Stars in Training	Theatre Training Program	Musical Theatre Workshops
Junior Performance Troupe		Faculty

Welcome to the Theatre Institute, part of the Bendheim Performing Arts Center, where our professional staff create a positive, nurturing, theatrical experience for our students. Our program is broken up into four parts:

2. Theatre Training Program – The heart of our actors’ training program. This is for the performer who wants to learn all there is to know about theatre.
 

3. Musical Theatre Workshops – The opportunity for everyone to be involved in a musical theatre production. The show will be presented on our Bendheim stage for family and friends. Audition not required.
 

4. Bendheim Jr. Performance Troupe -  An opportunity for the more serious actors and actresses to participate in a full-scale musical production seen by family, friends and members of the community. Auditions required.
 

2007-2008 Stars in Training

Nursery Rhyme Theatre 
Ages 4 - 5 (must be 4 by September, 2007)
Does your little one like to pretend and put on shows? If so, they will love acting out favorite nursery rhymes on our Bendheim stage. This class, designed for children in their last year of preschool, introduces acting, characterization, and storytelling in a fun, nurturing, age appropriate environment. Kids will pretend, play, laugh and have fun. We will end the semester with a sharing of three nursery rhymes on our Bendheim Stage.
 

Fables and Fairytales 
Grades K -2
This class will bring several well known stories to life, such as The Tortoise and the Hare, The Lion and the Mouse, The Ugly Duckling and Little Red Riding Hood to name a few. Children will develop basic acting techniques through improvisation, pantomime and characterization. They will have an opportunity to use their skills and perform their last class in costume on our Bendheim stage for an audience of friends and family.
 

Stage Live - Theatre Training Program
Grades 3 -5

Theatre Jam
Grades 6 -10

New! 2007- 08 Musical Theatre Workshops

Grease
Grades 2-4 and 5-10
This is a terrific new opportunity for budding performers to be cast in a production of Grease with no formal audition process. The first 20 children to sign up in each age group will be part of this journey. They will learn about how theatre works first hand through the process of putting on a production. The final performance will take place on our Bendheim stage.

Prerequisite: Students must be a member of our Theatre Training Program or a member of the Bendheim Junior Performance Troupe or have taken a theatre class at the JCC in the last two years to be eligible to participate.

2007- 2008 Bendheim Junior Performance Troupe
Grades 2 - 12

Satisfy that acting bug by auditioning for our Junior Performance Troupe.  We will prepare for about six weeks and put on a fabulous production with wonderful costumes and sets that will be viewed by family, friends and members of the community. Rehearsals will be on weeknights and Sundays. Time commitments will vary. Auditions required.

The Bendheim Junior Performance Troupe is an opportunity for actors to experience what a professional production is like first hand.  We put on fabulous productions with wonderful costumes and sets that will be viewed by family, friends and others in the community.  Most important, we will have a ton of fun!  Auditions are required!  

Bendheim Junior Performance Troupe Presents Disney’s High School Musical Congratulations to the High School Musical Casts.  Over 140 talented actors auditioned for our show and made our job very difficult.  I want to thank Jessica Rofe (Artistic director of A CLASS ACT in NYC (www.AClassActNY.com) and former casting director for coming in at call backs and making the final decisions in casting.  We double cast most parts in this show… Cast A and Cast B (both casts are of equal merit and age range). We are also posting a rehearsal schedule.  We did not cast actors that had more than one scheduling conflict in this show.  If you look at the schedule and see that you have more than one conflict please kindly email me and ask to be taken off the cast list. If you will NOT accept the part given to you please email Debra Katz at Katzd@jccmw.org  by Tuesday, April 22nd.  This part of the process is VERY IMPORTANT.  It is ok if you do not accept a given role… it is ESSENTIAL that you let me know about it by our deadline.  Registration for the show will begin on Wednesday, April 23rd.  You can register at the front desk at your convenience.  Please note there is a mandatory cast/ parent meeting June 1 from 1:00 – 1:30pm.  On behalf of Carly, Traci, Tobe, Steve and Jessica… thanks to all who auditioned.. we hope to see all of you in our classes next year and at future shows. Debra Katz 914-472-3300 x 302 CAST LIST & SCHEDULE (posted 12:30pm April 18, 2008) Adobe Reader will be necessary to open the following cast list and schedule.  Adobe Reader is a "free" download.  Click here to install the program if needed. CAST LIST - pdf SCHEDULE - pdf Description: The Bendheim Junior performance Troupe is an opportunity for actors to experience what a professional production is like first hand.  We put on fabulous productions with wonderful costumes and sets that will be viewed by family, friends and others in the community. Most important we will have a ton of fun.  Rehearsal Period: June 1 – July 20th Times and dates needed vary depending on the part the child receives.  Every child is not needed at every rehearsal.  Children are also frequently needed at different times during a rehearsal.  For example, on one Sunday you might be needed from only 3:00 – 5:00. The final calendar will be posted in the next month.  Everyone must be available for tech week NO EXCEPTIONS!!! Weeknights:  5:00 – 8:00 pm Sundays:   2:00 – 8:00 pm Price: $400 includes DVD of performance, t-shirt and cast party Please note the JCC charges an annual registration fee only once during any fiscal year (June ’08 – June ‘-09) regardless of the number of programs involved. $ 40 for individuals of any age            $ 75 for Families Committees: Parents are asked to join one committee to help with the production Ticket Prices: $20.00                  Performance Dates: Thursday, July 17th @ 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM Friday, July 18th @ 5:30 PM NO SATURDAY SHOW Sunday, July 20th @ 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM & 5:00 PM The Cliques and Characters of East High School The JOCKS TROY BOLTON, captain of the basketball team CHAD DANFORTH, number two on the basketball team, Troy’s best friend ZEKE BAYLOR, has a secret passion for baking Jason, the strong, silent type Other Jocks   The THESPIANS SHARPAY EVANS, president of the Drama Club RYAN EVANS, vice-president of the Drama Club James, an earthworm expressionist Susan, overwrought with emotion Cathy, a little too eager Cyndra, has operatic aspirations   The BRAINIACS GABRIELLA MONTEZ, the shy new girl at school TAYLOR McKESSIE, president of the Science Club MARTHA COX, has a secret passion for hip-hop Kratnoff, a history buff Other Brainiacs   The SKATER DUDES Ripper, has a secret passion for the cello Mongo, a little slow on the uptake Other Skater Dudes   Other STUDENTS JACK SCOTT, the PA announcer, aka the Velvet Fog of East High KELSI NEILSON, the mousey composer of Juliet and Romeo Wildcat Cheerleaders Party Kids,  guests in ski-lodge flashback Fans/Spectators at the basketball championship game and the Science Decathlon   The ADULTS MS. DARBUS, drama teacher COACH BOLTON, basketball coach, Troy’s dad Ms. Tenny, voiceover chemistry teacher Moderator, voiceover science decathlon moderator More Information: Please contact Debra Katz at 914-472-3300 x 302 or Traci Timmons at x 226 Staff: Director Debra Katz Choreographer  Carly Lewis Production Coordinator Debbie Morris Assistant Director Traci Timmons  Musical Director Marilee Spencer

Faculty

Erika Lipsky Radin has a Master’s degree in Education Theatre from New York University. She taught drama and directed
productions at the Brooklyn Friends School for five years. Erika has also taught drama, led workshops, and written and directed plays at schools throughout the New York City.

Sarah Kate Robbins, MFA, has taught extensively for over 25 years at performing arts institutions and at leading colleges
across the country. She has worked in the industry in casting, as a producer and owner of a talent management company on both the east and west coasts.

Marilee Spencer (Resident Musical Theatre Director) studied musical theatre at The Boston Conservatory and Brigham Young University. She has taught for the past eight years in her private studio at BYU and at Greenwich Academy.

Traci Timmons has worked extensively as a professional actor, singer, teacher, director, producer and theatre administrator for many years. She is a graduate of the Northwest Actors Studio Conservatory Program where she later taught acting and served as Program Director.


About the Director, Debbi Katz
Debra Katz has been performing, directing and teaching for many years in all levels of theatre; community and pro. She holds a Masters in Education and is an Actors Equity Member. Her experience spans Broadway, television, and studio recording. She has performed with various theatre companies throughout the tri-state area and abroad. Her favorite roles include Adelaide in “Guys and Dolls”, Beauty in “Beauty and the Beast” and Peter in “Peter Pan” among others. Debra is happy to call the JCC her new creative home.