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VIRTUAL KIDS COMPANY MASTER CLASS SERIES

VIRTUAL KIDS COMPANY MASTER CLASS SERIES

Aspiring young performers 7 years and older are invited to register for a series of 8 Master Classes taught over Zoom video chat by professional artists who have performed on the Goodspeed stage, in NYC, and around the country. The Kids Company Master Class Series will provide one-of-a-kind live, online instruction in various styles of musical theatre dance, acting, and vocal performance, in which students will learn new techniques, receive individualized feedback from our faculty, and hone their skills in a supportive environment.


REGISTRATION

Classes are limited to six or eight students per Master Class, depending on the format of the class. All classes will have a wait list once full, and additional class sessions may be added.

  • Registration Fee: $40 per student, per class
  • Upon registration, students will receive a link via email to join the class, along with further instructions for participation.

CLASSES

The Virtual Master Class Series will take place over Zoom, a popular video chat software program. Students will be sent a link via email to join the class and will be held in a virtual “waiting room” until the class time begins. Each Master Class will be monitored by a member of Goodspeed’s Education Staff. For more information about the virtual class format, as well as helpful tips to set students up for success, please read the Virtual Master Class Safety & Security Tips at the bottom of this page!

JULY 3, 2021

Acting the Song with EJ Zimmerman

Level A: ages 7-12 | 1:30pm-2:30pm 
Level B: ages 13-18 | 3:00pm-4:00pm

Singing is only half of a musical performance, and in this master class Ms. Zimmerman helps students transform into a character through lyric and musical analysis. Drawing on her background of playing rich and multi-dimensional characters such as Eponine in Les Miserables (Broadway), Nancy in Oliver! (Goodspeed), Christmas Eve in Avenue Q (National Tour), and Kim in Miss Saigon, she will guide students to their own unique interpretation of a character. This class will be conducted workshop-style, in which each student will present a song for the group and receive feedback from the instructor.

NOTE: Students in this class will be required to prepare a musical theatre song to work on with Ms. Zimmerman and should have a karaoke track of the song available to use during the class. If you need assistance finding an appropriate song or karaoke track, please contact Education Director Erin Coffey at ecoffey@goodspeed.org.

July 10, 2021

Conquering the Cold Read
with Brian Michael Hoffman

Level A: ages 7-12 | 1:30pm-2:30pm  
Level B: ages 13-18 | 3:00pm-4:00pm

In this acting-focused audition workshop, Mr. Hoffman will prepare students for cold readings – performing a scene from a show with little or no preparation beforehand. He will demystify this aspect of auditioning by teaching students techniques to quickly analyze a character and make bold choices that will help them stand out from the crowd.

BRIAN MICHAEL HOFFMAN Brian starred as “Horton” in the Off-Broadway revival of Seussical and is thrilled to be a part of Goodspeed’s Master Class Series after his time in East Haddam last summer as “Jiggs Thomas” in Because of Winn Dixie, a role he also played in the Delaware Theatre Company and Alabama Shakespeare Festival productions. Favorite regional credits include “Seymour” (Little Shop of Horrors), “Patsy” (Spamalot), “Sancho” (Man of La Mancha), “Billis” (South Pacific), “Barfee” (The 25th… Spelling Bee), “Uncle Fester” (The Addams Family), “The Cowardly Lion” (The Wizard of Oz), “Czolgosz” (Assassins), “Charlie Brown” (You’re a Good Man...), “Filch” (The Threepenny Opera) and “Mr. Grimes” (On Borrowed Time, directed by Joel Grey). A graduate of the Baltimore School for the Arts and Syracuse University, Brian’s performed at theatres across the country including Madison Square Garden, 54 Below, Sacramento Music Circus, the MUNY, Maine State, Syracuse Stage, Marriott Lincolnshire, Ogunquit Playhouse, Pioneer, Ivoryton, Two River, Lyric Oklahoma, and Pittsburgh CLO. He led a barbershop quartet at Tokyo Disney Sea in Japan for 3 years, has performed in over 2,300 performances of ANNIE (some with Broadway’s original red-head, Andrea McArdle, and in the 2014 movie!) and can be heard on the Seussical, Annie: 30th Anniversary, Annie 2 and The Dragonslayers cast recordings. Broadway/WBTA: Legally Blonde, The Royal Family, Bullets Over Broadway, The Audience (starring Dame Helen Mirren), Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill (starring Audra McDonald), NBC’s Peter Pan Live & The Wiz Live, SNL, Sesame Street and HBO’s High Maintenance. www.brianmichaelhoffman.com

JULY 17, 2021

Vocal Performance with Cicily Daniels

Level A: ages 7-12 | 1:30pm-2:30pm 
Level B: ages 13-18 | 3:00pm-4:00pm

Broadway veteran Cicily Daniels brings her vocal performance expertise to young performers in this master class focused on vocal technique, communicating meaning through melody, and interpreting a musical theatre score. With her breadth of experience on Broadway in shows such as Once on this Island, The Little Mermaid, All Shook Up, and RENT, as well as many Broadway National Tours, she will help students find their own voice and showcase their vocal skills with musical theatre repertoire.

NOTE: Students in this class will be required to prepare a musical theatre song to work on with Ms. Daniels and should have a karaoke track of the song available to use during the class. If you need assistance finding an appropriate song or karaoke track, please contact Education Director Erin Coffey at ecoffey@goodspeed.org

July 24, 2021

Tap for Musical Theatre with Darien Crago

Level A: ages 7-12 | 1:30pm-2:30pm  
Level B: ages 13-18 | 3:00pm-4:00pm 

Tap has been part of the musical theatre since it became popularly known as “tap dance” a hundred years ago. This master class will explore rhythm, style, and characterization to expand your tap dance horizons!

NOTE: This class will not focus primarily on technique or learning tap vocabulary. Experience with tap dance recommended.

JULY 31, 2021

Mastering the Musical Audition with Jake Swain

Level A: ages 7-12 | 1:30pm-2:30pm 
Level B: ages 13-18 | 3:00pm-4:00pm

In Mastering the Musical Audition, Jake Swain will help students dissect the many elements that make up a successful musical audition - from selection choice to physicality and musical interpretation - and use them to build a unique and captivating audition. Fresh from Broadway’s run of Mean Girls in which he played Tyler Kimball and understudied Aaron Samuels, Jake has also been seen on the Goodspeed stage as Will Parker in Oklahoma! and Harvey Johnson in Bye Bye Birdie.

NOTE: Students in this class will be required to prepare a musical theatre song to work on with Mr. Swain and should have a karaoke track of the song available to use during the class. If you need assistance finding an appropriate song or karaoke track, please contact Education Director Erin Coffey at ecoffey@goodspeed.org.

JAKE SWAIN (Mastering the Musical Audition) Broadway: Mean Girls (Tyler Kimble, u/s Aaron Samuels). Regional: Oklahoma! (Will Parker) and Bye Bye Birdie (Harvey Johnson) at Goodspeed Opera House. National Tour: Elf The Musical. BFA in Acting, BYU. TV: “Hysterical Women.” Film: Cosmos Sisters, Zombied, Now Again, Nosebleeds. www.jake-swain.com. IG: @jacobmonte

AUGUST 7, 2021

Ballet for Musical Theatre with Kelly Berman

Level A: ages 7-12 | 1:30pm-2:30pm 
Level B: ages 13-18 | 3:00pm-4:00pm

From Agnes de Mille to Carousel revival choreographer Justin Peck, ballet has long been a staple of the musical theatre. With a background in classical ballet and a professional career in musical theatre, Kelly Berman (Goodspeed: Oklahoma!, The Music Man, and upcoming South Pacific)  teaches students how to tell a story with ballet movement.

KELLY BERMAN is beyond stoked to be back at the magical Goodspeed (even virtually from NYC)! Kelly has been teaching dance since she was 16 years old, ranging in styles such as theatre, ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop. Since moving from her hometown of LA and graduating from the Boston Conservatory, she has worked professionally in theatre around the country. She was last seen here in Goodspeed’s production of The Music Man under the brilliant direction of Jenn Thompson (Dance Captain, U/S Marian, Ensemble). Other credits include Oklahoma! (Goodspeed), Cinderella (Papermill Playhouse) The Music Man (Muny), Holiday Inn (The Rev), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Ogunquit Playhouse). She is a member of the Actor’s Equity Association and represented by Clear Talent Group. Special thanks to Erin Coffey and the community at Goodspeed for letting her be a part of this incredible program!

From Agnes de Mille to Carousel revival choreographer Justin Peck, ballet has long been a staple of the musical theatre. With a background in classical ballet and a professional career in musical theatre, Kelly Berman (Goodspeed: Oklahoma!, The Music Man, and upcoming South Pacific)  teaches students how to tell a story with ballet movement.From Agnes de Mille to Carousel revival choreographer Justin Peck, ballet has long been a staple of the musical theatre. With a background in classical ballet and a professional career in musical theatre, Kelly Berman (Goodspeed: Oklahoma!, The Music Man, and upcoming South Pacific)  teaches students how to tell a story with ballet movement.

AUGUST 14, 2021

Acting with Authenticity with Matt Faucher

Level A: ages 7-12 | 1:30pm-2:30pm 
Level B: ages 13-18 | 3:00pm-4:00pm

Acting with Authenticity focuses on preparing your performance as a character in a musical by using context clues to identify their objectives and tactics in a given moment and relating to the character honestly. Led by Matt Faucher, a Connecticut native, graduate of The Hartt School, and veteran of both Broadway and the Goodspeed’s stages, this master class is sure to help students develop rich and nuanced characters on stage.

NOTE: Students in this class will be required to perform a prepared piece. This piece should be a song or a monologue you know well and have memorized. Students in Level A will have the option to prepare a scene that will be sent with your registration confirmation.

MATT FAUCHER was last seen at the Goodspeed Opera House as Jud Fry in OKLAHOMA! Winning the CT Critics Circle Award for Best Featured Actor for his performance. A CT native, Matt considers Goodspeed Musicals his theatrical home. He is a graduate of The Hartt School with a BFA in Acting. Matt has taught all ages from young students to seasoned professionals, most notably, in the masterclass format whilst on the National Tour of Beautiful: The Carol King Musical.  

Broadway: Beautiful: The Carol King Musical. National Tour: Beautiful. Off – Broadway: The Threepenny Opera (Macheath, Drama Desk nomination), I Am Harvey Milk at Avery Fisher Hall, Chekhov Dreams (Eddie). Regional: The Muny, Goodspeed Musicals, Paper Mill Playhouse, Hartford Stage, Asolo Rep, Northern Stage, Olney Theatre Center, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Flat Rock Playhouse and The Monomoy Theatre. TV: FBI: Most Wanted- CBS. Love to Brit. Follow: @the_fauch, mattfaucheractor.com.

 

From Agnes de Mille to Carousel revival choreographer Justin Peck, ballet has long been a staple of the musical theatre. With a background in classical ballet and a professional career in musical theatre, Kelly Berman (Goodspeed: Oklahoma!, The Music Man, and upcoming South Pacific)  teaches students how to tell a story with ballet movement.From Agnes de Mille to Carousel revival choreographer Justin Peck, ballet has long been a staple of the musical theatre. With a background in classical ballet and a professional career in musical theatre, Kelly Berman (Goodspeed: Oklahoma!, The Music Man, and upcoming South Pacific)  teaches students how to tell a story with ballet movement.

AUG 21, 2021

Dances of Mean Girls with Brittany Nicholas

Level A: ages 7-12 | 1:30pm-2:30pm 
Level B: ages 13-18 | 3:00pm-4:00pm

From Broadway straight into your home! Learn one of Broadway choreographer Casey Nicholaw’s dances from a member of the original cast of Mean Girls in this exciting new master class. Last seen on the Goodspeed stage as Alice in Bye Bye Birdie, Brittany Nicholas has performed on Broadway (Mean Girls, Billy Elliot), National Tours, and in regional theaters across the country. This fast-paced, unique movement style will keep students on their toes!


VIRTUAL MASTER CLASS SAFETY & SECURITY TIPS

  • Before your class begins, be sure to set up your device so that the instructor can see you! If you are taking a dance class, make sure that your entire body is visible in the frame.
  • Wear clothes that allow you to move freely, and be sure to keep a water bottle nearby.
  • Choose a clearly lit area of your home with minimal background noise. Headphones may help with potential sound issues, including background noise, if available to the student.
  • These Virtual Master Classes are password protected. Only students taking the class will be admitted to the meeting. Please do not share meeting invitations outside of your household.
  • When joining the class, students will need to provide a Meeting ID name. Be sure to provide the name used on your registration form, otherwise you will not be able to join the Master Class.
  • Listen to your body! If something doesn’t feel right, stop and ask your instructor for help. Because they can’t be in the room with you, it’s important that you ask questions to ensure safe participation.
  • If you are taking a dance class, we recommend:
    • dancing on a smooth-surface floor;
    • clearing your dance space of furniture or any small objects that may create a trip hazard;
    • and wearing appropriate dance shoes if possible. Students taking Tap for Musical Theatre are encouraged to wear tap shoes if they have a tap board or other surface (like plywood) that can be scraped and scuffed. Otherwise, a flat-soled sneaker or dress shoe on a smooth-surface floor will also work for the purposes of this class.

REFUND POLICY

 Students who withdraw more than 2 weeks prior to the class are eligible for a full refund, excluding processing fees. Those who withdraw with at least 48 hours notice will receive a 50% refund, excluding processing fees. Withdrawals within 48 hours of the first class are not eligible for refunds.