Julie Atherton and Paul Spicer Set for Stage Acts Productions' ONSTAGE ACTS 2015, July 27-31

Following the success of their inaugural year, Stage Acts Productions reprise Onstage Acts, a summer course in new and contemporary musical theatre in 2015 at the new student- friendly price of only £150. Taking place in London between 27th-31st July, the course will be curated by contemporary musical theatre favourites Julie Atherton & Paul Spicer, and will feature masterclasses from theatre professionals working across the length and breadth of the industry.

Developed as an opportunity to re-focus, and to absorb ideas from those at the top of their game, Onstage Acts is open to musical theatre performers both professional and in education and allows students to work closely with performers, composers, directors, cast- ing directors, agents and producers, inspiring each individual to become the best that they can be at this very specific style of performance, whilst also providing incomparable opportunities to make contacts and expand professional networks.

This year's course featured Q&A sessions with National Theatre casting director Charlotte Sutton and top agent Wendy Scozarro of Felix De Wolfe, as well as masterclasses with award-winning composer Michael Bruce, and Interval Productions' Tori Allen-Martin and Bo Boland. These sessions were in addition to rigorous daily training lead by Julie Atherton and Paul Spicer in such areas as acting through song, interpreting text, and developing a semi-staged showcase for an invited industry audience.

Wendy Scozzarro said: "It's always a pleasure to meet the team giving and taking the Onstage Acts course because they really do feel like a cohesive group, focused on developing and improving talent. The tutors ensure the students have time with various professionals in a Q & A style forum so that they can ask those questions they've always wanted to ask! The students go on to produce a wonderful show as a finale which illustrates that the courses are wonderfully beneficial to everyone involved."

Charlotte Sutton said: "It was really exciting to come to Onstage Acts and meet the students; they all had such interesting, pertinent questions that it was clear that the course had made them really engage with the art-form and the industry. This holistic view of new musicals, and the level of detail in which they looked at the medium, can only be beneficial to the work they do in the future."

Tori Allen-Martin said: "I arrived at the Onstage Acts workshop I was taking, ready to be open and honest with the students, ready to lay myself bare and tell my truths because when you're striving, and often struggling to achieve something it can be hard to look at people actually doing it and not think 'but it's easy for you'. I wanted to tell them that it's still tough, but it is worth it. I hoped it might help a little. What I wasn't prepared for was how much the students inspired me; we grew together. We all shared our stories, opened up. There was laughter, there were tears... and within three days I saw people not only grow as performers but as people.. their dreams and ambitions opening up and out again, they weren't scared or embarrassed of them, not ruled by the fear that so often suffocates us. There's nothing as exciting as witnessing growth, and I felt it too, first hand. I changed along with them. Positive energy and a network of like-minded individuals creating a supportive family for each other - how can that not be infectious? This course brought out the best in all of us, as performers, and as people. I can't recommend it enough."

Since co-founding Notes from New York in 2003, multi-award nominated producer and ac- tor Paul Spicer and Julie Atherton (London's "Reigning Queen of new musical writing") have worked extensively both performing in the West End and on Broadway as well as tu- toring contemporary musical theatre and collaborating with a network of world class in- dustry professionals. They were also the creative team behind a previous musical theatre summer course, which produced success stories such as guest tutor Tori Allen-Martin (mul- ti-award nominated writer, performer and producer), Jennifer Potts (Narrator in the UK Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Amelia Adams-Pearce (UK Tours of Jersey Boys and Hairspray) and Phoebe Fildes (original West End cast of Once).

Paul Spicer said: "Since I left ArtsEd in 2001, I've found myself working with students on a number of full time courses here in the UK, overseas and also tutoring privately. Both of my parents were teachers. There is something vital about the process that I love, and I learn so much from the students themselves. I wanted to create a course for adult actors interested in new musical theatre, something affordable that could progress them if they were in or out of work, or even studying at the time. The creatives that I bring on board are often looking for fresh talent and there often isn't the chance to get into a workshop situation with new ac- tors, so it's a win win for everybody. This year we launched Onstage Acts not knowing who the course would attract. Luckily we ended up working with a focused, mature, in- ternational group of performers who came to get their heads down and rediscover, or sometimes just play. I'm looking forward to the next group, and the next."

Onstage Acts is about rediscovering a love for performing, and unearthing new, relatable material in a creative environment. Course fees are just £150 for the week's tuition, making the course economical as well as immensely rewarding. Only 30 places are available. To apply, visit www.onstageacts.com or email info@stageactsuk.com to register your interest and for an application form. Experience will be taken into consideration.

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