Guest Artist Kevin Jones invites Theatre VCU students & faculty to his master class Wednesday, Feb. 4, 5 - 6 pm in B72, PAC

Kevin Jones is an accomplished musical director, director, and choreographer of musical theater, and teacher of acting and musical theater (including musical theater performance, acting for the stage, acting for film and television, musical theater history, and music theory). 

Over the course of his career Kevin has acquired one of the largest private collections of musical theater scores (in excess of 10,000 songs) in the United States. 

Kevin has a natural gift where he is able to assess an actor and select the perfect audition song and monologue from his collection in just a matter of minutes. He then coaches the actor on all aspects of the audition (vocal technique, musical staging, character work, etc.). His success rate is extraordinary. He has coached hundreds of actors into Broadway shows, national tours, and regional theater productions. 

As a musical director, Kevin has a most unique insight into the rehearsal process because he has also worked professionally as an actor, singer, dancer, director, choreographer and producer. He is extremely organized and often breaks his rehearsal schedules down to fifteen-minute time blocks. 

Actors and musicians alike appreciate his work ethic, specificity in his conducting and musical direction, and the tremendous amount of positive energy that he brings to each production. Kevin has a true passion for the theater. He founded the Opening Doors Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit in 2003 to provide theater training and performance opportunities for youth, while at the same time, offer free, quality theater productions for the people of the Roanoke Valley - thus making live theater accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial status.

Specializing in teaching actors proper singing technique, how to “belt” safely, and how to dramatically interpret musical theater songs. Kevin will work with selected students and take questions from the observers. This is open to all VCU students and faculty.

A letter from Wesley Broulik with Theatre VCU's Senior Showcase 2014 in LA

The beautiful girls!

Hello everyone,

Los Angeles has been going swimmingly so far.

Better than expected so far.

The house is terrific, students are driving and dealing with traffic and everyone has had some In-N-Out Burger. (Yay!)

Yesterday was the workshop with Arlie Day and today is the day that focuses on moving, living and surviving here. (Arlie was AWESOME and the students loved her.)

The handsome guys!

After this trip, everyone should have a clear picture of what Los Angeles is like and is it right for them.

Attendance at the performances was light but we got enough of what we wanted. (CBS came!)

There are several agent/manager appointments so far and more will roll in today as well.

I have had some feedback (in writing) from the agents and it was all really good.  The industry people were very pleased, and they wrote to me unsolicited. That makes me feel like we are on the right track, and after this year, we will actually have relationships with some industry.

So, for our first stab at actually showcasing in Los Angeles, I don’t know how it could have gone better. Especially since nobody had ever heard of our program. (Yes I had to explain who we are, where we are and what we do to everyone.)

Let’s hope next year is easier and our brand grows a little more through word of mouth. These things take time and don’t happen over night.

Now it’s time to get back to work on NYC from beautiful, sunny California. More later!

The whole gang with Arlie Day

Best,

Wesley

An Interview with the 2014 Showcase Seniors - Knocking it Out of the Park.

What a great half-an-hour.

The Bloginator had a chance this afternoon to grab all thirteen Senior Showcasers and ask them about their journey this year. it was a lovely conversation…

So, what have you learned since coming together 8 months ago….

Laughter…. "Everything!"….

Maggie Monk

Maggie Monk - Originally, I thought I wouldn't be able to get involved with the Senior Showcase because of  the financial burden. But because we did EVERYTHING on our own I was able to commit. I knew what it was going to cost, where the money was going,  and then we worked together to raise the cash.

Lauren Davis

Wesley Broulik (professor) - They even made decisions about the theatre spaces.

Lauren Davis - We worked on fundraising all year. We were our own
producers!

Eilis Godfrey

Eilis Godfrey -The ideas for fundraising were fun. We wanted our supporters to be involved with our process. So we tried to develop fun incentives with a lot of humor

Aquirra Lundy

Aquirra Lundy - That's right! Just take a look at our Sizzle Reel. It was so much fun to film and put together!


Ian Stearns - With only 13 of us it was a great group size to work with - we could split up the work, and
reasonably debate our decisions.

Ian Stearns

What are you passing on to the next Senior Showcase?

Catherine Reagan

(More laughter)… followed by "Spreadsheets!"

Madeline (Maddy) Bryan - We researched and collected every agent and casting director from NYC and LA AND DC.

Madeline Bryan

Catherine Regan - We checked and DOUBLE checked!


Zach Brown - We came up with cost
estimation and how we raised every dime!

Zach Brown

Lauren - We even acquired the TheatreVCUShowcase.com domain name!



Tell me about your creative journey this year

Dorian Dozier

Dorian Dozier - I think we started coming together at the Christmas Cabaret.


Maddy - Yes! We really bonded as an ensemble!

Morgan Meadows

Morgan Meadows - We learned how important it is and how to be consistent. Wes says "You have to leave your heart on the stage EVERY time." We learned how to do that!

Blair Wingfield - We found out that you can
get closer and closer to a consistently fine performance every day you work on the material.

Blair Wingfield

James Murphy - Wes and Jorge and Kiersten held us ALL to higher standards and expectations. And the group really supported each other.

James Murphy

Maggie - The group was so generous - we shared material and worked together on what was the best option for everyone.


Maddy - Wes worked for us too. He never clocked in and out - and always worked for what was best for the the students and for VCU

Andrea Willcockson

Andrea Willcockson - We started from scratch and made something that Theatre VCU seniors can benefit from for years after we leave here. We created our own tools and resources. I think we have a lot to show for all our hard work.


Zach - Together we are working for our future. We really started from nothing and now none of us feel unprepared to handle this business.


James -  Wes, Jorge and Kiersten told us what honestly to expect. They have encouraged our dreams while we establish realistic expectations. They have been our champions.


Maggie - We have learned how to knock it out of the park.


Come see the 2014 Senior Showcase Friends and Family Show - April 28th, Newdick Theatre, Shafer Street Playhouse, 5 & 7 pm