A Holistic Approach to Musical Theatre Performance Strategies 

• 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

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 Singer’s 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

HOW TO SHOW WHO YOU ARE IN YOUR SONGS!

The class will begin with a thorough vocal warm-up. 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 prepare two contrasting songs, each roughly one minute in length. Each song should feel good to sing, tell a story you love to tell, and play to your strengths as a performer.

Just Breathe!

• Faculty Rebecca Karpoff

• Syracuse University

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 morning 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 afternoon 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

It’s Time To Start Preparing!

• Faculty Kevin Ramsey

• Hartt

Please check back soon for the full Class Description and What To Prepare

WHAT TO PREPARE

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 they will present during the workshop

• A soundtrack recording of their song

• Headphones 

•  Paper and Pen

Emotional Truth In Your Material

• Faculty Gary Kline

• Carnegie Mellon University

EMOTIONAL TRUTH IN YOUR MATERIAL

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.

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.

What To Do When You Doubt Your Ability - The Imposter Syndrome

• Faculty Kaitlin Hopkins

• Texas State UnIversity

Ever feel insecure because of self-doubt, perfectionism or constant comparison to other people? The Impostor Syndrome is a pervasive feeling of self-doubt, insecurity, or fraudulence despite often overwhelming evidence to the contrary. It strikes smart, successful individuals. It often rears its head after an especially notable accomplishment, like admission to a prestigious university, public acclaim, winning an award, or earning a promotion.  Imposter Syndrome is very real and can be negatively impact our mental, physical and emotional health. This lecture, and discussion based class is focused on identifying your own negative self-talk and offers solutions on what to do when you doubt your ability and the Imposture Syndrome pays you a visit.

Mojah-Fusion Dance Experience

• Faculty Kirkora Franklin

• Penn State University

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

• Baldwin Wallace

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

• CMU

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.