University of Texas Offers Musical Theatre Workshop for Teens, Now thru 6/30

The University of Texas at Austin, in collaboration with Texas State University-San Marcos, is offering the inaugural Texas Musical Theatre Workshop, a three-week, pre-professional summer intensive for high school students exploring a potential career in musical theatre. This program brings New York's Broadway talent to Texas, providing students musical theatre training by industry professionals. Teaching artists include Tony Award-nominated composer Andrew Lippa, director Matt Lenz, Broadway performer Joyce Chittick and university faculty members.

When: Today, June 10 through June 30, 2012

Where: The F. Loren Winship Drama Building

Texas Musical Theatre Workshop (TMTW) was founded by university faculty members Lyn Koenning, Kaitlin Hopkins and Jim Price. As a collective, these artistic directors bring more than 75 years of industry experience to the workshop. Head of the Texas State University playwriting program, Price is a veteran Broadway performer (Les Miserables, The Civil War). Hopkins, a Broadway performer and director, heads the nationally renowned musical theatre program at Texas State University. University of Texas at Austin faculty member Lyn Koenning is an award-winning music director, vocal arranger and voice and acting coach whose students have appeared on Broadway, regional theatre, television and film.

"We have a huge network of performers, directors, composers and playwrights ready to share their experiences, skills and insights with the next generation of artists," Koenning says. "We're delighted to bring Broadway's best to Texas."

TMTW's roster of teaching artists includes Andrew Lippa, Tony Award nominee and composer of the Broadway musical The Addams Family. Lippa's work on The Wild Party (book/music/lyrics) was recognized in 2000 with the Drama Desk Award for best music. Broadway director Matt Lenz served as the associate director for the original production of Hairspray on Broadway and was recently the associate director for Catch Me If You Can on Broadway. And performer Joyce Chittick has starred in nine original Broadway casts, including Anything Goes, Jersey Boys and Cabaret.

At TMTW, students work side-by-side with these teaching artists and university faculty members. The program offers studio and master classes in acting, voice, dance, audition technique and performance.

"There is tremendous talent in Texas but few options for comprehensive training in all aspects of musical theatre by industry professionals," Hopkins says. "At TMTW, we give them the added bonus of having our top faculty help prepare them for their colleges' auditions as well as their careers."

Registration for the 2012 workshop is under way and is limited to 120 students.

For more information, visit http://texasmusicaltheatreworkshop.com/.

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