Theatre Aspen Launches New Apprentice Program

A new Theatre Aspen Apprentice Program was announced today. The award-winning Equity theatre will invite ten aspiring theatre professionals to Aspen for an entire summer, to work alongside professionals in all aspects of theatre production. Theatre Aspen supporters and Aspen residents Jessica and John Fullerton will underwrite the program for its first three years. In January, the organization was named "Non Profit of the Year" in the region with hundreds of local not-for-profits.

Theatre Aspen is formalizing its five-year intern program to create a more structured and educationally focused environment for apprentices in four areas: performance, technical arts, stage management and arts administration. Not only will students perform in and work on main stage shows, but they will also receive individualized instruction and classes. In some cases, college credit will be awarded and since Theatre Aspen participates in the Actors' Equity Association Membership Candidate Program, actors and stage managers will receive credits toward membership in the union.

"I feel that this program is the next logical step in our development, as we strive to make meaningful contributions to the arts. Next to our performance season, education is our top priority and this blends the two in a seamless way, while giving us exposure and access to the top young talent in the nation," said TA Artistic Director Paige Price.

Candidates were selected from on-site auditions and interviews at participating universities and arts programs from across the nation and included students currently studying abroad. More than 750 candidates applied for the first-year program.

The candidates are Adam Quinn, Bailey Frankenberg, Chelsea Groen, Daniel Schwait, MerEdith Owens, Luke Steinhauer, Samantha Donnelly, Alison Walsh, Caleb Cassler and Michael Cochrane. The schools represented are University of Michigan, NYU, University of Minnesota, Purdue, University of Southern Florida, CAP21, University of Oklahoma and the Manhattan School of Music.

In addition, David Gram was appointed to the new seasonal position of Apprentice Coordinator/Associate Artistic Director. A director currently residing in the D.C. area, Gram received an MFA in Directing with a Graduate Certificate in Arts Administration at Boston University, where he was an adjunct faculty member. He was also the previous artistic director of the Boston Opera Collective, where he directed the New England premiere of Dead Man Walking and has directed all over the U.S. and Canada in productions ranging from Tartuffe and Macbeth to La Cage aux Folles. Gram will help develop and carry out the apprentice curriculum.
The new Hurst Theatre is the setting for the upcoming season, which opens with a new production of the Tony Award-winning Boubil and Schönberg musical LES MISERABLES on June 25th (lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer). Mark Martino (TA's Avenue Q, Little Shop and ...Spelling Bee) directs LES MISERABLES. The summer also includes the one-man comedy Fully Committed by Becky Mode, directed by Jay Sandrich (July 5th - Aug 16th) and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, based on the beloved comic strip "Peanuts," by Charles M. Schulz, (July 11th - Aug 18th), directed by Artistic Director Paige Price. The musical is the revised Clark M. Gesner version, with additional lyrics and music by Andrew Lippa and additional dialogue by Michael Mayer. Casting will be announced shortly.

Theatre Aspen was awarded the "Outstanding Regional Theatre" Henry Award in Denver in 2009 and Alison Luff won a Best Supporting Actress Denver Post Ovation Award for her work as Olive in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Recent Ovation nominees included Joan Hess, Beth Malone, Aaron Rhyne, Julia Foran and Sandy Duncan.

Productions take place in the new Hurst Theatre in Rio Grande Park and will be underwritten by season sponsors ANB Bank and Soledad and Bob Hurst, with the generous support of Liz and Jane Armstrong, Terri and Tony Caine, Darlynn and Tom Fellman, Mandy Gray and Randy Work, Jim and Brenda Grusecki, Charles and Nancy Wall, Joshua & CO., Dan and Maureen Holman, Betsy Fifield, Shane Aspen Real Estate, Jackie and Jerry Kehle, Kristin Nelson, The City of Aspen, The Aspen Club and Spa, Les Dames d'Aspen, CCI and The Thrift Shop.

Registration for Theatre Aspen School summer classes and theatre workshops is underway. For further information contact Theatre Aspen at 970-925-9313 x200. www.theatreaspen.org.

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