Summer At Playhouse On Park Includes Young Actor Musical Theatre Preparatory Program

A few spots remain for the Young Actor Musical Theater Preparatory Program at Playhouse on Park! Running from July 16-July 27, this two week full-day intensive musical theatre program introduces and prepares young actors for future training and/or performance in music, dance and theater. We are happy to work with students of all backgrounds and levels of training. All are welcome!

This summer program gives older elementary and middle school students instruction in acting, dance, and music. Each day students will have a schedule of classes and rehearsals, with opportunities for instruction both in small groups and as an entire ensemble.

The emphasis of the program is on developing strong performance skills. As part of that goal, each student will be featured in a final performance as a singer, actor, and dancer. Students will also develop their own pieces during daily supervised rehearsals and will perform their own "creative projects" for the rest of the students in the program each Friday. Additionally, guest artists will also be brought in to teach students master classes in special topics. Visit www.playhouseonpark.org for more information as the summer dates draw closer!

Education Director Elizabeth Simmons, Rosie Karabetsos, and Abigail Winkler will instruct the Young Actor Musical Theatre Preparatory Program. Elizabeth Simmons is a Theatre Educator/Teaching Artist with over 10 years of experience developing programming and building curriculum for theatres, schools, and arts organizations. She recently moved to Connecticut from New York City, and is pleased to be joining the team at Playhouse on Park! She currently teaches at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and Goodspeed Musicals, as well as with Hartford Performs. In New York City she received her Master's Degree in Educational Theatre from the City College of New York. Prior to relocating, Elizabeth worked as a Teaching Artist for the Brooklyn Academy Of Music, Queen's Theatre and the Center for Arts Education. She has served on the New York City Arts in Education Roundtable Committee, and this past year joined the planning committee for the NYC Theatre in Our Schools conference, where she planned logistics and led workshops for over 80 arts administrators, teachers, and teaching artists. As an actress, Elizabeth recently appeared as Miep in THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK at Playhouse on Park: other favorite credits include: Stephanie Crawford (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD), Mrs.Rogers (AND HEN THERE WERE NONE), Annie (TABLE MANNERS) and Catherine (BOSTON MARRIAGE).

Rosie Karabetsos graduated from the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts at the top of her class, being elected class speaker by her classmates. She continues to let dance lead her life and is a part of many companies and organizations in the Hartford area. She is the female dance team lead at DFX Entertainment, and has a focus in the commercial dance arena. Rosanna also performs on the dance teams supporting the NLL New England Black Wolves and the Connecticut Sun WNBA team. She tours the country with the world's most famous Michael Jackson impersonator, Joby Rogers and the Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience. In addition, she is the lead choreographer and puppeteer for Nightfall, an annual performance in Hartford. As an artist, Rosanna focuses locally. She believes dance is an art form that encompasses all things, it is not just simply moving. She strongly believes in the beauty of collaborating and implicates these ideas into her classes and her own artistic endeavors.

Abigail Winkler is a music educator and a singer/songwriter and plays piano, guitar, ukulele, cello, flute, clarinet, vibraphone, as well as a range of hand percussion. She began studying music at five years old, including classical piano for more than 15 years, and one year at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln (Cologne University of Music). While a student at Yale University, Abigail wrote and directed a production of The Bremen Town Musicians with Yale Children's Theater, facilitating the outreach program to bring theatrical productions to local elementary schools. Since receiving her Bachelor's Degree at Yale, Abigail has worked as a music instructor at the New Surry Theatre Performing Arts School and as Musical Director for several theatrical productions, including THE SECRET GARDEN, SOUTH PACIFIC, MY FAIR LADY, THREE PENNY OPERA, INTO THE WOODS,JR. ALICE AND WONDERLAND, JR. THE MAGIC SHOW and SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL. Recently, Abigail served as the Director of Operations at BackBeat City, where she taught music and voice lessons, directed multiple show choirs, and was the Program Director of the summer camp program, Camp BackBeat. As an educator and instructor, Abigail has lead music programs locally at R.J. Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts and Montessori Magnet School Moylan Campus. Abigail currently maintains a private studio in the Hartford area teaching voice, piano, and audition prep; she is also an Artist Instructor in the Musical Theater department at Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts High School, and continues to work as a vocal performer as well as an accompanist for a range of performers and theatrical productions. Abigail lives in the Hartford area with her family.

Each class meets at the Playhouse from 9:00 am-3:30 pm, Monday through Friday. The fee is $725 and may be paid in two installments. Students may arrive as early as 8:30 am, and must be picked up by 4:00 pm. Students must bring their own lunches daily. To register, visit the Education page at www.playhouseonpark.org, and download the registration form, or call 860-523-5900x10 for more information. Playhouse on Park is located at 244 Park Road, West Hartford, CT, 06119.