Educators from across the U.S. will have the opportunity to work with Broadway pros during a New York City weekend intensive later this month.
Music Theatre International Chairman and CEO Freddie Gershon and his wife Myrna created and underwrite the weekend intensive, known as the Freddie G Fellowship, which is now in its seventh year.
Each year eight educators from across the U.S. are selected to participate in a four-day theatrical intensive in New York City, where they are immersed in the New York theatre scene, working one-on-one with industry professionals in a fully funded weekend of seminars, master classes and Broadway shows.
In addition to their one-on-one work with Broadway professionals, each of the teacher’s schools receives $5,000 from the Gershons to enhance their arts program.
Leading the July 13-16 workshops will be Tony-nominated director and choreographer Jeff Calhoun, Tony-winning songwriters Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Tony-nominated choreographer and dancer Randy Skinner and Tony-winning lighting designer Ken Billington.
“The four days will fully engage the winning teachers in the Broadway musical theatre world and provide one-of-a-kind learning opportunities for them to take back to their schools, students and communities,” Gershon said in a statement. “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.”
The 2016 participants are Carly Berg and Haden Rider, Play on Players, Gainesville, GA; Sue Gautier, Holy Ghost Catholic School, Hammond, LA; Andrea Jaecks, Jeter Backyard Theater, Gibsonia, PA; Jill Lord, Ohlook Performing Arts Center, Grapevine, TX; Chris Paragone, Sunny Side Theater, Mobile, AL; Ryan Scarlata, Columbus Children’s Theater, Columbus, OH; and Julie Sundman, Whittier Christian School, Whittier, CA.
