Notes from the director... April 2024
Musical Theatre
...Onstage and Off
by Heidi Turnquist, Director of Education
Musical Theatre is a unique art form. It combines acting, singing, and dancing together into something that has become a huge part of American history and tradition. Broadway Musicals, Vaudeville, and Musical Revues all help make up what we think of as musical theatre today. Many of the songs from these shows help make up what is known as The Great American Songbook.
Composers, lyricists, musicians, and performers all have a part in making a musical happen, and the E. Y. Harburg Academy for Musical Theatre was established to provide a regional training opportunity for young performers. But there is another part of that team is a group of people we may never see, or even think about. So the Academy is expanding its program to include training for tech and design students as well.
All of these elements are equally important, and a successful musical can’t happen without any one of these. To that end, we emphasize the importance of each person involved in a production working as a team, knowing what their role is, and knowing how they, and others, fit into the larger picture of producing a show.
The E. Y. Harburg Academy runs year round working with Grades 5 through 12, and young adults training them in the disciplines of acting, singing, dancing, and now, tech elements. Students will work with various instructors from The Shedd Music School and Shedd Theatricals while participating in daily workshops, rehearsals, and training. Academy students not only get the chance to work with musical theatre professionals, they will also be working with other camp attendees like themselves. The Academy creates a community of students with like interests in musical theatre and growing their skills and knowledge in every aspect of the art.
The Music Box, the Vaudeville Hour, and the Moombah gently encourage your youngsters to join in the fun and rewards of lifelong music-making. Come join the fun!