MUSICAL THEATRE
Musical Theatre Majors are placed in groups based on skill, age and experience. Students rotate between classes in acting, group voice, private vocal repertoire, & various dance techniques.
Artistic Director
Ginger graduated with a BFA in Theatre from the University of Texas at Austin. She worked as Stage Manager or Production Manager for various Austin Musical Theatre Productions, where she managed the AMT Performing Arts Academy for six years. Ginger has directed productions with St. Edward’s University, Zilker Theatre Productions, Arts On Real, Second Youth, and Austin Scottish Rite Children’s Theatre. She has also been guest director and/or choreographer for several schools in central Texas and conducts theatre workshops all over Texas. As the Director of Education and Outreach for the Long Center, she currently runs Texas Arts Project, Summer Stock Austin, The Greater Austin High School Musical Theatre Awards, and the College Audition Program. She is founder/director of Texas Arts Project, a nationally recognized arts sleep-away camp at St. Stephen’s School. She is a proud co-founder of Summer Stock Austin, where she has directed Footloose, West Side Story, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Little Shop of Horrors, Sweet Charity, The Producers, Pippin, Into the Woods, and The Addams Family. Ginger has been the Producing Director of the Greater Austin High School Musical Theatre Awards since its inception in 2014. She is director and coach for the College Audition Program, preparing high school students for college auditions.
Course Descriptions
Voice
Learn the technical skills needed for healthy vocal production of all genres. Emphasis is on breathing, projection, style, rhythm, and musicality. Strengthen ensemble singing capabilities and musicianship through an exploration of classical and Broadway songs. Both group and individual voice are part of the curriculum.
Acting a Song
Tell a story like great Broadway stars. Learn to view vocal performance from an actor’s point of view.
Choreography and Dance Technique
A Chorus Line. Sweet Charity. Chicago. Study Broadway-style dance forms by learning original choreography from the leaders of musical theatre movement. Depending on level, Musical Theatre Majors take several dance technique classes which may include: Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Modern and Hip Hop.
Acting
Campers may take classes in Voice and Movement, Improvisation, Scenes and Monologues, Acting A Song, Musical Theatre Scenework, Script Analysis, and much more.
Musical Theatre History
How did we get from Oklahoma to Wicked? We aim to answer that question in this class as we explore the development of the ever-evolving American musical.
Auditions
Discover that auditions don’t have to be terrifying. Learn from experience as we set-up mock auditions in class. Directors/instructors use their experience from both sides of the table to give students the “dos and don’ts” of the audition process, including music preparation, union regulations and appropriate music/monologue choices.
Specials
Guest artists may be brought in for special topics such as Stage Combat, Resume Creation, Film Acting, Fosse Style, Partner Dancing, Acrobatics, etc.
Rehearsals
Musical Theatre Majors rehearse song and dance numbers from musical theatre repertoire in the evenings. Some numbers will include the entire group of musical theatre majors, while many numbers will be smaller groups, duets or solos. Each participant will have the opportunity to audition for solos as well as featured singing, dancing and acting roles for the final showcase.
Showcase
The selections for the final showcase reflect a variety of composers, choreographers and librettists from many different eras. Previous showcase material includes scenes and songs from Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along & Company, Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years & William Finn’s A New Brain. Original choreography to Fosse’s “Bye Bye Blackbird” and Michael Bennett’s “One” and numbers from Hairspray, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Footloose have been performed in past showcase performances. Musical Theatre majors may also take on roles in the Camp Films, which première in the main theatre on the final day of camp.
“I am so much more confident in myself.… All the campers worked together and the staff was always there for us.… I loved the staff! I’m not just saying that. They were INCREDIBLE! Everyone of them helped me grow in so many different ways.… I cannot express how grateful I am for this AMAZING experience!”
Kathryn Dooley (Musical Theatre Major 2019)
Age 15
Austin, Texas
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*NOTE: All campers for TAP Junior & TAP Senior are required to audition at the beginning of camp. Auditions are held for many reasons. The staff will get the opportunity to know all the campers and their strengths and weaknesses in all types of performance. Additionally the staff will be able to make casting decisions about the final showcase, place campers in the correct class levels, and make sure that all classes are challenging and appropriate. All campers will participate in multiple sections of the audition. The audition process will be conducted in a professional and encouraging environment. It will be fun, but we are expecting your personal best. Visit Placement Auditions for more information.
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