Broadway Guest Artists Announced for Musical Theatre Preparatory Program!

Learn from Broadway stars this summer at Playhouse on Park! Broadway actors Douglas Lyons and Jason Gotay visit the Playhouse as guest teaching artists for the Musical Theatre Preparatory Program. Running from July 10-July 21, this two week full-day intensive musical theatre program introduces and prepares young actors (3rd-8th grade) for future training and/or performance in music, dance and theater. Additionally, both Lyons and Gotay will hold evening master classes for ages 16 and up.

Musical Theatre Preparatory Program gives older elementary and middle school students instruction in acting, dance, and music. The emphasis of the program is on developing strong performance skills. As part of that goal, each student will be featured in a final performance as a singer, actor, and dancer. Students will also develop their own pieces during daily supervised rehearsals and will perform their own "creative projects" for the rest of the students in the program each Friday.

Faculty for the Musical Theatre Preparatory Program includes Playhouse on Park Director of Education Kyle Reynolds (theater), Kevin Barlowski, Director of Theater and Performance Studies at Bay Path University (music), and actor, dancer, choreographer Mallory Cunningham (dance). Broadway guest artists Douglas Lyons and Jason Gotay will each lead a two hour master class during the program. Mr Lyons will focus on how to have confidence when auditioning and performing; Mr. Gotay will focus on the art of storytelling, and how to create a meaningful journey within a song.

The students will participate in a question and answer session at the end of each master class. Students will also have the opportunity to meet and work with the cast members of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Douglas Lyons is a composer-lyricist and actor, originally from New Haven, who graduated from The Hartt School's BFA Musical Theatre program. Douglas has originated roles on Broadway in The Book of Mormon and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Tours: Rent, Dreamgirls (Apollo) and BOM 1st Nat'l.

As a composer/lyricist he is half writing team Lyons & Pakchar, who's music has been workshopped and featured at Lincoln Center's Broadway Songbook Series, The Old Globe, The 11th hour Theatre Company, Seattle Rep, The Music Theater Factory, The Johnny Mercer Writing Colony at Goodspeed Musicals and more. The team was recently commissioned by Seattle's 5th Ave Theatre on a new project and their new musical Five Points will get it's world premiere at Theater Latte Da in Spring 2018.

Douglas's original show Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical, inspired by Civil Rights pioneers Ruby Bridges and The Little Rock Nine, is getting multiple theatrical productions around the country including a production at Playhouse on Park in Spring 2018. The Polkadots world premiere album was released on Sony's Masterworks Broadway in Sept 2016 and features cast members from The Wiz live, Hamilton, Glee and more. Most importantly Douglas strives to use diverse stories to inspire children through art, reminding them of their fullest potential.

Jason Gotay is an Actor and Teaching Artist born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Broadway: Bring It On: the Musical (Randall, Original Broadway and Touring Companies), Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark (Peter Parker/Spider-Man). TV: NBC'S Peter Pan Live (Tootles/Lost Boy). Regional Highlights: World Premiere of Disney's Freaky Friday (Adam) at the Signature Theater, World Premiere of A Bronx Tale (Calogero) at the Paper Mill Playhouse, Into the Woods (Jack), Mamma Mia! (Sky) and most recently, The Little Mermaid (Prince Eric) at the St. Louis MUNY, among others.

The cost of the two-week intensive program is $700. Class sizes are limited! To register, visit the Education page at www.playhouseonpark.org, and download the registration form, or call 860-523-5900x10 for more information. Playhouse on Park is located at 244 Park Road, West Hartford, CT, 06119.

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