Photo Flash: Chita Rivera, Bebe Neuwirth Speak at The Broadway Experience

The Broadway Experience returned for a fourth summer at The Manhattan Movement & Arts Center from July 25th - August 7th. With over 60 classes, workshops, lectures, and a performance based second week, TBE had some very special guest speakers this year, Chita Rivera and Bebe Neuwirth. Both spoke about their lives, careers, experience, and took the time to answer questions and offer advise and inspiration.

Chita Rivera is one of Broadway's most beloved and brightest stars. She has appeared and starred in many Broadway shows that include Can-Can, Call Me Madam, Mr Wonderful, Merlin, Guys and Dolls, Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago, The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Nine, Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life, and most famously West Side Story. Miss Rivera played the role of Nicky in the ?lm adaptation of Sweet Charity with Shirley MacLaine. She has received two Tony awards and numerous nominations. In 2002 Miss Rivera received a Kennedy Center Honors award and in 2009 was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor by President Barak Obama.

Bebe Neuwirth is a star of the stage and screen. She made her Broadway debut in A Chorus Line and followed that with Bob Fosse's Dancin'. Miss Neuwirth has been featured in revivals of Little Me, Sweet Charity, for which she received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, and Damn Yankees. She starred in the 1996 revival of Chicago, playing killer Velma Kelly. Her
performance garnered her Tony and Drama Desk Awards. Most recently she starred opposite Nathan Lane in The Addams Family. Her screen credits include Green Card, Bugsy, Say Anything..., Jumanji, Summer of Sam, Liberty Heights, Tadpole (for which the Seattle Film Critics named her Best Supporting Actress), The Associate, Malice, The Big Bounce, and Woody Allen's Celebrity. She won Emmy Awards in 1990 and 1991 for her role Dr Lilith Sternin, on the hit comedy series Cheers.Previous guest speakers have included Kristin Chenoweth (Promises, Promises), Faith Prince (Billy Elliot), Baayork Lee (A Chorus Line), Norm Lewis (The Little Mermaid), and Karen Ziemba (Curtains).

TBE prides itself on having a faculty of the most innovative and creative teachers and educators in
New York City. On top of their work in the classroom, most have careers on Broadway in many areas of the business. 2011 faculty included Julie Barnes (Mary Poppins), Robert Creighton (Anything Goes), Clyde Alves (Anything Goes), Amy Hall (Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life), Mark Ledbetter (Mary Poppins), Jen Taylor (Drowsy Chaperone), Steven Malone (Sister Act), Charlie Alterman (Godspell), Jen Bender (Avenue Q) Sandy Faison (Annie), Nick Cianfrogna (Billy Elliot), and the casts of Anything Goes and Sister Act.

The Broadway Experience is an international musical theatre program designed to create triple
threat performers. Now running both a three day winter intensive and a two week summer program, students will undergo an intense study of dance, voice, and acting along with a major performance opportunity with current Broadway professionals and incredible master teachers. Students will become stronger, more dynamic performers, preparing themselves for a professional career at the highest level. Founder & Director, Ben Hartley.

The Broadway Experience three day winter intensive will commence on Saturday, February 18, and end on Monday, February 20, 2012.

To register call 917-664-4783 or send an email to tbenyc@mac.com to request an application form. Students between the ages of 11 and 19 need only apply. If you can not attend a live audition you may submit a DVD or provide a URL link to an online video as part of your application.