Phoenix Theatre For Children Announces Summer Musical Intensives For Youth

The Phoenix Theatre for Children, a non-profit Columbus theatre company specializing in family entertainment, has announced two musical theatre intensives for youth to be held this summer at the Riffe Center (77 S. High St.).

The intensives are focused, personalized training for young people aged 10-18 interested in pursuing and honing their skills in musical theatre. Each intensive is a full-day, two-week course in various styles of dance, acting methods, and vocal training.

"The intensives offer specialized, constructive training and critiques for kids with a passion for musical theatre," stated Phoenix Artistic Director Steven C. Anderson. "The skills teens learn prove invaluable when they move on to college-level productions, while the younger students obtain the skills and confidence needed to prepare for auditions."

All musical theatre intensives students must complete a placement audition to determine their level of experience. Placement auditions will be held at the Riffe Center on Saturday, May 9, beginning at 10am, and Wednesday, May 13, beginning at 6:30pm.

Musical theatre intensive offerings include:

Audition Showcase

June 15-26

Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm

Friday, June 26, 9am-1pm

Riffe Center (77 S. High St.)

Students will gain the skills needed to be a well-rounded musical theatre auditionee and performer with training in specialized acting, movement, and dance classes taught by local professionals from various companies and universities. Students will also participate in audition workshops and receive individual monologue and vocal coaching. By the end of the intensive, each student will have audition material which will be evaluated by a panel of theatre professionals. Fee: $475

Rockin' the Musical

July 6-17

Monday-Friday, 9 am-4 pm

Tuesday, July 7, 11am-until end of evening performance of Mamma Mia

Friday, July 17, 9 am-1 pm

Riffe Center (77 S. High St.)

Students will hone their musical theatre skills by creating a musical review of some of the most popular musicals such as Hairspray, Little Shop of Horrors, and Mamma Mia. The course will include acting and dance classes, as well as vocal coaching and special workshops with professional musical theatre actors. Students will also attend the Broadway Across America-Columbus production of Mamma Mia on Tuesday, July 7. Fee: $525 (includes dinner and a ticket to the July 7 performance of Mamma Mia)

For more information including a detailed class schedule, visit www.phoenix4kids.org.

Slated instructors include:

Vanessa Becker earned her BFA in Acting from Wright State University and is the Education Director for the Phoenix.

Robert Behrens has choreographed, directed, or acted with most of the theatres in central Ohio, as well as regional theatres throughout the US, and is currently teaching at Otterbein College.

Billy Bruce is the Artistic Director and Choreographer for D3, the triple threat program at the Davis Performing Arts Center.

Kianna Harris recently completed her MFA in Acting at OSU, where she taught acting classes and performed, directed, or collaborated on more than ten theatre productions in three years.

Dori Jenks was named an Outstanding Teacher in the Arts by the Ohio Arts Council and an Outstanding Mentoring Teacher by The Ohio State University for her work as a dance educator in public schools. Jenks has a BFA and BSEd in Dance from The Ohio State University.

Johamy Morales is a third year MFA graduate student at The Ohio State University. She specializes in the Linklater voice technique and Viewpoints movement training.

Jim Shaw has a Master's in Music Composition and has taught for over 30 years, composing music for school orchestras, choirs, and bands.

Tim Veach is the Artistic Director and founder of Columbus Dance Theatre where he is the chief administrator, resident choreographer, and a teacher. He holds an MFA in choreography and a BFA in acting, and is currently an adjunct professor at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Pam Welsh-Huggins is Music Director for D3, the Davis Programs' musical theatre ensemble at the Columbus Performing Arts Center. She also works throughout Columbus as a theatrical music director and vocal coach.

Jennifer Whitehead holds a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from OSU, and serves on the voice faculty of Otterbein College. Whitehead has been extensively involved with Opera Columbus in both stage productions and education programs.

The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, education excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Phoenix also appreciates the support of The Columbus Foundation's Virginia Hall Beale Fund, assisting donors and others in strengthening our community for the benefit of all of its citizens.

The Phoenix Theatre for Children is a collective of artists who work collaboratively to create original productions for young audiences. The Phoenix is committed to providing young people and their families with theatrical experiences that encourage and enhance an awareness of self and the world in which we live. Frequent themes of the plays are self-reliance, an awareness of the importance of community, the personal empowerment of young people, and our responsibilities as citizens of the world. For more information, visit www.phoenix4kids.org.

 

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