Blumenthal Performing Arts to Host Broadway Junior Theater Celebration Next Week
By: Tyler Peterson Apr. 14, 2016
Each day, students will perform one song from their school's show on the professional stage of the Knight Theater, as well as participate in workshops led by theater professionals from New York City.
Blumenthal has provided the means for children in the community to experience the thrill of performing in a show with their after-school drama clubs, music and theater classes and school performing arts programs.
"I am amazed every year at the attentiveness of these students during the Broadway Junior Celebration," explained Blumenthal Education Director Ralph Beck. "After each school's musical presentation, one of the iTheatrics pros joins the students on stage to offer guidance. The kids on stage and the kids in the audience are hanging on to every word during the critiques while taking mental note to apply to their own performances. I've never experienced a school-related exercise or activity in which students more eagerly internalize and adapt information. Even after 9 years, I'm still blown away by that."
Blumenthal also purchases comprehensive theater kits for schools, which are for fully licensed 30- or 60-minute versions of Broadway shows such as Into the Woods, Legally Blonde, Disney's The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan. The kits have everything schools need for their students to put on a production, including scripts, director's guides, musical accompaniment CDs, choreographer's guides and more.
Systems Maintenance Services and Publix Supermarket Charities are this year's sponsors of the program. The Doctor Family Foundation and Kearns Saldinger Family Foundation also both provided generous support again this year. Many other donors pitched in to help raise the $21,000 needed to purchase the musical show kits for schools that otherwise could not afford them, as well as the transportation costs for students to attend the celebration.
Workshop Leaders include:
Recently named by Playbill.com as one of the top ten educators who are shaping Broadway, Marty is the now Director of Education and Resident Director at iTheatrics. He oversees all of iTheatrics' educational programs including the Junior Theater Academy for students, a series of Professional Development Workshops for teachers held yearly at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and a partnership with the President's Committee on The Arts and the Humanities. These partnerships led to Marty directing students for the first-ever White House Turnaround Arts Talent show hosted by our First Lady, Michelle Obama. Marty holds a graduate degree in Theatre for Youth from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and currently serves on the board for TYA/USA, the leading organization for the advancement of Theatre for Young Audiences in the world.
Steven has performed in New York and touring productions including; Me and My Girl, Oklahoma!, Crazy For You, 42nd Street, Joseph..., West Side Story and The Toy Shoppe (in which he had the distinguished honor of acting with and backing-up the one and only "Gambler," Kenny Rogers). Steven serves as the Choreography Supervisor for MTI and iTheatrics and has a distinguished list of credits, including the honor of working with the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities for the first-ever White House Turnaround Arts Talent show for our First Lady, Michelle Obama with Sarah Jessica Parker, the opening gala for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' Family Theater, starring Kristin Chenoweth and Andrew Lippa, and the Off-Broadway smash-hit production of Dear Edwina, produced by six time Pulitzer Prize winning producer Daryl Roth.
Cindy Ripley is currently the Senior Educational Consultant for iTheatrics, leading workshops with kids and teachers across the country, as well as the "go to" guru for Music Theatre International's online Show Support for the Broadway Junior Collection. Cindy piloted the first Broadway JR. production of Annie JR., and developed the first Broadway JR. Director's Guide. She was proud to be selected for USA Today's All Star Teacher Team for 2005 and most recently has served as a teaching artist for The President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. Cindy finds the recipe comprised of young people, teachers, parents, musical theatre and enthusiasm priceless!
Derek Bowley
Derek Bowley is a DC-based theatre educator and music director, and has worked with iTheatrics for over 10 years as a music director, writer, and teaching specialist. He is currently in his sixth year as Middle School Speech & Drama Teacher at The Congressional Schools of Virginia in Falls Church, VA. Professional credits include the pre-Broadway production of Glory Days at Signature Theatre and Kennedy Center premieres of Katie Couric's The Brand New Kid, The Phantom Tollbooth, and Jason Robert Brown's The Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony. Derek is also an avid cook.
Daniel Mertzlufft
Daniel graduated from the Crane School of Music with his Composition and Education degrees and joined the iTheatrics team in October. His work has been performed around the country including his musicals "A Family Christmas" and "Tie the Knot" and his opera "The Letter." He recently served as Assistant Orchestrator, Arranger & Music Director for the Transcendence Theatre Company, and has Music Directed a number of productions. Performing credits include; Crane Opera Ensemble: Younger Brother - Ragtime, Mike Costa - A Chorus Line, Snoopy - You're A Good Man Charlie Brown.
Participating schools include:
(TUESDAY)
Benton Heights Elementary School
Banks Trail Middle School
Carmel Middle School
Charlotte Preparatory School
Cornelius Elementary School
First Ward Creative Arts Academy
Grand Oak Elementary School
Northside Elementary School
Queen's Grant Community School - Elementary
Queen's Grant Community School - Middle
Ranson Middle School
Saluda Trail Middle School
Southwest Middle School
Steele Creek Elementary School
University Park Creative Arts Academy
(WEDNESDAY)
Antioch Elementary School
Charlotte Country Day School
Jay M. Robinson Middle School
Kensington Elementary School
Mount Holly Elementary School
Mountain Island Charter School
New Town Elementary School
Parkwood Middle School
Providence Day School
Ridge Road Middle School
Sherwood Elementary School
St. Pius X Elementary School
St. Pius X Middle School
Sun Valley Elementary School
Sun Valley Middle School
Trinity Episcopal School
(THURSDAY)
Alexander Graham Middle School
Community House Middle School
Elon Park Elementary School
Hawk Ridge Elementary School
Ida Rankin Elementary School
Iron Station Elementary School
Long Creek Elementary School
Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy
Porter Ridge Elementary School
Porter Ridge Middle School
Springmore Elementary School
Union Academy Charter School
Waxhaw Elementary School
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