Young Performers Workshop

Musical Theatre Training Program (Ages 8 - 18)

NEW! 2020 Summer ON-LINE Theatre intensive offering digital workshops in music, theatre and dance taught by industry professionals.

​

This 5-week* online program has been designed to meet the needs of beginning, intermediate and advanced performers interested in working in the theatre. The program includes the production of a virtual Cabaret under the musical direction of two time Richard Rogers Award winning composer Douglas J Cohen. The workshop director is Broadway, film and TV veteran Michael Blevins.

Once registered, students are guaranteed to be a part of the virtual Cabaret production. In addition there will be other virtual presentations during the Performance Week. Classes are broken up by age and ability. No experience is necessary, however, applicants must complete an interview/audition for acceptance. Class size is small and there will be much one on one instruction.

​

SUMMER ONLINE CLASSES:
(All classes subject to change, are dependent upon availability and will be determined by program director)

• Box Office

• Cabaret

• Composition

• Dance for Film

• Found Object Puppetry

• History of Tap

• Improv

• Irish Dance

• Modeling

• Modern Dance

• Monologue Workshop

• Music Theory

• One - Act Plays

• Playwriting for Radio

• Prop Making 

• Readers Theatre

• Resume Preparation

• Retro Radio

• Shakespeare

• Social Media Marketing

• Stage Make-up

• Tap

• Theatre Dance

• Voice

ABOUT THE SUMMER ON-LINE CLASSES:

BOX OFFICE The Box Office class introduces students to the workings of a theatre Box Office. (Pulido, Chirip, Callahan)

CABARET Students learn how to choose material that is appropriate for them and will show them off at their best. The class culminates in a virtual Zoom Cabaret presentation for family and friends. (Cohen)

COMPOSITION This class introduces students to songwriting and musical composition. (Cohen)

DANCE FOR FILM Participants in this workshop conceptualize, choreograph, plan/design, shoot, and edit dance films. (Antolini-Lid)

HISTORY OF TAP This class introduces students to the origins and beginnings of Tap Dance.  (Pulido)

IMPROV You will work with a virtual ensemble, connect to the group mind and work spontaneously in the moment. There is no script (Blevins, Williams)

IRISH DANCE The class will feature traditional Irish Step Dance training. (Pulido)

MODELING Learn the same modeling techniques used by today's top fashion models: helping you to pick clothes that flatter you and providing make-up and styling pointers. (Williams)

MODERN DANCE An introductory course to Modern Dance based on the principles of the Lynn Simonson Technique. (Antolini-Lid)

MONOLOGUE WORKSHOP This course guides students in writing, finding and performing the monologue that will get you the part! The basics of writing a monologue for auditions or performance will be covered and explored. (Peitrowski)

ONE-ACT PLAY PRODUCTION This performance based class will culminate  in the presentation of a one-act play broadcast over a virtual online streaming venue. (Blevins)

PROP MAKING WITH FOUND OBJECTS This  class will feature the construction and creation of practical props from “found objects”. (Constance)

FOUND OBJECT PUPPETRY This course uncovers what puppets are and how they can be used from things that are readily available. Students will host an entertaining final performance presentation. (Constance)

RADIO PLAY WRITING The goal of this class will be for students to construct, write and complete a short radio play that will be presented. (Peitrowski)

READERS THEATRE This course presents the student with an interpretive activity in which readers use their voices to bring characters to life. (Blevins)

RESUME PREPARATION The actor’s resume coupled with their headshot is the calling card you take to an audition. This workshop will answer questions like: What does and does not go on a resume? (Blevins)

RETRO RADIO This course allows participants to live the golden age of radio today! The original authentic scripts/programs will be performed during the Performance Week.

SHAKESPEARE This course provides an introductory study to Shakespeare and a look at some of his major plays and sonnets. The class may culminate in the presentation of some abridged work of The Bard. (Davis)

STAGE MAKE-UP An introduction to practical makeup design principles and application techniques. There will also be focus on specialty make such has Zombie Makeup, horror makeup and/or injury effects such as cuts, and bruises. (Davis)

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING Learn social media marketing fundamentals including the latest strategies form the experts. (Pulido)

TAP DANCE Tap is a style of The online course features one-on-one, private instruction for absolute beginners through advanced professional level dancers. (Blevins)

THEATRE DANCE The Theatre Dance workshop is sure to capture the heart of anyone interested in the performing arts.. (Blevins)

VOICE Vocal technique will be reinforced through breathing and vocal exercises tailored to each individual student’s needs. Classical musical theatre material will also be required for the development of strong technique. (Antolini-Lid, Wehrhahn)

Meet the Staff:

Michael Blevins 

Program Director

Michael Blevins is an accomplished Director / Choreographer having choreographed the Off-Broadway production of "The Mad Forest" for the Manhattan Theatre Club.  He has directed and choreographed the National Tours of "Babes in Toyland", "Aladdin", and "Tom Sawyer" for the American Family Theatre.

He has worked with many Tony and Academy Award winning Directors and Choreographers including Sir Richard Attenborough, Joe Layton, Woody Allen, Vivian Matalon, Peter Gennaro, Danny Daniels, and Bob Fosse.  He has appeared in several Broadway productions including, "Bring Back Birdie", Neil Simon's "Little Me", and Tony Winning "Tap Dance Kid" in which he created the role of  "Winslow".  Major film roles include a cameo in "Zelig", and a supporting role in the screen biography of "Chaplin".  He is most widely known for his portrayal of Mark in the movie "A Chorus Line".

Douglas J. Cohen

Music Director

Teacher:  Eight years teaching Song Interpretation at the Neighborhood Playhouse and three summers at Jacob's Pillow.  Private vocal coach for the past 20 years.

​

Writer:  2010 Fred Ebb Award, two Richard Rodgers Awards and Drama Desk Award nominee for CHILDREN'S LETTERS TO GOD (Off-Broadway, Lamb's Theatre and over 150 productions worldwide).

Off-Broadway: THE EVOLUTION OF MANN (with collaborator Dan Elish @ The Cell Theatre); NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY (Hudson Guild Theatre and York Theatre Company, nearly 200 productions worldwide); THE GIG (MTC Stage 2, NAMT Festival (1994), five NYMF Awards); THE BIG TIME (book by Douglas Carter Beane, Drama Dept. workshop, NYMF 2005, recent McCarter Theatre concert starring Santino Fontana, Debbie Gravitte, Will Swenson, Laura Osnes, Jackie Hoffman), BOOZY (The Culture Project, directed by Alex Timbers). Doug also penned scores for THE OPPOSITE OF SEX (Williamstown Theatre Festival), GLIMMERGLASS (Goodspeed, 2000 NAMT Festival. With collaborator Cheryl Davis: BRIDGES (Richard Rodgers Finalist, Ignite Series@Times Center; Berkeley Playhouse) and BARNSTORMER (Jonathan Larson Grant for Lark Theatre; 2008 NAMT Festival).

Website: douglasjcohen.com

​

​

​

​

​

Trevor Callahan is a Technical Theater student at Sussex County Community College. Credits include: Shrek the Musical, All Shook Up, You Can't Take It With You and Footloose. Trevor has worked on tech crews for other shows and performed on live television in the 2015 Freddy Awards.

Kayla Chirip received a BA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Musical Theatre from Fairleigh Dickinson. While attending FDU, Kayla served as ASM and ensemble member of the original production of Henry's Law. FDU's credits include Urinetown (Ensemble/Dancer) and Merrily We Roll Along (Scotty/Mary u/s).

Danielle Constance has worked with CSC, Writers Theatre of NJ, Dreamcatcher Rep, NJ Rep, Luna Stage, The Growing Stage, Shadowland Stages, The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, Premiere Stages, Notre Dame & Ewing High Schools, and The NJ Governor’s School of the Arts. An adjunct professor at Centenary, Dani is a member of Actors’ Equity and the Stage Managers’ Association. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

. 

​

​

​

​

​​​​

Victoria Pulido is an alumnus of Centenary University & CU’s SPS, Victoria holds a BA in Theatre Arts: Dance and certification in Social Media Marketing. She is also a proud YPW alumni! Victoria has worked with The Walt Disney Company. Recent Credits: Beauty and the Beast, Jesus Christ Superstar, Annie and Hair.

Kevin Wehrhahn  is an alumnus with honors from Elon University, earning a BA in Arts Administration and a BA in the Liberal Arts, as well as minors in Theatre Arts and Political Science. Kevin is a proud alumni of YPW. He was the music director of Smooth Progressions A Cappella for three years. Recent credits include; Beauty and the Beast (The Beast), Jesus Christ Superstar, Peter and the Starcatcher, Aida, and Les Miserables.

Emily Williams is a professional actor, improver, model and teaching artist who holds her BFA in theater performance from Ohio University. She has appeared in CSC’s productions of Hitler’s Tasters, Dracula, and The Sunshine Boys.

Stephen Davis served as the CSC fight choreographer for Newsies, Peter Pan, Deathtrap, The Liar, Breakfast with Mugabe, Oliver!, and The Wizard of Oz. Stephen has a BFA in acting from the Theatre School at DePaul University, as well as an MFA in directing from USC. As Associate Professor of Theatre Arts at Centenary University..

Lea Antolini-Lid received her BMA in classical voice from the University of the Arts and her MFA in acting from Brandeis University. She has performed professionally in NYC and in cities on the east coast. Lea traveled to China with Nai - Ni Chen Dance to teach at Kunming University. She is also a founding member and managing director of the XY DANCE PROJECT.

John Pietrowski is currently earning his MFA in dramatic writing from Goddard College, where he is recipient of the Engaged Artist Fellowship. For 35 years, he was the Artistic Director of Writers Theatre of New Jersey, where he directed over 30 new plays. John is an AEA actor, most recent productions include roles at Shadowland Stages, NJRep, Dreamcatcher Rep, Writers Theatre of NJ, and InterAct Theatre in Philadelphia

Research studies point to strong relationships between learning in the arts and fundamental cognitive skills and capacities used to master other core subjects, including reading, writing, and mathematics. Studies show that kids grow up participating in the arts score higher on the SAT by an average of 51 points on verbal and 38 points on math!

ABOUT THE YOUNG PERFORMERS WORKSHOP

Young Performers Workshop is dedicated to the enrichment of young lives through experience in the theatre arts, and serves as a venue for cultivating young theatre performers between the ages of 8 and 18. The program is one of only a handful in the nation that offers both formal training and production experience for young people. Registration is open to any young person regardless of experience. However, prospective students must complete an interview/audition prior to acceptance into the program.

​

YPW is under the direction of Broadway, film and television veteran Michael Blevins, and students study technique in acting, voice, and dance with a staff of theatre professionals in a five-week summer session. YPW also offers a fall and spring session, conducted each Saturday throughout the academic year, which culminates in a festival of shows performed for regional audiences. The program is held on the campus of Centenary University in Hackettstown, New Jersey.

YOUNG PERFORMERS WORKSHOP SESSIONS

• The fall session begins in September, culminating with the "Winter Festival of Shows" in December.

• The spring session begins in February, culminating with the "Spring Festival of Shows" in May.

• The summer session is a five-week intensive program beginning in July culminating with the "Summer Festival of Shows" in August