Easton, PA (PRWEB) April 04, 2014
Easton’s own Andante Studio is bringing some of the Big Apple to the Lehigh Valley, offering a Musical Theater Workshop with Broadway Music Director Charity Wicks July 10-12 in the Easton Public Library Meeting Room. The workshop intensive will focus on repertoire and audition preparation within musical theatre.
“Having worked with Colette and Scott over the years, I know that whatever they offer, it will be high quality,” said Wicks, when asked about joining the workshop. “Bringing new ideas to young talents who love musical theatre is something that I love to do, and I am very excited to work and explore this summer in such a beautiful and historic place.”
The first two days will be spent with Andante instructors, Colette Boudreaux and Scott Joiner, developing a song through character, musicality, score interpretation, stage presence and audience connection. In addition, attendees will work on acting exercises and character development. The final day will be spent working on music with Wicks, who will outline what is expected at Broadway auditions and identify ways to stand out in a crowd. The goal of the workshop is for each participant to leave with a polished piece, ready for any audition- be it for Broadway, community theater, or the musical at school.
Both Boudreaux and Joiner have master’s degrees in vocal performance, and Wicks has a doctor of musical arts, all from the prestigious conservatory, Manhattan School of Music.
“We were fortunate to meet Charity when we were at graduate school together. Our mutual respect for each other as artists has grown into a wonderful friendship, and we are lucky her schedule allowed her to join our studio’s workshop,” said Boudreaux.
Wicks is a highly sought after music director and collaborator, having worked as conductor and pianist with several Broadway musicals. She has played at Broadway’s WICKED, BIG FISH and NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, and was the associate conductor of the National Tour of BILLY ELLIOT. She was conductor/keyboards of SPRING AWAKENING on Broadway (with Lea Michelle of Glee), and also with the First National Tour for the final months, as well as a rehearsal pianist for IN THE HEIGHTS in NYC. She is frequently involved with new musicals, having music directed new shows at Goodspeed in CT, the York Theatre Company in NYC, and for the New York Music Theatre Festival (NYMF), as well as many graduate projects in NYU's Graduate Musical Theatre Writing program.
Colette Boudreaux has performed with The American Musical Theatre Ensemble. She made her Carnegie Hall debut with Opera Orchestra New York in 2007. She was a featured soloist under Tony & Emmy Award-winning director George Faison at the Faison Firehouse Theatre in NYC, and provided vocals for the feature film, SOL. She has appeared in SHE LOVES ME with the Cleveland Lyric Opera and in the SOUND OF MUSIC with Asheville Lyric Opera, a show she also choreographed. Just prior to the workshop, she will appear with St. Petersburg Opera in their production of WEST SIDE STORY, acting as dance captain, as well. Boudreaux also maintains an active and competitive operatic career.
Joiner has worked closely with WICKED composer Steven Schwartz, Broadway composer John Bucchino and American Music Theater Festival founder, Eric Salzman. He studied acting at NYC's Michael Howard Studios and has performed with opera companies, orchestras and in concert around the world, including NYC, Europe and Asia. Also a classical and jazz pianist, he has performed at Chez Josephine on 42nd Street, the Essex House on Central Park South and the State Theater of Tennessee among many other venues across the U.S.
So the instructors may provide ample individualized attention, enrollment is VERY limited. Visit the studio website or call to register and find out about other summer offerings. For more information about Andante Studio, go to http://www.andantevoicestudio.com. Boudreaux and Joiner may be reached at 610-751-4219, or at andantevoicestudio(at)gmail(dot)com.