list is available at www.broadwayartistsalliance.org/masterclasses. Participation is by audition only.

Kristi and Madison join BAA's impressive roster of instructors and special guests that have recently included TONY winners Sutton Foster (Anything Goes), Katie Finneran (Promises Promises), Trent Kowalik (Billy Elliot), Bebe Neuwirth (The Addams Family), Gregory Jbara (Billy Elliot), Michael Cerveris (Sweeney Todd), John Lloyd Young (Jersey Boys), John Gallager Jr. (Spring Awakening), Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon), Laura Benanti (Gypsy), Karen Olivo (West Side Story), Douglas Hodge (La Cage), Beth Leavel (Drowsy Chaperone), Jason Robert Brown (13) as well as Lea Michele (Glee), Megan Hilty (9 to 5), Stephanie J. Block (Wicked), Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins), Alexander Gemignani (Les Miserables),Christopher Jackson (In the Heights), Norm Lewis (The Little Mermaid), Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening), Lauren Kennedy (Spamalot), Kelli O'Hara (South Pacific), Marc Shaiman (Hairspray), Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) and many more.

For additional information about Broadway Artists Alliance, please visit www.broadwayartistsalliance.org

Photo Credit: Laura McBride