Weston Playhouse Theatre Company to Host BROADWAY BOOT CAMP, 8/3-21

In an exciting and new collaboration with Burr and Burton Academy's Creative Arts Department, Vermont's oldest professional theatre company is offering high school students with an interest in musical theatre an incredible opportunity to learn what it takes to be a Broadway performer. The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company's "Broadway Boot Camp" will run in Manchester, VT from August 3 - 21.

After working with the cast of Weston's professional production of the legendary musical Guys and Dolls, music director Larry Pressgrove and choreographer Michael Raine will turn their teaching talents to the Broadway Boot Camp students. Joining them will be Weston Producing Director Tim Fort and Burr and Burton Drama and Dance Director Jim Raposa.

In a challenging yet supportive environment, students will take their acting, singing, and dancing skills to the next level with unsurpassed instruction in small groups. After morning sessions as a whole, the class will be split into three rotating groups to learn material from Guys and Dolls with individualized attention by each of the three instructors.

Pressgrove is currently the music director La Guardia Arts High School in New York, the school made famous in the movie Fame. Raine is a faculty member at NYU's graduate acting program, and has taught/choreographed for CAP21 and Juilliard Drama. Fort has directed more than 65 of Weston's summer productions, leads its Young Company program, and teaches at Queens University in Canada.

Jim Raposa, a Broadway veteran who has a role in the Weston production, will pull together the work of his colleagues during the third week and direct the students in a 8/21 finale performance at the Weston Playhouse, on the set and under the lights of Weston's production of Guys and Dolls.

Upon hearing of the camp, Leah M. Cunningham of Chester, VT offered, "I've had the great pleasure of learning from these professionals as an ensemble member of 2014's A Chorus Line. I'm now in college studying musical theatre and arts management, and all I can say is DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY!"

The program is open to students entering 9th - exiting 12th. No auditions required, but students are expected to have some experience in acting, dancing and singing.. Classes are Mon-Fri, 8/3-8/21, 9:00 - 3:00. The cost is $750, plus $50 materials fee and includes three weeks of instruction, t-shirt, two guest tickets to the 8/21 4:00pm student performance, and two tickets to Weston's 8/21 7:30pm professional performance. Enrollment is limited. Registration is requested by May 1.

For more information, go to www.westonplayhouse.org/education or contact Jacki Brown at the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company. jbrown@westonplayhouse.org or 802-824-8167 x104.

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