[Over
the past few years I’ve collected several articles, all from Allegro, that report on programs for children
interested in musical theater. (Allegro
is the member magazine of Local 802 of
the American Federation of Musicians, the union that represents, among other
instrumental artists, the musicians who play in theater pit orchestras.) As regular readers of ROT know, theater education (as well as the
arts in schools) is one of my most cherished causes; I have published articles,
both by my own hand and borrowed from others, on this topic on this blog many
times (see, for example, “Degrading the Arts,” 13
August 2009)—and
I’ll likely continue to do so as long at I put out ROT.
Obviously I encourage readers to support these efforts or those like
them—and there are similar programs for theater, both musical and non-musical,
in locales all over the country, some aimed at young artists and other at young
audiences—but as far as ROT is
concerned for now, it’s enough to learn about them and hear what they’re up
to. So, in that light, here’s a
collection of articles about teaching kids to become Broadway Babies. ~Rick]
“POSTCARDS FROM
BROADWAY BOOT CAMP”
by Bettina Covo
The good old
summertime: economies sinking, governments defaulting, prices rising, job
markets shrinking, orchestras struggling, sweltering heat – and this year, an
earthquake and a hurricane! Perhaps it was a summer many of us would prefer to
forget.
But for eight
lucky kids, it was a summer they will always remember. They got to spend one
glorious week in August at Broadway Boot Camp, hosted this year by Local 802.
The camp is a
yearly summer program presented by Inside Broadway, the professional New York
City-based children’s theatre company.
For five
wonderful days, these children got to experience, first-hand, what it takes to
put together a Broadway-style showcase.
Under the
creative tutelage of program director Katie McAllister and teaching artist
Abigail Jones, the kids – ranging in age from 10 to 15 – each learned a new
Broadway song that challenged their vocal abilities, a monologue that taught
them the subtleties of comedy, and a rather complicated group dance number they
had to learn in just two hours. It was an intensive marathon of song, dance and
drama.
Local 802 was
proud and pleased to host the program. Michael Presser, executive director of
Inside Broadway, had approached the union to see if we might donate our
facilities three hours each day, culminating in a final show in the Club Room
for a small audience of friends and family.
The officers and
Executive Board members gave a unanimous thumbs-up to the request, which
provided the kids a unique opportunity to rehearse and perform in the heart of
the Theatre District.
Acting as liaison
between 802 and the Inside Broadway team, I sat in on their last day of
rehearsal in Room B. As I spoke to the group, I found myself talking about 802
and the challenges facing musicians on Broadway and how it’s all about
"keeping it live." The kids told me how thrilled they were to be at
802 where they had the chance to sneak into the Club Room each day to hear
different bands rehearsing and watch professional musicians in action. Their
response was a resounding: "It was awesome!"
The campers’
final performance was attended by President Tino Gagliardi and Recording Vice
President John O’Connor. Tino gave some fantastic opening remarks. The show was
great and the kids had a blast.
Of equal
significance was the fact that 35 proud friends and family members enjoyed the
fruits of their labors while they sat in the union’s Club Room for the first
time. They heard our president speak about live performance and the importance
of the union to music and musicians. They witnessed their children’s
accomplishments and were deeply appreciative that 802 gave these kids the
opportunity to be part of a professional musical organization.
As chair of the
union’s Education Subcommittee, it was particularly rewarding for me to see
Local 802 host Broadway Boot Camp. Six of the eight participating children play
an instrument and are part of a school band or orchestra. These are our future
members, and now they can say that they’ve performed live theatre with a live
pianist in the Local 802 building, the home of live music.
Hopefully, we can
host next year’s camp and continue to educate children and their families about
the importance of live music, while helping the folks at Inside Broadway teach
and nurture the talents of these kids.
More importantly,
it is my hope that we will continue to pass down the great tradition of musical
theater and enable children to have fun and bask in the pure joy of live
performance.
Now, I’d say that
was a great summer!
[Bettina Covo is
a songwriter, composer, and singer, and a member of the Local 802 Executive
Board and the chair of the union’s Education Subcommittee. This and the following story originally appeared in the October 2011 issue
of Allegro (volume 111, number
10).
[Broadway Boot Camp is a
program for young people from Inside Broadway, a children’s theater company
based in New York City which dedicates itself to the musical theater. Inside Broadway (http://insidebroadway.org) has many other programs, including some directed at older theatergoers
and some that run in schools.]
* * * *
“‘I KNOW IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE’”
by B. J. Gandolfo
Live music was an
essential ingredient of Broadway Boot Camp. Local 802 member B.J. Gandolfo
volunteered her time to play piano for the kids. She rehearsed and coached them
in their songs and then accompanied them in the Friday showcase. She told
Allegro why she said yes to this job.
When program
director Katie McAllister asked me to come in and accompany their boot camp,
working with her and Abigail Jones, I was very happy to do it.
As teaching
artists, Katie and Abby not only know how to teach these kids all the aspects
of being singing-and-dancing performers but they also make it fun and exciting.
This year, the
students had some challenging songs to prepare. Some had key changes, tempo
changes, or stretched their vocal ranges, but all the students worked hard on
their music. With only a week to learn their songs, monologues and
choreography, they did really well when it came time to perform them.
All of this was
able to happen because Local 802 donated the space – for an entire week – in
which the kids rehearsed and performed.
I am grateful to
802 for making that possible. I know it has made a difference to these young
performers who will one day be facing the fights we face now. They will always
value the summer when they performed with a live piano on the stage at Local
802.
[B. J.
Gandolfo, a pianist, is a teaching artist with Inside Broadway and a member of
Local 802.]
* *
* *
“BEHIND THE CURTAIN”
by Bettina Covo
Kids get a taste of the magic of Broadway, thanks to innovative program
When kids get to hear live music, something magical happens.
Twice a year, Inside Broadway brings children from various New York public
schools to a Broadway production where they are given a once-in-a-lifetime
experience – a behind-the-scenes peek at the inner workings of a Broadway show.
The program is called “Creating the Magic,” and I recently had the great
pleasure of attending the latest production.
Inside Broadway is a not-for-profit organization whose
self-stated mission is to “pass down the rich legacy of America’s musical
theatre to future generations so that the magic, music, and universal themes of
the genre are not lost, but rediscovered and made relevant for today’s youth.”
Creating the Magic is one of the many Inside Broadway programs designed to educate
schoolchildren about the importance and marvel of live performance on the Great
White Way. Executive Director Michael Presser acts as the M.C. for the shows,
which are produced by Nick Sala, associate producer and company manager.
The show chosen for this event was the current revival of
“Annie” at the Palace Theatre. The show appeals to kids of all ages, with
larger-than-life characters and classic songs like “Tomorrow” and “It’s a Hard
Knock Life.”
Close to 3,000 children from 25 public schools filled the
theatre for both morning and afternoon shows. The excitement was palpable. When
Michael Presser came out on stage to introduce the production, the roar of
applause was deafening. But once the kids settled down, they were glued to
their seats with rapt attention as they watched each demonstration and musical
number.
The presentation was a seamless, tightly-produced 75 minutes
of performances and fun-filled information that began with a brief history of
the Palace Theatre. Throughout the show, representatives of the various
Broadway unions were invited on stage to speak to the kids about their
particular relationship to the show’s production. Presser, as well as the
entire staff at Inside Broadway, are staunch union supporters. It is an
important component of all their presentations – educating the next generation
of children about the role of the theatrical unions, which help create the
magic of live theatre.
Local 802 was proudly represented by Recording Vice
President John O’Connor, who spoke at the morning show, and Financial Vice
President Tom Olcott at the afternoon performance. Each addressed the audience
about the importance of Local 802 and keeping the music live, as well as the
wonderful efforts of Inside Broadway. They were perfect ambassadors for Local
802.
Cast members Ashley Blanchet (Lily), Jeremy Davis (Rooster),
Merwin Foard (Daddy Warbucks), Liz McCartney (Miss Hannigan), Taylor Richardson
(Annie) – plus “Sandy,” played by Mickey, a ten-year-old rescue dog – performed
four numbers from the show. Michael Presser interviewed the actors (and of
course the dog trainer, Dustin Harder) about their theatre backgrounds,
allowing the audience an intimate glimpse into the lives of these thespians. At
the end of the show, the kids asked questions directly to the actors, musicians
and technicians – a priceless opportunity.
Peter Lawrence, the show’s production supervisor,
demonstrated the innovative technology behind the sets and lighting as well as
the sound and props. It was quite fascinating.
For both programs, the regular orchestra of 17 musicians was
pared down to a rhythm section of Aaron Jodoin (piano), Dave Kuhn (bass) and
Eric Poland (drums). The band was led by Associate Conductor Joey Chancey, who
came on stage and addressed the kids directly. This was something that had been
done only once before in the history of these programs, and it was much
appreciated. It was refreshing to see the otherwise unknown and unseen
conductor of a Broadway pit up on stage sharing the spotlight with the actors.
Chancey introduced the band as each musician played a few
bars on their instrument. He then spoke briefly about the important role of the
music director and described the missing orchestra instrument by instrument. It
was short, to-the-point and informative and Chancey said he was thrilled to
contribute to the event. “It was so exciting to be a part of what I know will
be such a profound experience in so many kids’ lives,” he told Allegro.
The Creating the Magic events allow these children a rare
opportunity to learn about the complexity of producing a Broadway show from the
people who create it night after night. For many of these kids, this is their
first time in a Broadway theatre. That alone is a powerful experience.
Michael Presser and the creative staff of Inside Broadway
work hard to ensure the children have an enjoyable as well as educational
experience where they learn about the organic process of live theatre. Like the
moment in “The Wizard of Oz,” when Dorothy courageously reveals the man behind
the curtain, these children learn that Broadway is about individual people –
with their union behind them – working together to create the magic.
[This article appeared in Allegro in June
2013 (volume 113, number 6).]
* *
* *
“BROADWAY BOUND”
by Bettina Covo
Kids learn the magic of live music at a summer theatre camp
Kids whose dream is
to perform on Broadway have their own special camp every summer. Since 2010,
Local 802 has hosted Inside Broadway’s Broadway Boot Camp. This year, the week-long
camp – provided free of charge to the participants – arrived with some exciting
changes for the attendees as this wonderful summer program develops and
expands.
Executive Director
Michael Presser and Program Director Katie McAllister have dreamed up a new
name for the camp: Summer Stock Jr. Along with the new brand came some
interesting changes in the program’s format.
Unlike earlier
summers where each child would perform a solo song and monologue, this year
students performed a half-hour show complete with five big production numbers
that involved the entire cast.
The theme was
melodrama. “Everything Old is New Again” – written, directed and choreographed
by Inside Broadway’s teaching artist, Abigail Jones – included some tried and
true melodramatic characters: the evil villain and her two cohorts who conspire
to take over the town; the absent-minded “grandpa” who lives in the bygone days
of vaudeville; the young hero and heroine who save the day; the double agent
who infiltrates the show as an informant for the evil mayor; the frustrated
director and choreographer who despite all odds, manage to pull off the show;
the town diva; and, last but not least, the narrator of the entire show,
replete with cue cards (boo, applause, etc.) to insure exuberant audience
participation – of which there was plenty.
The student actors
had their work cut out for them. The show involved extensive character work,
singing, dancing, movement, improv and – in true melodramatic style – a lot of
mugging for the audience. The entire show – including the five production
numbers – had to be learned and perfected in the four short days leading up to
Friday’s performance for family and friends in the Local 802 Club Room.
This year, I had the
opportunity to witness the daily progress of the show (and participate as the
audience, providing those crucial “boos” when prompted). It was fascinating to
watch Katie and Abigail work with the students, critiquing and encouraging
their talents, all while trying to create a cohesive show under very stringent
time constraints.
For the first three
days of Summer Stock Jr., students practiced their musical numbers to
pre-recorded tracks. Then, the magic of live music arrived on Thursday when
Local 802 member and pianist BJ Gandolfo arrived on the scene to play for the
dress rehersal. Acting as musical director, BJ worked with the children,
addressing individual vocal issues and pitch problems as well as the overall
shape and quality of the musical numbers. After that, Abigail ran the entire
show for the first time with BJ playing live.
The difference with
live music was startling. It felt like someone turned the lights on. The kids
came alive. Hesitant acting became boldly melodramatic. The dancing kicked. The
songs popped. Melodrama abounded! Abigail had the freedom to change tempos and
alter aspects of the show that were impossible to do using tracks. Everything
flowed and moved. This could only happen with live music.
Ultimately, all the
hard work and practice paid off. The show was wonderful. From start to finish,
the students were visibly comfortable on stage hamming it up as BJ added just
the right amount of comedic underscoring. The appropriate “boos” and “hurrays”
– courtesy of our narrator – filled the club room as the actors successfully
engaged the audience.
I spoke with two of
the students about their camp experience. Melissa Fishman, 13, who played one
of the villainous cohorts, has returned to the Inside Broadway summer camp for
three consecutive years. Melissa plays the flute, piccolo, clarinet and
saxophone. She excitedly told me, “I want to become a professional musician and
join Local 802 as soon as I can.” Summer Stock Jr. has had a profound effect on
Melissa, particularly being at Local 802. As she put it: “I want to teach the
next generation of musicians all about the importance of live music.”
Ryan O’Connor, who
played the role of narrator, is another 13 year-old returnee to Inside
Broadway’s summer camp. Whether it’s performing on stage or working as a stage
manager back stage, Ryan is interested in a career in the theatre. Ryan
confessed to me, “After doing Summer Stock Jr., I am more confident. Performing
in front of an audience is still scary, but it’s getting better every time I do
it.”
When asked about
performing with living, breathing musicians, Ryan explained, “Performing with
live musicians is an important experience for me because something new happens
every time I’m on stage. There is a sense of collaboration and flexibility that
brings whatever I’m doing more to life.”
Through the combined
efforts of Inside Broadway and their talented staff members Katie McAllister
and Abigail Jones, together with Local 802, these fortunate children were given
the unique opportunity to learn, rehearse and perform live musical theatre in
the heart of the theatre district, in the home of live music: Local 802!
[The
article above was originally published in the October 2013 issue of Allegro (volume 113, number 9).]
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