Music Theatre of CT holds online masterclasses featuring some of the best theatre professionals in the business. - Music Theatre of CT

NORWALK, CT- Music Theatre of Connecticut (MTC), currently in its 33rd season, announces the VIRTUAL PROFESSIONAL MASTERCLASS SERIES beginning on April 11 and continuing on April 18 and 25. Led by industry professionals and experts in their fields, the series of three masterclasses targets high school, college and young professionals and offers vital information, one-on-one coaching and consultations with industry leaders in the college audition and selection process, crucial branding and marketing strategies, and career guidance and advice for young professionals just beginning their careers.



The VIRTUAL PROFESSIONAL MASTERCLASS SERIES begins on Saturday, April 11 at 10am with the PROFESSIONAL CAREER SEMINAR led by Michael Cassara, CSA. Michael Cassara, CSA is a Casting Director and Educator in New York City, where he and his team have cast over 400 theatre and film projects. Recent credits include An American In Paris (Int'l tour), A Night With Janis Joplin (National Tour), Spamilton (NYC/Chicago/Pittsburgh CLO/current US tour), The 12 (Denver Center/world premiere), and many more theatrical and film credits.



The PROFESSIONAL CAREER SEMINAR is an in-depth workshop on the tools and strategies needed for crafting a successful career in the professional world! Topics will include expert advice on headshots, resumes, websites, branding, agents and managers, musical rep and audition techniques. Each participant will also have the opportunity to present audition material (monologue or song) for critique and constructive advice on how to improve your time “in the room”.



The series continues the following Saturday, April 18 with the COLLEGE AUDITION PREP WORKSHOP by Mark Madama, professor at the prestigious University of Michigan BFA musical theatre program. Mark has worked in the theatre as an actor, director, writer and teacher, and has been a resident director at Music Theatre Wichita for thirty years where he directed numerous musicals. His work has also been seen many regional theatres throughout the country as well as internationally. As a teacher, he has guided thousands of students giving masterclasses throughout the country.



Mark leads the hands-on COLLEGE PREP AUDITION WORKSHOP in audition techniques and the ins-and-outs of college performing arts programs, with a particular focus on the University of Michigan BFA program. UMich alumni include Gavin Creel, Justin Paul, Benj Pasek, Hunter Foster, Alex Gemignani, Celia and Andrew Keenan-Bolger, and numerous other Broadway stars. Get important information about the program and present brief audition songs for Mark’s feedback and critique. A truly unique opportunity to work with a faculty member from the nation’s top musical theatre program. Limit 15 students.



The final workshop in the series is the COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE SEMINAR, led by award-winning director and educator Kevin Connors. Co-founder of MTC, Kevin has been a professional musical theatre composer and director for more than 40 years. He has directed over 200 MTC Equity MainStage productions many of which have been Connecticut Critics’ Circle Award Nominations/Winners, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Moss Hart Award Winner), and 2019 BroadwayWorld Award Winner as Best Director (Equity) for MTC’s CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. He has also has been a nine-time Connecticut Critics’ Circle Best Director nominee, the recipient of the Tom Killen Award for Outstanding Contribution to Connecticut Professional Theatre, and served on the faculties of multiple universities and colleges. Lastly, he is also the creator of MTC’s COLLEGE BOUND IN THE PERFORMING ARTS program whose alumni are featured on Broadway, on television series and feature films, and as Tony and Academy Award winners.



The COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE SEMINAR is designed for high school sophomores and juniors and their parents taking you from the first steps in your college process including where to start, what to ask, who to call, through target lists, visitation, audition tools, and final selection - the performing arts college process start to finish. Learn details of performing arts degrees your school or academic college counselors don’t know, including specific information on more than 50 colleges and their programs, profiling and targeting which colleges are right for you, timing and pre-screen execution and strategies, college department philosophies, senior career transition opportunities, and unique elements to performing degree programs you won’t learn from the marketing or visitation. The SEMINAR also includes a private follow-up virtual consultation with each student.



Cost of each seminar is $95 and participants can register online at www.musictheatreofct.com/master. For further information contact Alex at admin@musictheatreofct.com or 203-454-3883.