McArdle, Espinosa Guest & Jay-Alexander Directs Broadway Dreams Foundation August 1-7

Philly's Broadway dreams will come true for the third consecutive summer when the Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) partners with the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts to present their summer performing arts intensive August 1 through Sunday August 7. Acclaimed theatrical producer and director Richard Jay-Alexander and a roster of Broadway veterans will work with aspiring young performers  from the Philadelphia area throughout the week in preparation for 'True Colors', a one of a kind Broadway concert open to the public. The one night only concert event will take place at the Merriam Theatre on Saturday August 6 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $71-$18 and are available now online at www.kimmelcenter.org, by calling 215-893-1999, or visiting the Kimmel Center box office.

Philadelphia native Andrea McArdle made her Broadway debut in the original 1977 production Annie for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Other notable Broadway credits include Les Miserables, Starlight Express, Beauty and the Beast and State Fair. McArdle, along with BDF Philadelphia students will perform selections from Annie including: "Maybe," "Tomorrow," "Hard Knock Life," and "Little Girls."

McArdle will lead a facuty roster of Broadway favorites including Tony winner Jarrod Emick (Damn Yankees, Leap of Faith), Edin Espinosa (Wicked), Titus Burgess (Jersey Boys), Tyler Haynes (A Chorus Line), James Kinney (Sweet Charity), Quentin Earl Darrington (Ragtime), BDF Artistic Director Paul Canaan (Legally Blonde), and BDF co-founder and celebrity vocal coach Dave Barrus. The entire faculty will perform in 'True Colors' alongside Phiadelphia's performing youth.

Jay-Alexander's credits include directing the recent star-studded Hollywood Bowl concert production of Guys and Dolls, Barbra Streisand's most recent concert tour and concert productions for Bette Midler, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bernadette Peters, Russell Watson and Donna McKechnie. He also served as the Executive Producer for the original Broadway, touring and Canadian companies of Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon and Five Guys Named Moe. He is currently in Las Vegas working with Donny and Marie for their new show at the Flamingo.

Over three thousand students have participated in the BDF program in cities such as Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, San Diego and Omaha. Students have gone on to perform in regional, national and Broadway productions including Disney's The Lion King,
Spring Awakening and Bring it On. Other students have pursued careers in the arts or attend prestigious theatre programs in universities throughout the United States.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation offers significant scholarships to hundreds of students each year, ensuring that all qualified students are able to realize their Broadway Dreams regardless of their financial status. For more information on The Broadway Dreams Foundation, please visit www.mybroadwaydreams.com

 

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