The turkey has been eaten and the shopping is done and it is now time to celebrate not only a new year but a new decade. 

Performing Arts Programs has some amazing programs that are coming for 2010. 

FEBRUARY VACATION PROGRAM AT THE BUSHNELL

This is the most exciting one week February Vacation Performing Arts Program ever to come to New England! Youth involved will get to work with Broadway Performer and Local/NYC Professionals!  Participants will be able to sharpen their performing skills with acting, singing, and dance classes.  Some of the topics covered in the workshops are building stage confidence, being in the moment, musical theater repertoire and singing/monologue work. No experience? No problem. Classes are grade/level specific! Lots of experience? Come and be challenged and grow! Returning students will always work on and learn new things, as our program is progressive and personalized!

For more information and to register for our February Vacation Program at The Bushnell  click here

FEBRUARY VACATION PROGRAM AT HAMDEN MIDDLE SCHOOL

This exciting one week February Vacation Performing Arts Program comes to New Haven County! Participants will be able to sharpen their performing skills with acting, singing, and dance classes.  Some of the topics covered in the workshops are building stage confidence, being in the moment, musical theater repertoire and singing/monologue work.  Classes are grade/level specific!

For more information and to register for our February Vacation Program in Hamden  click here



WINTER CLASS REGISTRATION
There is still time to register for our winter session of classes. We offer a professional, progressive program that comes to your community dedicated to creating a fun, comfortable and affirming environment to cultivate each child's own unique creativity. We also provide the convenience of local program location(s) and the assurance of familiarity by offering our program in partnership with your town. 

Register today and secure a spot for your child. 

 

And don’t forget to sign up for Audition Central.

Our no-frills, very informative listing of auditions and much, much more throughout CT, MA, RI and even some in NYC!  We have different very affordable subscription options for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and even a year!

So check out our Audition Central today!!!

 

BROADWAY ARTIST SHERRY BOONE IS COMING TO TOWN!

The Performing Arts Youth Collective is excited to be closing 2009 with a visit from Broadway Actress Sherry Boone.

Her Broadway credits include Jelly's Last Jam, Master Class, Ragtime and Phantom Of The Opera.

Sherry will not only perform but will also give feedback to our students at the Youth Collective at the Bushnell.

If you are interested in learning more about the Youth Collective at the Bushnell, please click here.



Winter Registrations

Our winter registrations are in full swing with exhilarating classes in CT, MA and RI starting in January.  Register early as classes fill up quickly.


Auditions

Want a great way to beat the winter blues?  Why not be in a show.  Sign up for Audition Central  and get our no-frills, very informative listing of auditions and much, much more throughout CT, MA, RI and even some in NYC!  We have different very affordable subscription options for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and even a year!



Everyone at the Performing Arts Programs would like to wish you and your family a very happy and healthy holiday season and an exciting new year!

Fall is beginning to wind down and soon the winter wonderland of holidays will be upon us.  Many of our winter classes have already begun to take registrations including our Saturday  Acting Program at the Bushnell and our February Vacation Program at the Bushnell.  

SATURDAY  ACTING PROGRAM AT THE BUSHNELL 

This energetic, intensive and exciting program teaches the fundamentals of theater and acting with one of our highly skilled Performing Arts Instructors. The Saturday Program runs for eight weeks, meeting once a week (excluding skip dates). These classes are specifically designed to help students develop their performing arts skills, build stage confidence, and cultivate their imagination in a supportive environment. Some major topics include: scene and monologue work, theater games, improvisational exercises, and more! At the end of the session there will be an informal performance to demonstrate what participants have worked on.

For more information and to register for our Saturday Acting Program Click Here

FEBRUARY VACATION PROGRAM AT THE BUSHNELL

This is the most exciting one week February Vacation Performing Arts Program ever to come to New England! Youth involved will get to work with Broadway Performer and Local/NYC Professionals! No experience? No problem. Classes are grade/level specific! Lots of experience? Come and be challenged and grow! Returning students will always work on and learn new things, as our program is progressive and personalized!

For more information and to register for our February Vacation Program Click Here

 

And don’t forget to sign up for Audition Central.

Our no-frills, very informative listing of auditions and much, much more throughout CT, MA, RI and even some in NYC!  We have different very affordable subscription options for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and even a year! 

So check out our Audition Central today!!!

 

 

He was Tiny Tim in "A Christmas Carol" and Dill in "To Kill a Mockingbird" at Hartford Stage and he played Winthrop opposite Shirley Jones and Patrick Cassidy in "The Music Man" at the Bushnell.

Now 12-year-old Andrew Shipman is heading to Broadway where he will take over the principal role of Michael Banks in Walt Disney's "Mary Poppins" next month.

"I am just so thrilled," says Shipman from his Glastonbury home. "I feel it's like a dream and when I found out I got the role I couldn't even speak."

His road to Broadway began when he became friends with Henry Hodges, who played Jem in the Hartford Stage production of "To Kill a Mockingbird." Hodges' extensive credits included the role of Michael when "Mary Poppins" opened in 2006. Hodges told him all about the role, what auditions are like and even taught him some dance steps from the show.

Shipman became a client of Hodges' agent this spring and the "Poppins" audition last month was Shipman's first for a Broadway musical.

He saw the show before the audition "and it looked like such a fun role. I could see myself doing it."
For the audition "I had to do a British accent," says Shipman. "Good thing I did 'A Christmas Carol.' "
He received a call-back and for his final round he auditioned in front of the Disney honchos.
A few days later his agent called Andrew singing "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and ending with, "You're got the job."

His two older brothers who are in high school were home, as was his mother Marci. They quickly called dad Gregg E. Shipman, a commercial real estate lender for Bank of America. That night they celebrated at J. Gilbert's in Glastonbury.

Shipman begins rehearsals this week. His first performance is slated for Aug. 17.
Andrew's parents are working out their son's schooling and housing duering his six-month run. Andrew will be entering sixth grade.
 
"Our lives will be completely different,:" says dad Gregg Shipman. "We're just so proud and excited for him. We're going to make it work no matter what. As far as the logistics go, we'll just take it week by week.
"Andrew views Hartford Stage as his second home and it's because of the people there like Michael Wilson and Jeremy Cohen who have been his guiding lights that he is getting this opportunity."

Mom Marci Shipman also credits Michael Lamb at the Performing Arts Youth Collective and the experience with the Bushnell's "The Music Man" as also helping Andrew develop as a performer.

Letter from Andrews Family to Michael Lamb;

 
Dear Michael,

We wanted to share some exciting news with you.  Andrew just learned that he has been cast as Michael Banks in Mary Poppins on Broadway!

 None of this could have happened without your help and support.  You've always been there for us on a moment's notice to prepare him for his auditions and give him that extra boost of confidence to succeed.  You have enthusiastically provided any help he needs, whether it's been singing, acting or other important advice.  Most of all, you have always made it fun for Andrew.  We love hearing him laugh whenever he's working with you.

Thank you again for all of your guidance over the years.  Andrew looks forward to working with you again soon.

Marci, Gregg and Andrew Shipman 

Performing Arts Summer Project Auditions:
Tuesday, April 28 at 5:30pm at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. Box office will open at 5pm.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FAQ's about the Performing Arts Summer Project and audition details!Prefer not to audition but want to have your child participate in one of our other Summer Programs at the Bushnell?

Sign up your child for our exciting One Week Summer Program at the Bushnell which has no audition requirements!

Hello Everyone,

We are just wrapping up our Youth Collective at the Bushnell 2008-2009 Season.  This week we have been at the Bushnell, performing our diligently practiced monologues and songs in the recital for our family and friends.  The recitals have been a Big Hit!  Our Broadway Guest Performer, Sherry Boone even came back to visit to share in the wonderful journey the students have taken.  It has been a long couple of months, but we have seen so much growth in our students from beginning to end.  The most exciting and moving part of the recital was seeing the pride on the parents faces when their son or daughter performed.  That's a big reason why we put these programs on, to see the joy and passion theatre brings to our students.  We've had a great company of students and wonderful memories with them and our amazing instructors and we can't wait to start all over again in the Fall.

If you are interested in learning more about the Youth Collective at the Bushnell, please click here.

We hope to see you all again in the Fall!

Best Wishes,

Performing Arts Programs Staff

Happy Winter,

Winter is slowly starting to disappear, but not before giving us a few more feet of the fluffy white stuff.  Although our students love the opportunity to miss school to go sledding, we are always saddened that we have to cancel our programs on those days.

If we ever have to cancel a program in your town due to weather, please first check with your local Parks and Recreation Department . In most all cases, if they cancel school in your town, our classes will be canceled.

Our website will post updates on our homepage as cancellations occur.  If a town cancels a class due to the weather, we will add a week on at the end of the session.

Audition Central We've already received word from numerous subscribers that they have landed roles from auditions that they saw on our site.  Why not give it a try today?

CLICK HERE

 

Performing Arts Programs Is Now On Facebook!!!

You can now support our own Performing Arts Programs by officially becoming a fan on the popular social networking site.  If you have a Facebook account, show your support by becoming a fan!  Simply log in, go to Performing Arts Programs' page and click “Become a fan” in the upper right hand corner of the screen.  Then take the time to comment, give your feedback, and ask questions.

Find us here on Facebook!

We hope you enjoy the rest of your programs with us, and we hope to see you in the Spring!!!

Best Wishes,

Performing Arts Programs!

 

Greetings,

If we ever have  to cancel a Program in your town due to weather, please first check with your local Parks and Recreation. In most all cases, if they cancel our classes will be canceled.

If you want more info, please visit our website as we will post updates on our homepage as cancellations occur.

If a town class is canceled due to weather we will add a week on at the end of the session.

Best Regards,

Performing Arts Programs, Inc.