Photo Flash: Leslie Uggams Mentors Students at Wright State
By: BWW News Desk Jan. 23, 2015
Wright State performing arts students received coaching and encouragement from Broadway star Leslie Uggams during her inspiring visit to campus yesterday, January 22, 2015. Tony and Emmy winner Uggams also sang several songs, shared stories from her long career and gave heartfelt advice to an audience of students, faculty and community members in the Herbst Theatre in the Creative Arts Center. Scroll down for photos from her visit!
Brought to campus by the Musical Theatre Initiative at Wright State, Uggams led a master class during which 12 students sang for her and Don Rebic, her music director and composer and jazz musician. Uggams and Rebic provided the students detailed individual feedback on their singing and song selections.
Uggams also performed several songs and participated in a Q&A session, led by Joe Deer, professor of musical theatre and director of the Musical Theatre Initiative, and Russell Florence, a Dayton theatre critic and Wright State graduate.
Uggams also worked privately with a select group of six musical theatre students who will perform with her in concert at Dayton's Victoria Theatre tonight, January 23. Uggams will sing classic and contemporary standards at 8 p.m. at the Victoria Theatre in downtown Dayton.
Uggams is the first major visiting artist brought to campus by the Musical Theatre Initiative at Wright State, which celebrates and explores the history, culture and craft of the musical theatre through guest artist residencies, concert performances and international conferences.
Tickets for tonight's concert are $47 and $37 for the public; $17 for Wright State faculty and staff; and $7 for all students. Tickets may be ordered at ticketcenterstage.com or (937) 228-3630.
Photos courtesy Wright State University. A version of this story, written by Bob Mihalek, first appeared on Wright State's website.
More than 150 students, faculty and community members attended Leslie Uggams' master class and Q&A in the Herbst Theatre in the Creative Arts Center.
Senior Sean Jones performed 'I'm Just a Small Town Boy' during the master class.
From left, Music Director Don Rebic and Leslie Uggams listened intently as Jim Miller sang during the master class.
Broadway star Leslie Uggams provided coaching and advice to Wright State students and sang several songs as a visiting artist of the Musical Theatre Initiative.
Leslie Uggams offered advice to students and told them to be brave, confident and persistent.
Senior Paige Dobkins sang 'Orange Colored Sky,' made popular by Nat King Cole.
Joe Deer, director of the Musical Theatre Initiative, right, led a Q&A with Leslie Uggams.
Don Rebic and Leslie Uggams provided detailed individual feedback to the students who performed, including Law Dunford.
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