The Hawaii Performing Arts Festival for students ranging in age from 14-35 on Hawaii's spectacular Big Isand is entering its 7th year. Previously, the focus has been on singers primarily interested in pursuing classical musical careers, with some study and performance opportunities added for younger students with an interest in musical theater.
This year, however, the festival has expanded its course offerings, for a fully-dedicated Musical Theater program from June 24-July 15 featuring an all-star faculty:
Music Director and Coach: Brad Ellis (aka "Brad the Pianist" and Music Director from the Fox hit show "GLEE" and Broadway/Hollywood composer-producer)
Choreographer/Director: Julio Monge (veteran Broadway lead dancer for Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins; acting instructor and stage director-choreographer)
Coach/Song styling: Eydie Alyson (Broadway and national tour triple-threat star, jazz and cabaret chanteuse, yoga and body conditioning)
plus the Festival's outstanding roster of world-class Voice technique instructors from the country's top Voice Performance programs (UCLA, Mannes, Manhattan Sch. of Music, Univ. of Nevada Las Vegas, etc.)
Students will receive 2-3 private vocal technique lessons plus 2-3 private coaching/style lessons each week, daily acting/dance/yoga classes, participate in Master Classes with star faculty, and rehearse for 2 or more public performances at locations throughout the Big Island.
Of course, studying in paradise is twice as fun when you factor in the daily rainbows and the ample leisure time activities: opportunities for daily visits to some of the world's most beautiful beaches, hiking through tropical rainforests to stunning waterfalls, a trip to Volcanoes National Park or to the Mauna Kea observatories Visitors Center, and gourmet dining, shopping, and karaoke at the Kohala Coast's luxury resort centers or in the beautiful hillside town of Waimea where the Festival resides.
Festival alumni are performing on Broadway, in national tours, and in regional musical Theater Productions (including Sarah Kleeman, currently starring in the national tour of "Spring Awakening"), and festival participation has directly resulted in professional engagements for students with Long Beach Opera, Central City Opera and Musical Theater Festival in Colorado, and other regional companies.
More information about Hawaii Performing Arts Festival can be found at www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org.
Are you an avid theatergoer? We're looking for people like you to share your thoughts and insights with our readers. Team BroadwayWorld members get access to shows to review, conduct interviews with artists, and the opportunity to meet and network with fellow theatre lovers and arts workers.
Videos