Stars from LITTLE MERMAID, CABARET, MATILDA & SOUND OF MUSIC to Lead Houston Classes

September 12th kicks off an extensive Broadway Connection season in Houston with scheduled Master Classes at local studios including Dance Expressions, Robbin's Dance Studio, Upstage Arts and more as they introduce students to Broadway Connection Teachers, Marjorie Failoni from the cast of THE LITTLE MERMAID, Natalie Wisdom from the cast of MATILDA, Harvard graduate Evan Siegel from the cast of CABARET, and Paige Silvester, lead of SOUND OF MUSIC.

The 2-hour Broadway Connection Master Classes are scheduled at the each studio's home location in Houston while the teaching artists perform at the Hobby Center.

In the elite Broadway Connection Classes, students and parents experience direct access to current working Broadway performers who share the technique, style and training required to work professionally in dance, theater, TV and film.

Dance Expressions, Robbin's Dance Upstage Arts and over 25 more studios, schools and universities in the Houston area have taken advantage of this rare opportunity to dance with Broadway's most elite artists in the comfort of their home spaces through Broadway Connection. And the community is thrilled to have the inspiration, passion, and energy of New York back again for the 8th season in a row.

Melanie Pede from Robin's Dance Studio comments on her 2014-15 Broadway Connection season, "We had a wonderful time as usual! It's such a neat experience, we can't wait for the next one. Always a pleasure to host Broadway Connection classes!"

ABOUT THE BROADWAY CONNECTION FACULTY:

Marjorie Failoni, is a NY based choreographer and performer. She is originally from St. Louis, MO and has a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan. Go Blue! She has been in the national tours of 9 to 5 (associate choreographer/dance captain), Disney's High School Musical (Dance Captain), and Disney's High School Musical 2 (Dance Captain). She had the privilege of going to London to help set the UK tour of High School Musical 2. Associate choreographer for Getting the Band Back Together (George Street Playhouse), Assistant choreographer for The Fig Leaves are Falling (Unsung Musicals), Andy Warhol was Right (NYMF '09), Godspell (MUNY), and Omaha's Christmas with the Symphony. As a performer she has worked all over the country including the Kennedy Center (with Liza Minelli), Radio City Music Hall, The MUNY, PCLO, Maine State Music Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse and the Cape Playhouse. Some of her favorite shows have been The Little Mermaid, The Witches of Eastwick, 42nd Street, Shrek, and South Pacific. She has taught and choreographed at numerous studios across the country as well as choreographed routines for the dance teams at the University of Utah and Rutgers University. She also teachers theatre dance at Broadway Dance Center in NY and runs the NY auditions for the Disney Cruise Line.

Natalie Wisdom is originally from St. Louis, MO where she grew up performing at the MUNY and in various community and professional theatre productions. She received her BFA in Musical Theatre at Webster Conservatory and moved to New York shortly after graduation. After traveling to perform at various regional theatres such as North Shore Music Theatre and Maine State Music Theatre, she got her Broadway debut in BILLY ELLIOT. She continued to perform with BILLY ELLIOT as a swing on Broadway and Dance Captain on the tour for well over two years! It was on the tour that she discovered the wonderful program that is Broadway Connection, and she is so excited to continue teaching as she performs with the First National Tour of MATILDA!

Evan Siegel is thrilled to be teaching with Broadway Connection! Originally from Albany, New York, Evan has performed in nearly all 50 US states and in over 40 countries throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Favorite credits include Broadway: CABARET (dir. Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall; starring Alan Cumming and Emma Stone); Off-Broadway: ZORBA (Encores!, starring John Turturro, Santino Fontana, and Marin Mazzie); Regional favorites: ALL SHOOK UP (Chad), BRIGADOON (Tommy Albright), GREAT GATSBY (Tom Buchanan). TV/film: "Law and Order", "The Boys who Brunch", War Dead. Evan is also a member of the international Platinum-selling vocal quartet Teatro.

In addition to his acting work, over the past ten years Evan has taught expository writing, ESL, Spanish, and Hebrew, served as a track coach, led meditation workshops, and given seminars for adolescents on bullying, self-esteem, and stress management. He has tutored autistic kindergarteners, Harvard PhD candidates, and everything in between, and has provided high-intensity GMAT instruction to students across the globe. And of course, he has conducted master classes for theatre students from New York to Denmark and everywhere in between!

Evan attended Harvard University, where he studied acting with Scott Zigler, Marcus Stern, and Jeremy Geidt, vocal production with Nancy Houfek, and dance with Catherine Ulissey, Leslie Woodies, and Julia Boynton. He graduated Magna cum Laude with a degree in linguistics.

Paige Silvester is currently playing Liesl in THE SOUND OF MUSIC National Tour and is grateful and excited to be teaching with Broadway Connection! Originally from Sacramento, CA, Paige began singing, acting, and dancing at a young age, and went on to earn a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan. Upon graduating, she moved to New York City where she continues training every day. Paige has performed at The St. Louis MUNY, Pittsburgh CLO, North Carolina Theatre, Sacramento Music Circus, and most recently, in the 2014/2015 EVITA National Tour. Paige is an energetic and passionate teacher who encourages her students to be well- rounded, knowledgeable, and hardworking performers.

Considered pioneers and innovative entrepreneurs for their groundbreaking Broadway Connection business model, Jennifer Jancuska and Melissa Maupin, co-founded Broadway Connection in 2005. They have created over 1,500 unique programs for studios, schools and universities across North America. Recognized and honored by Dance Magazine, Actor's Equity, Dance Exec, Dance Studio Owner and more as inspiring leaders, Melissa and Jennifer are sought after and praised for service that is so personal, trustworthy, and collaborative that it feels like family.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayConnection.net.

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