Back Row: Debbie Rollins, Dee Anne Bryll, Erin Langley, Jose Rondon Jr., Brian d’Arcy James, Bernadette Peters, Beatrice (Bibi) Balerdi, Lisa Morrow, Allison Isom, Ryan Olson
This year teachers were selected earlier this year at the Junior Theater Festival, the largest such festival of its kind. While in New York the teachers attended special workshops led by Tony Honor winning director and choreographer Jeff Calhoun, Tony Award and Oscar winning composer Stephen Flaherty, Tony Award winning director, choreographer and actor Christopher Gattelli, Tony Award winning lighting designer Ken Billington and Broadway sound designer Matt Kraus. They join the tradition of Broadway professionals who have given workshops and joined the Freddie G winners in prior years (including Stephen Schwartz, Jeanine Tesori, Warren Carlyle, Baayork Lee, Chad Beguelin, Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe.
“The four days fully engaged the winning teachers in the Broadway musical theatre world and provided one-of-a-kind learning opportunities for them to take back to their schools, students and communities,” says Gershon. “These teachers perform inspiring work with limited financial resources. We want to give them the opportunity to live the Broadway experience and interact with qualified professionals to reward them for all they do to introduce the next generations to live theatre and simultaneously enhance their knowledge, skills and experience.”
