The 2012
Musical Theatre
Institute
for Teens

A unique summer program for 13-19 year olds
culminating in a full production of a Broadway musical!

Session I: Parade
Session II:  Urinetown

 

Offered in two sessions.
(Please note: Students can audition to take part in both sessions.)

 

Session I

Parade
Book by Alfred Uhry
Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown

Directed by Deb Gottesman and Buzz Mauro

Mondays-Fridays, 9am-2pm
June 18-July 13
Performances, evenings July 12-14 + matinee July 14

Winner of the 2000 Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score, Parade is a wildly challenging musical based on the true story of the trial and lynching of Leo Frank, a Jewish man accused of murder in Atlanta in the early 1900s. With stunning music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown (Songs for a New World and The Last Five Years) and a powerful book by Alfred Uhry (Driving Miss Daisy), Parade takes an unflinching look at religious and race relations in the turn-of-the-century American South and provides a musical experience that is as thrilling as it is haunting. A rich cast of characters - from the murdered factory girl and her friends, to the janitor who served as a chief witness, to the Governor of Georgia - provide opportunities for strong actors and singers of all types, and an integral ensemble with many musical numbers ensures that all cast members will receive extensive training in character development, acting, singing, and stage movement.

 

 

Session II

Urinetown
Music by Mark Hollman
Lyrics by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis
Book by Greg Kotis

Directed by Delia Taylor and Brian Lilley


Mondays-Fridays, 9am-2pm
July 16-August 10
Performances, evenings August 9-11 + matinee August 11

Urinetown is a wicked comedy about corruption and greed. In a city that has suffered a 20-year drought, officials have banned private toilets to conserve water. Citizens are forced to use public restrooms regulated by an evil corporation that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. From the poverty-stricken masses emerges a love-struck hero who incites a revolution. Hailed by The New York Times as "a marvelously self-concious satire of the musical theatre's social conscience," Urinetown was nominated for an impressive ten Tony Awards in 2001 and took home the prize for best book, score, and direction. With a large cast of colorful characters, the play offers unparalleled singing and acting opportunities for students of all types and all levels of experience.

 

 

ABOUT THE MUSICAL THEATRE INSTITUTE

The Musical Theatre Institute for Teens is an intensive four-week training program in which participants rehearse and perform a full musical production under the guidance of the area’s most esteemed directors. The idea behind the institute is to enable young artists to explore challenging, socially relevant material from the contemporary musical theatre world as they receive the intensive voice, movement and acting training essential for professional-level performance. Past productions, including recent performances of Les Misérables, Sweeney Todd, The Secret Garden, and Side Show, have played to critical raves and sold-out houses.

The Musical Theatre Institute is designed to challenge young performers—both artistically and personally—while providing a supportive, caring environment in which to develop. Roles are open to experienced performers as well as those looking to build musical theatre skills.  While the emphasis is on performance, students will also receive training in a wide variety of musical theatre disciplines during the rehearsal process, including: vocal production, acting a song, proper breathing technique, movement, building a character, ensemble acting, and more.

All classes and rehearsals will be held Monday-Friday from 9am-2pm at The Theatre Lab in downtown DC. In addition, there will be evening performances the Thursday-Saturday of the last week of each session and a matinee on the final Saturday. There will be a final dress tech on the Wednesday evening before the Thursday opening; classes will begin at 9am on that Wednesday and students will be expected to stay with Program Directors until evening rehearsal time. On the opening night (Thursday), classes will begin at 9am and students will be expected to stay with Program Directors until evening performance time. On the second night of performance (Friday) there will be no classes; students will be expected to arrive at the theatre at 5pm for rehearsal and stay through performance time.

Classes, rehearsals and performances take place in our downtown home:
733 8th St NW, Washington DC 20001
(Gallery Place Metro - Red, Yellow and Green lines)

---

ARTISTIC DIRECTORS

	Buzz Mauro (Musical Director, Parade) is a founder and Co-Director of The Theatre Lab. He is also a professional actor and singer and a Helen Hayes Award nominee who has performed extensively with Signature Theatre (Assassins, Company, Forum) as well as at Ford’s Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre, Studio Theatre, and Woolly Mammoth, to name just a few. He has provided musical direction for numerous productions at The Theatre Lab including Ragtime, Les Misérables, Sweeney Todd and The Secret Garden. He received his B.A. from Yale University and has an M.F.A. in Acting from Catholic University. He has taught theatre courses at Catholic University and in Poland, and was a longtime faculty member of the Field School. Along with Deb Gottesman, he has received the Linowes Leadership Award recognizing the work of unsung heroes in the Washington community, and has co-authored three books on applied acting, all published by Penguin Putnam.
	Delia Taylor (Director, Urinetown) has many local theatre credits, including leading roles in Happy Days, Medea, Antony and Cleopatra, and Metamorphasis and directing Twelfth Night and The Taming of the Shrew for WSC Avant Bard. She is the Associate Producer for Theater J and there directed world premiers of There Are No Strangers and Sleeping Arrangements. She's been a frequent guest artist at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Indiana, where she directed The Women and Agnes of God and played the title roles in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and The House of Bernanda Alba. She is proud of her fifteen-year association with The Theatre Lab, which has given her the opportunity to work with students of all ages.
	Deb Gottesman (Director, Parade) is a founder and Co-Director of The Theatre Lab.  She is also a professional actress who has performed frequently at Woolly Mammoth Theatre (where she recently appeared in Current Nobody), Arena Stage, Signature Theatre, Source Theatre, Theatre Alliance, and with the Washington Shakespeare Company, among many others. She has directed more than fifteen productions at The Theatre Lab, including Ragtime, The Crucible, Grapes of Wrath and Once on This Island, as well as productions for National Geographic. Deb received her M.F.A. from Catholic University and has taught drama at the Round House Theatre, Woolly Mammoth and American University.  She is a 2003 recipient of the prestigious Linowes Leadership Award for her contributions to arts education and has also served as Director of Afterschool Activities for the Sidwell Friends Lower School. Along with Buzz Mauro, she has co-authored three books on applied acting, all published by Penguin Putnam.

---

ADMISSION

Admission to the Musical Theatre Institute for Teens is by application and audition.  Applicants will be accepted on the basis of their commitment to exploring the musical theatre craft, their willingness to collaborate in a group process of discovery with other young artists, and their ability to handle the demands of the musical score.

All applicants must complete a written essay expressing their interest in the program. Applicants must also prepare a musical theatre song for auditions that will be scheduled upon receipt of completed application.

Due to the limited nature of our enrollment, admission is competitive. You will be contacted shortly after we receive your application to schedule an audition.

 

TUITION

Tuition for each session the Musical Theatre Institute is $900.  Please note:  If you audition and are accepted into both Parade and Urinetown, your total tuition to participate in both programs will be $1500.

Partial financial aid is available through our Work Study program.  In addition, at least one full scholarship will be awarded annually through the Dena Kohn Memorial Scholarship Fund. (Criteria: exceptional community involvement and financial need.) 

 

Applications are now open.

Apply Online

or

Download Application to Mail

---

COMMENTS FROM THEATRE LAB PARTICIPANTS

"I have learned more in these four weeks than I have learned in a year in other places.”

"It was everything I expected and more. I expected to make lifelong friends and learn new things about the musical theatre craft. What I didn't expect was the catharsis I experienced. I felt I matured not only as a singer but as a person. I would love to do it again next year.”

"Everyone got the special teaching and attention that was needed."

"It’s seriously the highlight of my year. You'll be surprised how much you learn in four weeks. You meet new people around you that have similar interest, and gain knowledge that you use for years. And you work with professional actors that actually know what they are doing."

"The atmosphere of everybody was terrific, friendly and determined. I really loved being around people like that."

"I can honestly say that this is the most fun I have had in anything I have done."

 

---

WHAT MAKES THE MUSICAL THEATRE INSTITUTE UNIQUE?

An artistic team on their seventh consecutive production, committed to EXCELLENCE.

A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT in which to take risks and explore your own artistry.

Top-notch TRAINING that prepares you to work in any theatre setting—not just ours.

The FUN of working with peers who love theatre as much as you do.

 

---