Summer Programs
The Summer Musical Theater School
The 5th Avenue Theatre’s Summer Programs for aspiring performers in middle & high school
Monday – Friday
August 2 – 13, 2010 and August 2 – 20, 2010
Professional performer Stephen Reed teaches a dance workshop at musical theater summer camp. Photo: Chris Bennion
In each of the specially-designed sessions of The 5th Avenue Summer Musical Theater School, students will delve into a full daily schedule of classes and activities crafted to teach them the fundamentals, build confidence and find success in musical theater. From instruction on how to properly warm-up, to building skills and techniques for acting, singing and the creation of full musical production numbers, each hour of the day will reveal new insight into the craft of musical theater performance.
PROFESSIONAL INTENSIVE
Ages 16-20 (by audition only)
August 2 – 20, 2010
The 5th Avenue Theatre’s Professional Intensive Training program is designed for those students interested in a rigorous extended program of training and performance. Click here for more information
We are looking for the next generation of Sutton Fosters and Aaron Tveits to audition for this exciting program! Working with the award-winning staff of the Summer School, students will bring the art of musical theater from the classroom to performance-ready staging. Guided by The 5th Avenue team of Producing Director Bill Berry and Resident Musical Director Ian Eisendrath (
On the Town, West Side Story, Cabaret), students will explore in depth the many facets of creating musical theater characters through a concentrated rehearsal process. Skills developed in the fundamental and studio classes will be the foundation for detailed study and musical scene work, focusing on creating a professional level workshop performance for an invited audience.
Audition Date Just Announced! Appointments available June 21, 2010 from 3PM-6PM. Call Connie at
(206) 625-1418 to schedule your appointment!
To Register
Download a registration form for Summer Musical Theater School or Professional Intensive and mail to:
The 5th Avenue Theatre
Attn: Education/ Summer Musical Theater School
1308 5th Avenue, suite 735
Seattle, WA 98101
Or fax to 206 292-9610
Musical Theater School for high school students
Ages 14-19
August 2 – 13, 2010
Monday - Friday 10am – 6pm
Immerse yourself in a full day of theater classes including Fundamentals of Dance, Improvisation, Text Analysis, Vocal Technique and Song Interpretation. Click here for more information
Fundamentals of Dance:
After a full warm-up, students will be instructed in jazz, tap and ballet and their use in and relation to musical theater dance styles. The class will put these fundamentals into action by incorporating them in a choreographed number.
Improvisation:
Using theater games and scenes, students will learn the fundamental skills needed to “think on your feet.” Working from a word, a prop or an action, these exercises will train both the mind and the body to react and connect in the moment.
Text Analysis: This class focuses on how to use the text to understand every moment of the play and to build a strong, fully-realized character on stage. Performers will apply the techniques learned to scene and monologue study.
Vocal Technique: From breath support to articulation and diction, students will begin to build the fundamentals of good vocal technique. Instructors will also guide them to discover how these fundamentals can be applied to the various styles of musical theater singing for effective performance while maintaining healthy vocal production practices.
Song Interpretation: This class focuses on the importance of fully understanding the interconnectedness of the text and musical structure on which a song has been created, thus giving the singing actor the platform from which to deliver a strong, honest and character-driven performance.
To Register
Download a registration form for Summer Musical Theater School or Professional Intensive and mail to:
The 5th Avenue Theatre
Attn: Education/ Summer Musical Theater School
1308 5th Avenue, suite 735
Seattle, WA 98101
Or fax to 206 292-9610
Musical Theater School for middle school students
Ages 11 – 13
August 2 – 13, 2010
Monday – Friday 10am – 2pm (Session Full) or 2pm – 6pm
Choose from morning or afternoon sessions with classes including Introduction to Musical Theater Dance, Theater Sports, Creating a Character, Your Breath/Your Voice and Singing with Heart. Click here for more information
Introduction to Musical Theater Dance: Students will begin each class with a comprehensive warm up, after which they will learn fundamental steps and combinations in the various musical theater dance styles including tap, jazz and ballet.
Theater Sports: Students will expand their acting skills through a wide range of creative and interactive games. These classes are designed to improve presentational skills as well as build self- confidence through ensemble work.
Creating a Character: In this course, students discover the skills to build a character for the stage using their physical, emotional and intellectual resources and applying them to theatrical roles. Exercises include styles of movement, sense memory and forming objectives based on text and context.
Your Breath /Your Voice: Breath support is the foundation of good vocal technique. Instructors will guide the students in a regimen of warm-ups and exercises designed to build life-long healthy vocal habits. Focusing on placement and support, these skills will then be practically applied to text and vocal music.
Singing with Heart: Starting with the lyric text as a monologue, this class will emphasize the importance of understanding how text and music work together to create a meaningful dramatic performance.
To Register
Download a registration form for Summer Musical Theater School or Professional Intensive and mail to:
The 5th Avenue Theatre
Attn: Education/ Summer Musical Theater School
1308 5th Avenue, suite 735
Seattle, WA 98101
Or fax to 206 292-9610
Our Instructors
In our 5th Avenue Summer Musical Theater School the emphasis is on professional training. Whether building fundamental skills, using a studio setting to put these skills into practice or learning through the finest master classes, our mission is to offer students access to some of the best teachers and performers working in the world of musical theater today.
Past instructors have included Broadway performers Anne Allgood, Patti Cohenhour, Allen Fitzpatrick, Stephen Reed, James Rocco and Carol Swarbrick. We have offered special workshops with Tony Award Winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, Tony Award nominee Jeanine Tesori as well as the 5th Avenue Artistic staff including Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong, Producing Director Bill Berry, Resident Musical Director Ian Eisendrath and Artistic Associate Albert Evans.
*The 5th Avenue Theatre does not provide housing for School or Professional Intensive participants
To Register
Download a registration form for Summer Musical Theater School or Professional Intensive and mail to:
The 5th Avenue Theatre
Attn: Education/ Summer Musical Theater School
1308 5th Avenue, suite 735
Seattle, WA 98101
Or fax to 206 292-9610
Payment plans as well as a limited number of partial and full scholarships are available. Call 206 625-1418 or email for details or download a financial aid application here.