Stars in Training	Theatre Training Program	Musical Theatre Workshops
Jr. 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 five 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.

5. Mitzvah Troupe - A select group of JCC Theatre students give back to the community by performing at various functions and community events.  Auditions required.
 

2008-2009 Stars in Training
Flyer

Nursery Rhyme Theatre 
Ages 3 - 5 (see age requirements for each class)
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 the pre-school student, 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.
 

Wednesdays, 3:15 - 4:00pm
Students must be four by December 31, 2008	$295
Session I: September 17, 2007 - January 14, 2009	TA01F
(no class 10/1 -10/22, 12/24, 12/31)
Session II: January 28 - May 20, 2009	$340
(no class 2/18, 4/8, 4/15)	TA01S
Kerri Lubell, Instructor
Thursdays,  1:00 - 1:45pm	$340
Students must be three by March 1, 2008
Session I: September 18, 2008 - January 22, 2009	TA02F
(no class 10/9, 11/27, 12/11, 12/25, 1/1)
Session II: January 29 - June 4, 2009	TA02S
(no class 2/19, 3/12, 4/9, 4/16, 5/28)
Kerri Lubell, Instructor
Thursdays,  3:15 - 4:00pm	$340
Students must be four by December 31, 2008
Session I: September 18, 2008 - January 22, 2009	TA03F
(no class 10/9, 11/27, 12/11, 12/25, 1/1)
Session II: January 29 - June 4, 2009	TA03S
(no class 2/19, 3/12, 4/9, 4/16, 5/28)
Carly Lewis, Instructor

Fables and Fairytales 
Grades K -1
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.
 

THEATRE FOR 2ND AND 3RD GRADERS
Join us in exploring the magic of theatre. This class will discover improvisation, musical theatre and acting technique through games, theatrical exercises and stories. At the end of each semester, the class will share their work with a performance on our Bendheim stage. Students in this class are eligible for priority registration for our musical theatre workshops.

ACTING I

Join us for an introduction to the wonder of theatre! We will explore all disciplines of theatre: including but not limited to improvisation, auditioning, acting technique and musical theatre. Professional industry guests will come share their expertise with our students. This class will share their work with an end of the year performance on our Bendheim stage. Students in this class are eligible for priority registration for our musical theatre workshops.

ACTING II
This class is designed for the more experienced actor. Students will sharpen their skills in many theatrical disciplines: including but not limited to auditioning, monologues, scene study and musical theatre. Professional industry guests will come share their expertise with our students. This class will share their work with an end of the year performance on our Bendheim Stage. Students in this class are eligible for priority registration for our musical theatre workshops.

Prerequisite: Students must be invited to be in this class if they are a past student. Those new to our program must contact Traci Timmons at ext. 226 for a placement audition.

2008- 09 Musical Theatre Workshops

Peter Pan
Grades 1-2, 3-5 and 6-11
This is a terrific new opportunity for budding performers to be cast in a production of Peter Pan 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.

 

Grades 5 and up
JCC kids give back to our community through song and good deeds. This Troupe will have a repertoire of performance material to share at various functions and locations through out our community. Students will be involved with producing - choosing materials and “booking acts” as well as performing. Audition and interview required. Limited to 14 students. Applicable toward community service and/or Bar and Bat Mitzvah requirements. Contact Debra Katz at x302 for more information.

Mitzvah Troupe Auditions/Second Session
Auditions are being held Thursday January 15^th  from 6:15 – 7:00pm.  You will be called in one at a time.  Everyone will be asked to sing. 

Boys may choose from:

“Any dream will do” – from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Key of  G

OR

“The Star Spangled Banner” – in Key of G

CABARET AT THE J NEW!
Adults only 18+
Do you love sitting around a piano and singing show tunes? Join our group of talented grown ups once a month and sing, sing, sing! We will be joined by a professional piano player who will play songs the group chooses. Contact Traci Timmons at x226 for more information.

NEW! MUSICAL THEATER AUDITION LAB WITH A BROADWAY ACTOR
CANCELLED
Ages 8 - 15
Learn how to land the next audition. Students will work with a Broadway actor (TBA) along with Jessica Rofe (Artistic Director of A Class Act NY and a former casting director) as well as a Musical Director (TBA) on song interpretation, scene work, and an audition dance combo. Students should come with sheet music and be dressed to move.

RAY WILLS has appeared on Broadway in The Producers, Wonderful Town, Big and Anna Karenina. As a featured member of the original cast of The Producers, Ray appeared in over 1000 performances in New York and Los Angeles, and as an understudy, performed the role of Max Bialystock 40 times, opposite Matthew Broderick, Martin Short, and Steven Weber. His many Off-Broadway credits include A Class Act, All in the Timing and The Rothschilds. Regionally, he appeared in the Ravinia Festival production of Anyone Can Whistle starring Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris. Television credits include Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Law and Order: SVU, all the daytime dramas, and recently the PBS Great Performances broadcast of Candide with the NY Philharmonic. Film work includes the current movie musical, The Producers, and Oliver Stone's Nixon. Ray holds an MFA in Acting from Brandeis University, a BA in Speech Communication/Theatre from Wichita State University, and currently is an adjunct professor at Kean University in Union, New Jersey.

2008- 2009 Bendheim Jr. Performance Troupe
Grades 3 - 12

Satisfy that acting bug by auditioning for our Jr. 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 Jr. Performance Troupe is an opportunity for actors to experience what a professional production is like first hand.  Most important, we will have a ton of fun!   

Past Performances Include:
High School Musical - July 2008
Alice in Wonderland, Jr. -  December 2007
Seussical Jr. - July 2007
Fiddler on the Roof Jr.  – December 2006
Annie Jr.  – Summer/ July  2006
Aladdin Jr.  – December 2005
Cinderella  - Summer/ August  2005

2008- 2009 Bendheim Jr. Performance Troupe Winter Musical Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka Jr.  TA17F Description: The Bendheim Jr. performance Troupe is an opportunity for actors to experience a professional production in a nurturing environment.   Congratulations to the cast of Willy Wonka Jr.   Over 100 talented actors auditioned for our show.  You all made our job VERY HARD!!!!    The first rehearsal is this Sunday, September 28 from 1:00 – 600 .  The parent meeting is from 1:00 – 1:30.  We ask that you register your child at this time.    If for any reason you decide NOT to take the part given to you, please email me by Saturday night at 7:00 at katzd@jccmw.org   The TENTATIVE schedule is posted on our website… please review!    The Candy Kids are  featured in two songs… The Candy Man and Think Positive.  They are also our Oompah Loompah leaders… more information will be given out on this as we proceed.   If you were not cast in our show please remember there are other opportunities in the form of workshops and classes so please give either Traci Timmons or me  a call to explore.    Once again, we thank everyone who auditioned and look forward to seeing you soon!   First Name Last Name Initials Part Jorge Lop Willy Wonka David Axe Charlie Bucket Rachel Und Mrs. Bucket Marni Fri Grandma Josephina Morgan Sol Grandma Georgina Dillion Orl Grandpa George Eric Els Grandpa Joe Sophie Gar Phineous Trout Maddie Bur Augusta/Augustus Gloop Shiri Was Mrs. Gloop Julia Kat Veruca Salt Holly Sou Mr./Mrs. Salt Julia Wie Violet Beauregarde Harper Hun Mrs. Beauregarde Andrew Pol Mike Teavee Rachel Boc Ms. Teavee Dominique Seg Jamie/Candy Kid/Oomp Alexandra Gol Mathilda/Candy Kid/Oomp Ariana Bro Linda/Candy Kid/Oomp Nicole Abo Candy Kid/Oomp Hannah Bac Candy Kid/Oomp Marci Bru Candy Kid/Oomp Leah Kas Candy Kid/Oomp Liana Kat Candy Kid/Oomp Samantha Lan Candy Kid/Oomp Christine Men Candy Kid/Oomp Nicole Rod Candy Kid/Oomp Lilly Sav Candy Kid/Oomp Carolina Sta Candy Kid/Oomp Kiki Wei Candy Kid/Oomp Lauren Woo Candy Kid/Oomp Shira Zish Candy Kid/Oomp Avigal Alt Oompa-Loompa Ava Bra Oompa-Loompa Sarah Bro Oompa-Loompa Sarah Car Oompa-Loompa Gabriella Che Oompa-Loompa Danielle Coh Oompa-Loompa Kaylah Fel Oompa-Loompa Emma Gar Oompa-Loompa Emma Gib Oompa-Loompa Hannah Hun Oompa-Loompa Elizabeth Jac Oompa-Loompa Shira Jul Oompa-Loompa Rebecca Mac Oompa-Loompa Samantha Mac Oompa-Loompa Kira Min Oompa-Loompa Claudia Mor Oompa-Loompa Zoe Oro Oompa-Loompa Emily Pav Oompa-Loompa Mara Sav Oompa-Loompa Jes Smi Oompa-Loompa Justine Rose Sou Oompa-Loompa Caroline Ste Oompa-Loompa Miriam Ste Oompa-Loompa Danielle Tan Oompa-Loompa Nicholas Tow Oompa-Loompa Jailene Val Oompa-Loompa Delaney Wal Oompa-Loompa Ruthi Was Oompa-Loompa Julie Wat Oompa-Loompa Elizabeth Wei Oompa-Loompa Danielle Wol Oompa-Loompa Ariel Sto Squirrel TBD   Squirrel TBD   Squirrel     Songs:         Pure Imagination Cheer Up, Charlie I've Got a Golden Ticket I Want it Now Participants: Students in THIRD grade through twenty-one may audition. Audition Location: Auditions will be held at the JCC of Mid-Westchester, 999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale. You only need to audition September 16th or September 14th Audition Process: AUDITION SONG:  The Candy Man       Click here for sheet music          Song with vocals        Song without vocals Check in at the table by the theatre door. If you did not bring a picture, make sure to have a Polaroid taken. Fill out the Willy Wonka Jr. Audition Form (Note you may complete this form online and print) PDF document Children will be called in groups, between ten and fifteen, all will be asked to sing.   Accompaniment will be provided. Be prepared to dance. In addition, you may be asked to say a couple of lines from the script. The call back list will be posted on our website by September 22nd. If you are not called back there is still a very good chance that you will be invited to participate in the show. The final cast list will be posted by September 25th. Rehearsal Period: Please make sure you have Sundays and Tuesdays available, as the bulk of rehearsals will be on those days. Please do not audition for the show if you have more than one conflict on Sundays or Tuesdays or if you are not available during tech week. A full detailed schedule is expected to be available at auditions. Not everyone will be needed every Sunday or Tuesday.. final schedule will give these details. Rehearsals: Willy Wonka schedule updated 10/28/08 (subject to change) Sundays, 1:00 - 6:00, Begins-September 28th. Mondays, a couple of rehearsals might be added in on Mondays. Tuesdays, 4:00 - 8:00pm, Begins October 7th. Tech rehearsals: Sunday, December 7 from 1:00 - 6:00pm Monday - Wednesday, December 8 - 10 (rehearsal for everyone in cast 4:00pm to 8:00pm ) NO exceptions 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 Price: $20.00 Performance runs one hour and a half with one 10 minute intermission. Purchase Tickets Performance Dates: Thursday, December 11, 7:00pm Saturday, December 13, 7:00pm Sunday, December 14, 11:00am and 4:00pm Monday, December 15, 7:00 pm More Information: Please contact Debra Katz at 914-472-3300 x 302 or Traci Timmons at x 226 Director Debra Katz Choreographer  Carly Lewis Stage Manager Jorge Lopez Assistant Director Traci Timmons Musical Director Jonathan Cahr Casting Director TBD

Faculty

LAURA KRAMER has been teaching acting for the last 13 years as a studio artist in Daniel Webster Magnet School, for which she is also the reperatory theater director. She also has 13 years as an acting instructor for the Summer Arts Center, and as an educator with The Children’s Jewish Education Group. She works with grown-ups as a corporate trainer for Balancing Life’s Issues. She formerly taught public speaking for Mercy College, including their program at Sing Sing Correctional facility, where she spent 5 years as a volunteer for the theater program, Rehabilitation through the Arts. As a founding member of the theater company Logodaedaly, she co- produced ten full length plays, four of which were performed in the Bendheim. She is a member of AEA, SAG and AFTRA.

CARLY LEWIS (Resident Choreographer) received her BFA from Brigham Young University in Music, Dance, and Theater. She has been teaching in the arts for over 10 years. She teaches acting to children in the area and at the JCC. She currently teaches in the Ballet School and is the choreographer for the Bendheim Jr. Performance Troup. In addition to teaching, she has performed professionally in Musical Theater throughout the United States as well as with professional Ballet companies. Carly is vocally trained and has had the opportunity to record several albums with Tantara Records. She considers teaching a passion and strives to give her students the best instruction possible.

KERRI LUBELL is a graduate of the Academy of Dramatic Art. She is an Equity actress who has appeared at the Public Theatre, the Manhattan Theatre Club, Lincoln Center, the Kitchen and many other off-Broadway venues. Favorite regional roles included Helen in “The Miracle Worker,” Chava in “Fiddler on the Roof,” Sally Bowles in “Cabaret” and Hermia in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” She was fortunate to travel to Florence, Italy with the Williamstown Summer Theatre’s Obie award winning production. Kerri teaches drama, dance, art and music for ages two through senior citizens.

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.

About the Producing 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 creative home.

Traci Timmons, Theatre Institute Director
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. She has performed and taught extensively throughout Westchester and New York City.