PREPARING FOR YOUR COLLEGE AUDITIONS.

• Faculty Catherine Walker

• University of Michigan

A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMANCE STRATEGIES 

This workshop will explore a variety of the technical and artistic skills required to successfully navigate musical theatre performances across the decades. This will include postural or movement-based methodologies; a variety of vocal and technical strategies; acting through song and phrasing from the lyric; and the impact of compositional components on song interpretation.

WHAT TO PREPARE

Please prepare two contrasting MT songs and one pop song (optional) approximately one minute in length. Be sure to have a copy of the entire song in addition to the cut.  Each student will have the opportunity to work on one song in a group masterclass.  

BRINGING THE UNIQUENESS OF YOU TO YOUR WORK!

• Faculty Leonard Leibowitz

• Otterbein University

BRINGING THE UNIQUENESS OF YOU TO YOUR WORK

In this workshop, Lenny will give you exercises through Laban movement, that enable you to bring clarity, honesty, freedom, courage, and passion to your song choices. He will also offer suggestions of alternative song choices.

 WHAT TO PREPARE

Please keep your selections to 1-Minute. They can be either 16-Bar or 32-Bar cuts.

THE SINGERS TOOLKIT

• Faculty Melissa Treinkman

• University of Southern California

As singing actors, we need to have a solid vocal technique that will allow us make all of the sounds we desire, in service of telling a story. In this class, we will look at the building blocks of vocal technique and you will be given vocal exercises to increase the strength, flexibility, and versatility of your voice. We will also apply vocal technique concepts to songs. 

 WHAT TO PREPARE

Please think about two aspects of your voice that you LOVE and two things you'd like to IMPROVE.  Please also bring 1-2 contrasting cuts (under 1 minute each) of songs you'd like to work on from a technical standpoint. Please also bring accompaniment tracks.  

HOW TO SHOW WHO YOU ARE IN YOUR AUDITIONS!

• Faculty Jeremy Mann

• UCLA

The class will begin with a thorough vocal warm-up using a straw, so please have one on hand. We will also have a brief discussion of College Musical Theater Audition do's and don'ts, focusing specifically on the singing audition. Each student will then present their two contrasting audition songs, with supportive feedback and coaching tailored to your strengths and uniqueness as a performer. My goal is to help you bring utmost truth, passion, joy and specificity to your songs!"

 WHAT TO PREPARE

Please bring 32-Bars of a Ballad and Up-Tempo. Pick rep that shows you off as a person, as well as showing your vocal talent.

JUST BREATHE!

• Faculty Rebecca Karpoff

• Syracuse University

JUST BREATHE!

Breathing happens every second without us giving it much thought.  But in times of stress - think performances! - we can feel like we have no control over our bodies or our breath. In the first class, we will explore how the body functions for breathing, some exercises that we can use to gain better control and awareness, and how that awareness can infuse our performances with life and intention.  In the next class, we’ll work on your audition cuts from the perspective of your best possible singing.

 WHAT TO PREPARE

Please bring a 32-Bar Uptempo and 16-Bar Ballad

THE COLLEGE AUDITION CALLBACK

• Faculty Kevin Ramsey

• Hartt

So, you have made it past the pre-screens...now what? This masterclass will demystify the college callback process and instill confidence and a better sense of self within the auditioner. In our time together, we will examine how a student reveals not only their amazing performing skills, but also who they are as amazing humans too! Through a mock audition process, each student will show their callback material, perfect their college interview technique, and further investigate what they, themselves, offer a conservatory program like Hartt. We will examine audition material in greater detail, discuss best practices while in the audition room, and unearth confidence building techniques while under the pressure of getting into the college program of their dreams!

WHAT TO PREPARE

Two contrasting songs OR one song/one monologue that best show you and your artistry. Please also bring a headshot and resume.

SCORING THE MUSICAL MONOLOGUE

• Jesse Carlo

• Pace University

In this Intensive Master Class Students will be introduced to the marriage of lyrics, musical composition, and storytelling

WHAT TO PREPARE

• Several copies of the sheet music of the song you will present during the workshop

• A soundtrack recording of your song

• Headphones 

• Paper and Pen

SINGING/ACTING SONG REPERTOIRE

• Faculty Gary Kline

• Point Park University

Gary is a noted Voice Teacher at Carnegie Mellon's School of Drama, having taught dozens of Broadway's finest. Gary's Classes will deal briefly with Vocal Scales and Patterns for warming up your voice and strengthening one's instrument. Additionally, Acting Games that personalize the content of Song Lyrics to allow a deeper, more vulnerable connection will be employed. Finally, the choice of Repertoire that best represents your authentic self while avoiding the overused and mundane will be discussed. 

A Final Product is not the goal- but rather how can we enhance your own process together to continue to grow in this Musical Art Form?

 WHAT TO PREPARE

Bring your cuts and recordings of your songs to class and let's get to work! But also be willing to explore fresh song material that you might not have overworked.

How to Take Charge of Your Creative Career

• Faculty Wendy Kurtzman

• Chapman UnIversity

From High School to College and beyond. We will discuss how emerging artists can navigate the transition from academia into the entertainment industry and discuss personal brand development and strategies that forge career-furthering relationships. This class will focus on personal narrative, college audition technique and transition to the Industry.

WHAT TO PREPARE

One monologue and song

MOJAH-FUSION DANCE EXPERIENCE

• Faculty Kirkora Franklin

• Penn State University

Mojah-Fusion Dance Experience

This course will introduce students to the Mojah dance form, which is a contemporary fusion style based on modern, jazz, ballet, and West African movement. The Mojah-Fusion Dance Experience will focus on foundational dance technique and reinforce strategies for learning, retaining, and performing choreography.  Students will engage in a high-energy warm up, across the floor, and dance combo as well as discuss the importance of bringing their authentic selves to the audition process (college program, productions, etc.). Students will learn Mojah movement vocabulary and choreography that they will perform/share as a culminating experience. 

WHAT TO PREPARE

Students should wear dance attire or clothes they can move in freely. Shoes are not required, however, you may bring/wear jazz shoes if preferred. For the performance/sharing, all black dance attire/movement wear is preferred. 

PUTTING IT TOGETHER

• Faculty Vicky Bussart

• Oberlin College

Making all the pieces of the audition puzzle work for YOU!

WHAT TO PREPARE

Please bring 2 contrasting cuts (under 1 minute each) of songs you LOVE to sing along with accompaniment tracks.  

SCENE WORK!

• Faculty Lisa Velten-Smith

• Carnegie Mellon University

This workshop will provide the actor with tools necessary to understanding and interrogating scene work.  Using the Stanislavski Method, the student will learn how to read a script for clues as to what the character wants, why they want that, understanding conflict, among others.  Once the elements are identified, students will then learn how to put what they’ve discovered into truthful action. Velten Smith strives to provide a relaxing and fun atmosphere where students feel free to play and discover.

WHAT TO PREPARE

Scenes will be provided and available for reading prior to the workshop.