Musical Theater Intensive
Do you dream of taking the stage in a musical production? You can hone your theater chops with professional-level musical performance training in this six-day course, culminating in a final showcase. The week is filled with core classes and electives, Q&A sessions with visiting musical theater artists, and a rigorous rehearsal schedule.
2018 Visiting Artists: Christy Altomare, Khiyon Hursey, Kirsten Childs, Kait Kerrigan, Eric Stern, and Brian and Dayna Lee
- This program has limited space and has reached capacity. We are not accepting additional registrations at this time. In-process registrants who have not paid in full have been placed on a waitlist and will be notified if a spot becomes available.
2018 Program Information
| Program length: | Six days |
| Program dates: | Sunday, August 12–Friday, August 17, 2018 |
| Registration fee: | $50* |
| Tuition: | $1,265 |
| Housing: | $875 |
| Housing prepayment: | $100* |
| Move in starting: | Sunday, August 12 at 11:00 a.m. |
| Move out by: | Friday, August 17 at 7:00 p.m. |
| Age range: | 15 years and older |
*Nonrefundable and nontransferable. Program information subject to change.
As a student in the Musical Theater Intensive program, you are expected to bring the following items:
- Dance/jazz shoes for an indoor dance floor
- Tap shoes if choosing a tap elective
- All-black clothes and shoes
- Clothes for class and rehearsal
- 8" x 11" notebook, folder, pencil, eraser, black sharpie, and highlighter
- Refillable water bottle
- Towel
- Hair ties, clips, or pins (hair must be kept out of eyes)
- Tape recorder or phone recording app
- Acoustic instrument (optional)
You are permitted to bring laptops, computers, tablets, etc., although it is not required. Wireless internet and electrical outlet plugs are provided throughout the campus. Please keep in mind that it is your responsibility to keep your items safe. Berklee is not responsible for the loss of these items.
Two 16- to 32-Bar Selections
Select two pieces of music demonstrating your ability to act and sing. We ask that you have cut and clearly marked sheet music ready to supply an accompanist, typically 16 bars but no longer than 32 bars in length. You may also bring full-length versions in case there is time in a master class to perform the entire song. If you are inexperienced in preparing vocal selections, we recommend “Happy Birthday” as a great solution in a pinch.
Video Placement Audition
Your placement for the program will be based on one or two video links you prepare in advance. Because our program is so short, faculty may use your video audition to help assign your role in their ensemble or to recommend you for master classes with visiting artists. Once fully registered for the program, you will receive a request for the link(s) to your video(s). Musical theater repertoire is ideal, but any style is welcome. We prefer a new video of you singing with or without piano accompaniment. You may also post a link of an existing online video that features you singing solo. Professional video quality not required, but your performance should demonstrate your personal best.
Class Placement
Once you're registered for the program, you will receive a survey a few weeks in advance of attending, which will better determine your placement and schedule.
General Attire
- For classes and rehearsal: Wear dance or activewear, and bring socks, tennis shoes/Toms, and any dance shoes, including character heels, that you already own. You may be rolling around or lying on the ground, stretching upside down, and moving in unexpected ways, so wear clothes that will stay in place and give you complete range of motion. Don't wear jeans (not even jeggings), sandals, flip-flops, or other footwear that could fly off. Bring hair accessories if needed to keep your hair secure and away from your face. You will get sweaty. Consider two sets of clothes for the day, a towel, and deodorant. Wear what you might wear for yoga or martial arts practice. Your teachers will inform you if your attire is inappropriate for the activity.
- For performance: Bring a variety of black clothing and black socks, tights, and shoes. Additionally your practice audition outfit may also be used for performance, depending on your ensemble director's preferences. If you wear makeup on stage or in life, bring that as well. Stage lighting tends to wash faces out.
- For the practice audition: As teens, for general auditions you'll want to wear something that makes you look your best and feel confident, and shows off your personality. Wear clothes that fit you well with no rips, holes, or visible logos. Your shoes should be clean and in good condition. You may not wear hats, but you may wear any other accessories that suit the outfit. Your hair should be out of your face to see your eyes and expressions clearly. If you wear makeup, don't wear any more than you typically would. Your outfit could be as dressed down as jeans and a nicely fitting tee-shirt with sneakers or boots, or more dressed up with a button-down shirt, dress shoes, or heels. Ultimately, wear something that you feel good in that makes you look good, too.
Please note that the classes, ensembles, and electives are subject to change.
Core Classes
- Voice
- Dance and Movement for the Stage
- Acting Technique
Audition Technique: Find out how to nail your next audition by learning the do's and don’ts of audition etiquette. Bring your own sheet music of two contrasting selections (ideally 16–32 bars each) in the correct key; headshots and resumés are welcome, but not required.
Ensembles
Ensembles should be requested by students, who should list them in order of preference. Students will be assigned one of their top three choices.
Golden Age of Movie Musicals Ensemble: Featuring lyrics by Dorothy Fields, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green, this ensemble is led by director and choreographer Kristin Holland Bohr and music director William Eastland.
Jeanine Tesori Ensemble: Students perform songs by the composer of Violet, Shrek, Fun Home, and Caroline, or Change, led by director and choreographer Larry Sousa and Ned Rosenblatt.
Khiyon Hursey Ensemble: Students will perform songs written and directed by composer and lyricist Khiyon Hursey.
Kerrigan and Lowdermilk Ensemble: Featuring songs by Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk, this ensemble is directed by Brandon Green, with musical direction by Seulah Noh.
Nell Benjamin and Larry O'Keefe Ensemble: Feauring song from Mean Girls, Heathers, and Legally Blonde, this ensemble is led by director and choreographer Carla Martinez and music director Travis Frank.
Original Student-Written Musical Ensemble: Students collaborate to write and perform a musical from scratch, guided by Caitlin Gjerdrum and Chris Cho.
Elective Workshops
Students should request their top six electives in order of preference. Students will be assigned three of their top six preferences.
Acting through Song: Practice what William Eastland calls "the juggling act": balancing concentration on your character’s objective without getting distracted by vocal challenges in musical theater, opera, and contemporary styles. A discussion will be followed by coaching of several student volunteers. Please bring your own sheet music in the correct key if you would like an opportunity to perform and receive feedback. You may also choose to learn through observation. Please see Getting the Most out of a Master Class.
Healthy Belting Workshop: Kevin Wilson, director of vocal pedagogy and voice instructor at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, will present a workshop addressing the question, “What is belting, and how do I do it?” Subtopics will include understanding register, mixing, belting, vocal health, and exercises to help keep your voice healthy and singing for a lifetime. Wilson’s students have gone on to Broadway in Beautiful, Kinky Boots, Mamma Mia, and more.
Contemporary Musical Theater: Khiyon Hursey discusses the shift from traditional musical theater to pop-based scores such as American Psycho, Waitress, On Your Feet, The Color Purple, School of Rock, Dear Evan Hansen, and of course, Hamilton. What does this mean for theater professionals, from writers to performers? If you bring a contemporary theater song, a few students will have a chance to perform and receive feedback. You may also choose to learn through observation. Please see Getting the Most out of a Master Class.
Choreography Workshop: Get inside the mind of award-winning director, choreographer, and Conservatory faculty member Larry Sousa as he offers insights, inspiration, and tricks of the trade for creating effective musical theater choreography.
A Director Prepares: Coached by Caitlin Gjerdrum, students will direct each other in short scenes performed in class. Materials will be provided in advance to practice preparing ideas ahead of time and modifying them based on collaboration.
Hamilton, Deconstructed: The brilliant lyrics, score, and storytelling of Hamilton make it a genre-breaking, game-changing musical. All elements will be dissected by Khiyon Hursey, who worked as the show’s music assistant from off-Broadway to Broadway to the recording studio. Hear Lin-Manuel Miranda’s early demos, and trace their development to the final product.
Performing Hip-Hop in Musical Theater, or How to Survive as an Actor in a Post-Hamilton World: This is an exciting opportunity to get coached on your rap skills by Khiyon Hursey, music assistant for Broadway’s Hamilton. Bring in a rap selection from a musical or even a mainstream rap song. You may also choose to learn through observation. Please see Getting the Most out of a Master Class.
Hip-Hop Dance for the Musical Theater Performer: Heather Myers presents some moves to increase your hip-hop dance vocabulary. This workshop is open to all levels. You can view of sample of Myers's choreography here.
Master Class with Christy Altomare: The originator and star of Broadway’s Anastasia, Christy Altomare will address the entire program with a clinic and master class, and continue to give a smaller master class to a select group of students in this additional elective. An accompanist will be provided, so bring your own sheet music in the correct key if you would like an opportunity to perform and receive feedback. You may also choose to learn through observation. Please see Getting the Most out of a Master Class.
Master Class with Eric Stern: A veteran Broadway conductor, arranger, and music supervisor with 19 Broadway musicals to his credit (e.g., Shrek, Xanadu, Follies, Parade, and Candide), Eric Stern has worked with artists such as Barbara Cook, Audra McDonald, and Mandy Patinkin. In this small master class, Stern will coach a select group of students, providing his unique perspective from decades “in the pit.” An accompanist will be provided, so please bring your own sheet music in the correct key if you would like an opportunity to perform and receive feedback. You may also choose to learn through observation. Please see Getting the Most out of a Master Class.
Master Class with Kirsten Childs: A Broadway performer and award-winning author of the book, music, and lyrics for The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin and Bella: An American Tall Tale, Kirsten Childs will provide her unique perspective as a performer-turned-author. An accompanist will be provided, so please bring your own sheet music in the correct key if you would like an opportunity to perform and receive feedback. You may also choose to learn through observation. Please see Getting the Most out of a Master Class.
Monologue Workshop: Whether on stage or at an audition, performing a monologue demands deep character work and text analysis. Bring in a monologue to perform, ideally memorized, and get pointers on your interpretation. For those without prior material or experience, Brandon Green will provide a few options.
Race in the American Musical Theater: Khiyon Hursey and Caitlin Gjerdrum will examine the intersection of race and musical theater. This will include an exploration of the stories being told on Broadway today and a discussion of how to create a more inclusive musical theater culture that is representative of the world today.
Stage Combat: Learn the fundamentals of an art that dates back centuries and how to simulate fights onstage while escaping without a scratch. Brandon Green will get you started on skills that could come in handy for shows from West Side Story to Heathers: The Musical.
Tap Dancing, Level One: Tap dancing is both a longstanding tradition and a style that continues to thrive on innovation, such as in Savion Glover’s choreography for Broadway’s Shuffle Along. Kristin Holland Bohr will teach you some basics as well as a short routine. Tap shoes are required, so please only choose this elective if you can bring tap shoes.
Tap Dancing, Level Two: This is an opportunity to develop and finesse a more advanced vocabulary of tap dance, taught by Kristin Holland Bohr. Please only choose this elective if you already are able to execute triple-time steps.
Unlocking Your Voice with Kait Kerrigan: In this intimate workshop on unlocking your creativity as an artist, you will gain tools to find and express what you have to say, to make something on your own, and to take control of your destiny as a performer. Author and lyricist for the musical The Mad Ones, Kait Kerrigan won the Kleban Award for libretto writing and has released dozens of recordings with songwriting partner Brian Lowdermilk.
Writing an Original Musical: Have you ever wanted to write a song or a play, or maybe you already have? Led by Caitlin Gjerdrum, this elective will give you the opportunity to gain some theatrical writing tools and a deeper appreciation for the craft. This elective may be taken independently or in addition to the Original Student-Written Musical Ensemble.
Please note: The following schedule and course descriptions are only a sample and are subject to change. You will receive personalized schedules on the first day of the program.
| 8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. | Choir Rehearsal |
| 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Core Curriculum: Dance, Voice, Acting |
| 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Master Class |
| 3:30 p.m.–3:45 p.m. | Break |
| 3:45 p.m.–4:45 p.m. | Elective |
| 4:45 p.m.–5:00 p.m. | Break |
| 5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. | Ensemble Rehearsal |
| 6:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. | Dinner |
| 7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. | Ensemble Rehearsal |
| 9:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. | Free Time |
| 10:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m. | Return to Dorms for Curfew |
Directors
- Michael Wartofsky, Program Director
- Kevin Bleau, Assistant Director
Faculty subject to change
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