Dave Barrus Joins Paul Canaan and Craig Burns To Instruct Minnesota Youth

Celebrity vocal coach and Minnesota native Dave Barrus (Les Miserables) will join forces with MTV and Broadway star Paul Canaan (Legally Blonde) and Broadway casting director Craig Burns (Telsey + Company) to instruct, encourage and inspire Minnesota's youth to follow their Broadway Dreams. The Broadway Dreams Foundation, a national non-profit performing arts training program, will present a two-day Triple Threat Extreme workshop at the East Ridge Theater (4200 Pioneer Drive, Woodbury, MN 55129) February 6 and 7, 2010.

With the success of wildly popular television shows like "Glee" and blockbuster films like Hairspray and Fame, the world of musical theater is hotter than ever. The Broadway Dreams Foundation teaches America's youth how to kick start their career with one of a kind performance workshops taught by Broadway's brightest stars. Attendees of the BDF Triple Threat Extreme will receive training in acting, dance and vocal performance by savvy Broadway veterans who will share their invaluable insider knowledge on the skills needed to make it in show business.

Executive Director, Annette Tanner explains, "Our students undergo amazing transformations during this workshop. Many of our students have gone on to perform in regional, national and Broadway productions including Disney's The Lion King and Spring Awakening as a direct result of the connections they have made with BDF."

THE FACULTY FOR THE MINNESOTA TRIPLE THREAT EXTREME INCLUDES: Dave Barrus is a Minnesota native and renown Los Angeles vocal coach currently teaching in Los Angeles. He performed in the Broadway and national touring company of Les Miserables. Regionally Dave has
appeared in the West Coast premiere of Songs from an Unmade Bed, The Full Monty and Jesus Christ Superstar. He sang the title role in the animated feature The Scarecrow and was awarded the Pearl Award for Best New Artist and Best Male Vocalist for his solo albums Onstage and Onstage II.

Paul Canaan made the phrase "It's a hit!" famous as one of three judges on the MTV reality show "Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods." He has also been seen on Broadway in Legally Blonde, Thoroughly Modern Millie, La Cage Aux Folles, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Miss Saigon.

Craig Burns is a casting director with Telsey + Company of New York City. His Broadway casting credits include Wicked, Legally Blonde, The Color Purple, Hairspray, Cry Baby, Jerry Springer: The Opera, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Tarzan, Grey Gardens, Sweeny Todd, 9 to 5,
Little Shop of Horrors, and Aida. His film credits include Rachel Getting Married, Across the Universe and Sex and the City 2.

THE TRIPLE THREAT EXTREME WORKSHOPS WILL FOCUS ON: ACTING & AUDITION TECHNIQUE
Strengthen your audition skills by learning how to properly take on an audition side and deliver a strong, confident and unique interpretation that will impress the creative team or casting director. You will work with actual television or Broadway show audition sides.

VOCAL PERFORMANCE
Learn how to present your songs in a way that captures the audience's attention. Emphasis will be placed on proper vocal techniques, appropriate song selection as well as interpreting and personalizing your material. Bring your best vocal selections and learn how to own the spotlight like a true Broadway star.

THEATRE DANCE
Develop your skills as a promising Broadway pro with Theatre Dance class and sharpen that technique. Learn how to distinguish one dance style from another in order to put your best (not your left) foot forward in the audition room. You will be taught actual Broadway choreography from some of the most respected dancers in the Broadway community.

Classes are from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 6 and Sunday, February 7, 2010. The fee for the entire Triple Threat Extreme weekend workshop is $250 or $95 per individual class. To enroll, fill out the online registration form at www.mybroadwaydreams.com or email
Annette@MyBroadwayDreams.com.

BDF has brought its unique program to Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, and San Diego, among others. In 2010, BDF plans to travel to more than one dozen cities. Former BDF faculty include Tony Award-winning actress Alice Ripley, Tony Award-nominated performers Jodi Benson, Laura Bell Bundy, Gavin Creel as well as "American Idol" finalist and Broadway star Diana DeGarmo, TV's Mark Indelicato, Matt and Jessica Bogart, Jenn Gambatese, casting directors Craig Burns and Rachel Hoffman and many more.

Over one thousand students have participated in the BDF program and some have gone on to star on Broadway, pursue careers in the arts or attend prestigious theatre programs in universities throughout the United States.

For more information, please visit www.mybroadwaydreams.com.

 

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