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  BEGINNING FALL 2008

ALL AGES / ALL LEVELS
CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN DOYLESTOWN, PA

2008 REGISTRATION IN PROGRESS:

Call to make an appointment for a studio tour and to discuss which classes are right for you and your schedule!

OPEN REGISTRATION POLICY

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Theatre Arts Center 
Bucks County
2008/09 CLASSES


 

Write or Call TODAY!
BUCKS COUNTY:

 

267-880-3930

EMAIL US AT:   MAIL@THEATREARTSCENTER.COM

 

 

 

 

NYC/QUEENS SUMMER WORKSHOP GUESTS
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CLICK HERE!

 

 

TAC NEWS

Theatre Arts Center is proud to announce the successes of many
students, teachers, directors, and alumni.  Here are just a few recent examples.


"I was very impressed with the production of 
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, JR. I saw at Theatre Arts Center.  Having started in educational, summer and youth theatre myself, I am well aware of the importance and value of introducing young people to the art of live theatre.  I would have been happy to see a group of young adults having a good time and falling in love with the art form.  They did all that -- but they also put on a darn good show, that the audience enjoyed watching as much as the cast enjoyed performing.  As an author, I was gratified to see that.  And who knows?  One of those young actors might end up creating (or starring in!) a Tony Award-winning musical one day; I started where they did, and it was the impetus for my career on Broadway."

Dick Scanlan
Tony Award Nominee
Book & New Lyrics
Thoroughly Modern Millie


 

TAC Founder, Kristine Lewis, is a lead producer on the upcoming Broadway musical, BUSKER ALLEY.  Broadway star, Jim Dale is set to star, directed by Tony Walton!

Stay tuned for more details!

STUDENTS ON STAGE!

Congratulations to TAC students working in the professional theatre:

MICHAEL J. RODD, member of the Senior Company in TAC/Bucks County, has been cast in the Equity production of Picnic at the Montgomery Theatre in Souderton, PA.  It plays April 17 - May 10, 2008.

STEVEN BUTLER, a long-time acting and musical theatre student, appeared in Jesus Christ Superstar for Midnight Productions at the Keswick Theatre.

 AKIYA HENRY, Stars Company '07, appeared in Law & Order Criminal Intent and will appear in McDonald's Gospel Fest this spring.

ALESSANDRA LICUL, '06 & '07Junior Co., got great reviews in Magical, Musical Moments, Beari Productions. Her sister, DANIELLA LICUL, Stars '07, appeared in Annie Get Your Gun for the Marathon Little Theatre production.

ALEX KLEIN & RUSSELL MACLIN cast in the Bristol Riverside Theatre's production of Chris Durang's Mrs. Bob Cratchet's Wild Christmas Binge

JOHN FISHER cast in the Walnut Street Theatre production of Peter Pan

JACLYN SHIHADEH, RACHEL SUFFIAN & DANA WALSH appeared in The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe at Town & Country Players

COLLEEN SMITH appeared in Narnia at the Bucks County Playhouse.

Brooke Weinberg, NYC Teen Acting Ensemble, got the part of "Nora" in "A Doll's House," at the Great Neck Library (summer '07).  

Alexa Blaise Sandberg,  Junior Company, performed at the Gateway Playhouse in Bellport, Long Island (summer '07) as part of the company ensemble in the world premiere of "Cold As Ice," an original on-ice, Broadway-bound musical (by Frank D'Agostino and Dean Anderson) starring Olympic Gold medalist Oksana Baiul.

WE ARE PLEASED TO WELCOME DENNIS DEAL TO THE NYC WORKSHOP STAFF.  DENNIS WROTE AND DIRECTED THE INTERNATIONAL HIT, NITE CLUB CONFIDENTIAL, AND IS A FEATURED SINGER IN THE AWARD WINNING A'CAPELLA GROUP, THE ACCIDENTALS.

DENNIS WILL BE THE 2008 MUSIC DIRECTOR FOR THE NYC MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP AND THE CABARET WORKSHOP.

 



SUMMER 2008 WAS A BIG SUCCESS IN NEW YORK CITY AND BUCKS COUNTY!
We presented
the World Premier of  DISNEY'S BEAUTY & THE BEAST, JR., a new version of the Broadway Classic.  We were chosen as the national  TEST SITE for this new version.   We are thrilled that Music Theatre International  granted us this honor (four years in a row) and their confidence in the quality of our shows.  We also  featured the  new Junior version of DISNEY'S  MULAN JR, and NICKELODEON'S RUGRATS: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE, based on the popular TV show!

 

In New York City  we premiered a new play, THE RE-ANIMATORS, by Eric C. Dente and kc Keene, performed by the 2008 Teen Acting Ensemble.  Students at both locations took masterclasses from Broadway veterans Penny Ayn Maas (Cabaret), Angelo Fraboni (Victor/Victoria & Jerome Robbins Dance) and Jim Osorno (Rocky Horror Picture Show).

RUSSELL OCHOCKI, of MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL, writes:
"
The staff and Students at Theatre Arts center are the best!  It is such a perfect place to develop a new project."

 

 


THEATRE ARTS CENTER TEEN ACTING ENSEMBLE PREMIERS NEW PLAY

The 2008 NYC Teen Acting Ensemble presented the world premier of THE RE-ANIMATORS, written by Eric C. Dente and kc Keene.  The play is a modern twist on the Frankenstein Myth.  The play was directed by award-winning director and actress, Debra Whitfield.
 We are pleased to announce that HOMECOMING HULLABALOO, the 2007 Teen Acting Ensemble play, was produced in summer 2008 by the Footlight Players, Charleston, SC.  (South Carolina's oldest continually performing theatre!)  Congrats to the TAC students who were in our premier production!  See photos on our NYC/Queens Teen Acting page.
 


YALE UNIVERSITY MASTER OF VOCAL PERFORMANCE

Of 13 students enrolled in Yale's Master of Vocal Performance, two are TAC Alumni.  Congrats to Zach Borichevsky and Emily Righter.


RESIDENT PLAYWRIGHT RECOGNIZED

John O'Hara, who has written and directed many plays for TAC, was pleased to see a workshop of his POCAHONTAS presented at the Orlando New Play Festival as part of their Theatre for Young Audiences program. It went well and John is very grateful to every POCAHONTAS cast member and director over the years. 

John was also nominated for a Barrymore Award as Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for Remember When The Music... The Barrymore Awards are presented every year for performances in the Philadelphia Area.  He can also be seen in a national advertising campaign.


READING RAINBOW on PUBLIC TELEVISION

Several Theatre Arts Center students were cast in READING RAINBOW on Public TV.  Congrats to Madison Kelley, Alyssa Pesce, and Jamie Gunkel, who's episodes have already aired!


GUEST ARTIST ON BROADWAY

Karen Mason has joined the Broadway cast of HAIRSPRAY as Velma.  She was again the Special Guest Artist for the 2008 Teen Cabaret Workshop in NYC.   

 


GUEST ARTIST ON NATIONAL TOUR

Amy F. Karlein, a regular Guest Artist in both NYC and Bucks County ('04-'06), just completed the National Tour of Monty Python's SPAMALOT.   Amy also recently got married so we wish her and her husband the best!
  


SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL


Kristine Lewis, TAC Founder and partner in Lewis & Fox Casting was the Casting Director on the film, LOVE, LUDLOW--screened at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. 



OFF BROADWAY

Kristine Lewis was the Executive Producer and Casting Director for BURLEIGH GRIMES, which performed  spring & summer 2006.  Angelo Fraboni was the General Manager.


SELECTIONS FROM THE DISNEY COLLECTION

Three TAC students were cast in Music Theatre International's
 Selections from the Disney Collection. Over 150 students from the east coast were selected to audition. Only 45 were cast.  These productions were part of the development of three new Disney musicals that will be available for lease from Music Theatre International in the future.  Fully staged productions were produced in Manhattan Spring '04!


HBO FAMILY


Five TAC students were cast in an HBO Family production,
STORIES OF ME.
Congratulations to
Isabella DeVivo, Ndeja Brooks, Emily Joyce, Chloe Mondesir, &
Stephanie Queiroz!
 




BROADWAY

ISABELLA DeVIVO, made her Broadway debut in Feb. 2006 as  young Chita Rivera in the new Broadway show,
CHITA RIVERA--THE DANCER'S LIFE
at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.  Isabella trained for two summers at Theatre Arts Center in NYC.  

Alum SRIRAM GANESAN created the role of Sweetie in recent Broadway production of 
 
BOMBAY DREAMS
 
NOMINATED FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL, 
Outer Circle Critics Award! 

 He was a member of the Bucks County Musical Theatre Ensemble and played the lead in the TAC production of Pirates of Penzance.






AMERICAN GIRL THEATRE

New York City


Three-Year TAC Student, Chloe Mondesir, has been featured in Manhattan at the new American Girl Theatre on Fifth Avenue.  She played Addy and  Laura/Singing Bird.




TONY AWARDS


Kristine Lewis (Founder) and Robert Laconi
(Pictured Here at the 2004 Tony's) were Associate Producers on the Broadway Production of  ENCHANTED APRIL.  The show was nominated for TWO Tony Awards--Best Play of 2003 and Best Actress/Jayne Atkinson.  Molly Ringwald, Elizabeth Ashley, Patricia Conolly, Michael Cumpsty, Daniel Gerroll, Dagmara Dominczyk, and Michael Hayden were also in the original Broadway Cast.
Productions are being produced at theatres throughout the U.S.  Look for it  at a theatre near you!  A delightful production was staged at the FULTON OPERA HOUSE in Lancaster, PA

TAC Playwright & Composer Team Up for a Holiday Premier

Act II Playhouse presented the Theatre Arts Center premiere production of "Five Candles," a holiday musical for the entire family, Dec. 27 -30, 2007. 

The show was written and directed by playwright and actor John O'Hara of Skippack with new music and lyrics by Cathy Block of Doylestown. 


NICKELODEON

We've been granted the rights to a NEW show, Blue's Clues--The Most Spectacular Place.  It performed summer 2007 in Bucks County.  Our past connection with Nickelodeon was when Liza Cabrera, graduate of the 2004 Summer Teen Drama Program/Acting Ensemble, was cast in a Nickelodeon commercial.  They  filmed on location at her home in Queens!  
In summer 2008 our Bucks County workshops will be presenting a NEW Nickelodeon show --RUGRATS-A LIVE ADVENTURE!



BROADWAY

GUEST ARTIST AND BROADWAY VETERAN, PAUL CANAAN, was in the original BROADWAY HIT, 
LEGALLY BLONDE.  He is also one of the judges on the TV show, Finding Elle.   CONGRATS PAUL.

ALISA KLEIN, FORMER ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AND GUEST CHOREOGRAPHER APPEARED IN
 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST along with Connor Gallagher, a new Guest Artist in 2007.





TELEVISION

TAC alum, Hunter Gallagher, has been very busy.  He recently appeared Off-Braodway at the 78th Street Theatre Lab in DEAR MAUDIE.  After a great showcase for Tommy Mottola he put a five piece band together and is playing live shows. Hunter recently recorded his first CD.  Hunter has performed in Atlantic City with Luther Ingram, Patty Label, and Cuba Gooding. He was also in L.A. to open the Steve Harvey Show.   Hunter was a finalist on
NBC's Showtime at the Apollo.



DIRECTORS & GUEST ARTISTS

George Nieves,
guest choreographer, has been busy creating a Musical Theatre program in upstate NY.  He recently completed the National Tour of White Christmas and in 2006/07 he was performing in WEST SIDE STORY throughout the U.S.  He was Assistant Choreographer on White Christmas.  

Mark Enis
was featured on an International Disney Cruise where he performed in several shows.

Mark Martino,
who has appeared on Broadway in OH BROTHER! and in the long-running off-Broadway hits FOREVER PLAID and FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, directed the premier of MOBY DICK-THE MUSICAL (Music Theatre International School Edition) for the 2005 Bucks County Musical Theatre Ensemble

Angelo Fraboni
, guest choreographer, recently appeared with Bebe Neuwerth Off-Broadway and in a national tour.  He is currently producing  a new Dr. Seuss musical for Broadway, The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.

Gary John LaRosa has been busy directing throughout the U.S.  Summer 2008 he  directed Fiddler at the St. Louis MUNY Theatre, Hairspray at the Music Circus in Sacramento, and a national tour of Footloose.  He was nominated for  Best Director and Best Choreographer for his Connecticut production of  La Cage aux Faux.

Steven Smeltzer has directed and choreographed the National Tour of The Great American Trailer Park Musical, a hilarious musical spoof.  Spring '07 he directed and choreographed AND THE WORLD GOES ROUND in Manhattan.  Steven directed Willie Wonka JR at TAC in 2007.


PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOLS

Congratulations to TAC students...

Madison Kelly & Sammi Schilling
A long time TAC alumni, Madison, and 2007 alum, Sammi,  have been accepted into NYC's Professional Performing Arts School dance and theatre program.

Samantha Kronenfeld, Patrick Vargas, & Blaise Bayno

All multi-year TAC alumni, have been accepted to LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts for Fall 2008.  Over 3,200 students auditioned.

Kaitlin Hoffman
Kaitlin is returning to Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, majoring in Acting.  She received a scholarship to Stella Adler's summer workshop.  She is a long-time TAC alum.

Olivia Smith & Yasmine Sanandaji

Olivia, 2005 & 2006 Graduate of the NYC Teen Acting Ensemble & Yasmine a multi-year alum in both Musical Theatre and Acting, are attending NYC's LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts in the Vocal Music track.

Mollie Downes
Senior Company, Summer 2005/06 in NYC, was one of 60 students accepted into the Dance Program at the Fiorello LaGuardia School of Music and Arts (High School of the Performing Arts.)

Anthony Alfaro
Also a member of the 2005/06 Senior Company, is in the Acting/Drama program a LaGuardia High School.  He has been accepted to study at Theatre In the Square on Broadway!

Cindy Delaney
4-year Alum
, NYC Summer Musical Theatre Workshop, has  been accepted into New York City High School of Performing Arts (LaGuardia)  in the Acting Program.

Mia Fraboni

Mia, a 2004 graduate of the Summer Drama Workshop in NYC and 2005/06 NYC Senior Company, has been accepted into the Acting Program at New York City High School of Performing Arts (LaGuardia High School).  She was one of 30-some students selected from thousands of applicants.  Summer 2008 she was accepted to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Workshop.

Remy LeDily
Senior Company 2004 & 2005, NYC Summer Musical Theatre Workshop, has also been accepted into New York City High School of Performing Arts.

Alexandra Parisi
Alex, a long-time acting and dance student in Bucks County,  has been awarded a prestigious vocal music scholarship for the college of her choice.  She is on her way to college and a career in ;theatre and writing in Florida at Echard University.

Charles Nechamkin
 
A 2-year TAC Acting Student, Charles has been accepted into the  New York City High School of Performing Arts class of 2007.  Charles was one of only 80 students accepting into the Acting Program!  He completed the 2004 summer Drama Workshop at TAC and studied acting with Robert Laconi.




THE SOPRANOS / HBO

Juliet Fox appeared in an episode of HBO's hit show,
 The Sopranos.  She also  shot a national TV commercial for a hotel chain.  She  studied at TAC for many years and has been in many TAC productions and the Senior Company.  She is pictured here with Sriram in a Bucks County Musical Theatre Ensemble production of Pirates of Penzance.



Students and Alumni can email their success stories to us at: 
mail@TheatreArtsCenter.com


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