Manhattan School of Music
“
NEW YORK CITY AT LAST HAS A FORMAL CONSERVATORYBASED DEGREE PROGRAM IN MUSICAL THEATRE!” – K ELLI O’HAR A TON Y AWA RD W IN NER
“TO BE INVOLVED WITH CREATING AND
DEVELOPING A TRULY INNOVATIVE MUSICAL THEATRE DEGREE PROGRAM IS EXCITING ENOUGH, BUT TO HAVE IT
AT MSM MAKES IT A BONA FIDE PASSION PROJECT!
MSM WAS THE START OF MY THEATRE DREAMS AND CONTINUES TO AFFECT MY CAREER TO THIS VERY DAY. WITH MSM’S CENTENARY JUST A FEW YEARS AWAY, THIS NEW PROGRAM IS CAUSE FOR EARLY CELEBRATION. BRAVO, MSM!” – SHULER HENSLEY (BM ’90, Hon. DMA ’14), TONY AWARD WINNER
THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to
has assembled an Artistic Advisory Committee
Manhattan School of Music’s new Musical Theatre
for the new program that is comprised of many of
Program, which provides students with a fully
Broadway’s best and beyond, a who’s-who list of
accredited Bachelor’s degree. Remarkably, it serves
musical theatre professionals that reflects the full
as New York City’s first-ever conservatory-based
range and scope of what’s possible within the art form.
degree program in an art form that was birthed
Although MSM has many alumni active on
on Broadway and has, since the early part of the
Broadway, in pit orchestras and on stages
20th century, become inseparable from this city
(including Artistic Advisory Committee members
in the popular imagination. Like jazz, which MSM
Shuler Hensley, Jose Llana, and Joseph Joubert),
introduced to its academic programs in 1984,
and although the School has long provided related
musical theatre is New York, part of the city’s
training via its superb American Musical Theatre
heartbeat. It’s the “great” in the Great White Way.
Ensemble, this new program is the School’s first
MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC LAUNCHES A NEW YORK CITY FIRST.
degree program in the art form. Each student will
In becoming the first independent music
now had to make do without a conservatory-based
conservatory in New York, and only the second in
program in the art form with which Broadway is
the country, to offer a Musical Theatre Program,
synonymous, it is equally noteworthy that it is MSM,
MSM dramatically furthers its mission to provide
just a few years shy of its centenary celebrations,
excellence in education, performance, and creative
that ends that drought. I am truly delighted to have
activity, while providing students with all the
the honor as MSM’s President to see the lights
advantages that New York City and the Broadway
at last coming up on such a program. Raise the
community can offer. This is evidenced by the
curtain, cue the orchestra, and let the show begin!
receive a solid foundation in fundamental musical and theatre skills, as well as a broader background in practical courses, literature, and humanities. If it is remarkable that New York City has until
program’s amazing artist-teacher faculty, outlined within these pages. As you will also see, MSM
James Gandre President
MORE THAN A MAJOR: A EXPERIENCE Manhattan School of Music’s Musical Theatre
shows, both on stage and behind the scenes. The
Program benefits from its New York City setting
curriculum includes four years of voice/speech/
– the School is literally situated “on Broadway”
diction, in both private and group settings; four
– attracting an artist-teacher faculty active in the
years of dance, covering ballet, tap, jazz, and
professional life of the city and furthering the MSM
other movement styles; and four years of acting,
tradition of strong community outreach, distance
including general acting, acting for camera, and
learning, and entrepreneurship. Students will enjoy
audition techniques.
the kind of opportunities for performance and real-
Significantly, the program also ventures beyond
world experience that only New York can provide.
technique, offering students courses in musical
Indeed, given its proximity to the center of all
theatre repertoire and history, drama study and
things musical theatre in this country, MSM
analysis, and technical production training.
has unparalleled access to an artist faculty and
Finally, the program is rounded off with a core
master class guest artists comprising the best
of humanities courses, providing each student a
performers, directors, choreographers, and coaches
fully accredited Bachelor’s degree in addition to
– distinguished theatre professionals all – working
the richest possible professional training. MSM is
today. This stable of talented artists and educators
committed to providing a Musical Theatre Program
will share their knowledge and experience, offering
that gives a full range of training, turning out not
students a unique working perspective of musical
merely the next generation of triple threats but
theatre at the top levels of the craft.
“quadruple threats” as well, equal parts actors,
All students will have opportunities to participate
singers, dancers, and artistic leaders.
in master classes, workshops, and fully produced
“WHAT DO YOUNG THEATRE COMPOSERS NEED BESIDES THE TALENT TO WRITE GREAT MUSIC AND LYRICS? THEY REQUIRE YOUNG MUSICAL THEATRE ACTORS TO PERFORM THEIR WORK WITH SKILL AND ARTISTRY. THIS NEW
PROGRAM AT MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC WILL HELP NURTURE MANY NEW THEATRE PERFORMERS,
WHICH WILL PROVE TO BE A GIFT TO THE COMPOSERS.” – MICHAEL A. KERKER VICE PRESIDENT OF MUSICAL THEATRE & CABARET, ASCAP
TIMES SQUARE/THEATRE DISTRICT
& OVERVIEW Manhattan School of Music is deeply committed to excellence in education, performance, and creative activity; to the humanity of the School’s environment; and to the cultural enrichment of the larger community. Recognized as one of the world’s leading music conservatories, MSM inspires and empowers highly talented individuals to realize their potential. We take full advantage of New York’s abundant learning and performance opportunities, preparing our students to be passionate performers, composers, and teachers, and imaginative, effective contributors to the arts and society. Founded as a community music school by Janet Daniels Schenck in 1918, today MSM is recognized for its more than 950 superbly talented undergraduate and graduate students who come from more than 50 countries and nearly all 50 states; a world-renowned artist-teacher faculty; and innovative curricula. The School is dedicated to the personal, artistic, and intellectual development of aspiring musicians, from its Precollege students through those pursuing postgraduate studies. Offering classical, jazz, and musical theatre training, MSM grants Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees, as well as the Professional Studies Certificate and Artist Diploma. True to MSM’s origins as a music school for children, the Precollege program continues to offer superior music instruction to young musicians between the ages of five and 18. The School also serves some 2,000 New York City schoolchildren through its Artsin-Education Program, and another 2,000 students through its critically acclaimed Distance Learning Program.
“I AM DELIGHTED THAT NEW
YORK CITY IS AT LAST HOME TO A CONSERVATORYBASED DEGREE PROGRAM IN MUSICAL THEATRE, AND I AM PROUD TO CONTRIBUTE TO ITS DEVELOPMENT IN MY ROLE AS ARTISTIC ADVISOR.” – BEBE NEUWIRTH TWO-TIME EMMY AND TONY AWARD WINNER; ARTISTIC ADVISOR, MUSICAL THEATRE PROGRAM
ADVISORY COMMITTEE LUIS PEREZ* (Associate Dean and Chair) SHULER HENSLEY* (BM ’90, is the former Director of the Musical Theatre Program
Hon. DMA ’14) is an accomplished triple threat and
of Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing
winner of the Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics
Arts. A former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet,
Circle, and many other awards.
he has enjoyed a multi-faceted career on Broadway as
JOSEPH JOUBERT* (BM ’79,
a performer, choreographer, and fight director.
BEBE NEUWIRTH* (Artistic Advisor) is
MM ’81) is a pianist, arranger, conductor, and
an actress, dancer, and singer. She is a two-time Tony
performed in New York City’s major concert halls.
and Emmy Award winner.
MICHAEL KERKER* is Vice President,
TED CHAPIN* is President and Executive
Broadway orchestrator and musical director who has
Musical Theatre & Cabaret at ASCAP, where, among
Director of Rodgers & Hammerstein: An Imagem
other things, he coordinates ASCAP and Disney/
Company and has spearheaded over 20 award-
ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshops.
winning Broadway and London revivals.
GRACIELA DANIELE, elected to
JOAN LADER* has worked as a voice therapist and teacher in private practice for more than
the American Theatre Hall of Fame, is a dancer,
30 years, working with leading singers and actors from
choreographer, and theatre director with 19 Tony and
Broadway, film, opera, R&B, rap, and rock.
Drama Desk nominations.
CHRISTINE EBERSOLE is an
NORM LEWIS is a singer and actor with a long list of leading roles on Broadway, including
actress and singer who has enjoyed many leading
a Tony-nominated performance opposite Audra
roles on stage, film, and television. She has won two
McDonald in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess.
Tony Awards.
JULES FISHER is a celebrated Broadway
JOSE LLANA (’95) is a Drama Desk Awardwinning singer and actor with a wide range of roles
lighting designer and producer, who has won nine
to his credit, including, most recently, opposite Kelli
Tony Awards for Lighting Design.
O’Hara in the Tony-winning revival of The King and I.
SETH D. GELBLUM* (Co-Chair) is
MARIN MAZZIE is a three-time Tony
Chair, Theater, at Loeb & Loeb and was named to Thomson Reuters’ list of the Top 100 Super Lawyers. He specializes in theatre, television, and film.
TIMES SQUARE/THEATRE DISTRICT
Award nominee, a singer and actress who has starred in numerous Broadway and West End productions.
JAMES NAUGHTON is an actor, singer, and director who won Tony Awards for his roles in City of Angels and Chicago.
KELLI O’HARA is an acclaimed singer and actress, a six-time Tony Award nominee who won the award for her performance in the Lincoln Center Theater revival of The King and I.
RON RAINES* is a singer, actor, voice teacher, and frequent MSM Master Class artist. He is a Tony and Emmy Award nominee with a distinguished history of leading roles in musical theatre, opera, and on television.
THOMAS SCHUMACHER is President, Disney Theatrical Group, where he oversees the development, creation, and execution of all Disney live entertainment around the globe.
SUSAN STROMAN* is a director, choreographer, and performer who has won five Tony Awards, five Drama Desk Awards, and eight Outer Critics Circle Awards.
TOMMY TUNE is a nine-time Tony Awardwinning dancer, choreographer, actor, singer, director, and producer. In 2015, he was awarded a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.
*STEERING COMMITTEE
“I AM PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS NEW PROGRAM’S ARTISTIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND LOOK
FORWARD TO WATCHING FUTURE GENERATIONS OF BROADWAY TALENT COME OF AGE AT MSM.”
– NORM LEWIS, TONY AWARD NOMINEE
2016–17 Launching in fall 2016, Manhattan School of
and workshops taught by guest instructors from
Music’s first-ever Musical Theatre Program gives
Broadway’s highest ranks, as well as a core of
students a fully rounded foundation in musical
humanities courses, providing students with a fully
theatre technique, while also offering courses in
accredited Bachelor’s degree.
musical theatre repertoire and history, drama study
The culmination of the degree program is a high-
and analysis, and technical production training.
profile Senior Showcase, which will be attended by an
The program also offers a series of master classes
invited guest list of New York theatre professionals.
FOUR-YEAR OVERVIEW Voice Lessons
8 semesters
Acting
6 semesters
Diction/Speech
4 semesters
MT Acting
8 semesters
MT Ensemble
8 semesters
Stage Makeup
1 semester
Humanities
6 semesters
Acting for the Camera
2 semesters
Music Theory
2 semesters
Audition Techniques/MT Business 2 semesters
MT History
4 semesters
Technical Production
2 semesters
Dance/Ballet
4 semesters
Choir
1 semester
Dance/Jazz
6 semesters
Stage Combat
2 semesters
Dance/Tap
4 semesters
Entrepreneurship
1 semester
Dance/MT
1 semester
Script Analysis
1 semester
Conditioning
1 semester
Intro to Prof. Theatre
1 semester
Piano
2 semesters
Intro to Tech. Theatre
1 semester
“MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC WILL SOON CELEBRATE ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY, AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO GEAR UP FOR THAT MOMENTOUS OCCASION THAN WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS NEW PROGRAM? BREAK A LEG, MSM!” – KELLI O’HARA, TONY AWARD WINNER
SAKURA PARK IN MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, ADJACENT TO MSM
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
A completed application, headshot, resume,
Applicants must audition live; no recorded
transcript(s), and two letters of recommendation
auditions will be accepted. The singing/acting
are required to be submitted online for application
audition will last three-to-five minutes and include:
to the program. All Musical Theatre students will
• a one-minute monologue;
• 32 bars of a ballad; and
Dates & Deadlines) for details.
• 32 bars of an up-tempo song.
The Musical Theatre Program is well-suited to
Songs should be age appropriate and chosen
enthusiastic, highly motivated, collaborative
from the musical theatre repertoire. Auditioning
individuals who bring a strong sense of self to
students may also be asked to participate in a
the audition. It is recommended that prospective
vocal assessment, lasting up to 15 minutes, with
students use the audition process to shine a
an individual faculty member.
light on themselves as individuals, and not try to
Auditions will include a dance call lasting
conform to a hypothetical idea of who they think
approximately one hour. Clothing should allow for
the audition panel will want to see. This program
ease of movement but not be too loose-fitting.
is designed to nurture performers who are unique
Character or jazz shoes should be worn.
and yet know how to “play well with others”; the
For specific details regarding MSM Audition Week,
begin as freshmen and attend MSM for four years. See MSMNYC.EDU/APPLICATIONS (Application,
concept of theatre as a collaborative art form will be stressed throughout the four years of training.
as well as dates and locations of regional auditions*, please consult MSMNYC.EDU/ADMISSIONS.
*For regional auditions, please prepare 32 bars of two contrasting songs from the musical theatre repertoire and one 1-minute monologue. Please bring recorded accompaniment to the regional auditions (a playback device that supports CDs or digital media will be provided).
2016–17 LUIS PEREZ (Introduction to Acting for
ANDREW GERLE (Music Theory) is a
Musical Theatre; Introduction to Professional Theatre;
composer, playwright, pianist, and educator. Among
Ballet; Showcase Director) is Associate Dean and Chair
other honors, he is the recipient of a Kleban Award for
of MSM’s Musical Theatre Program. He is Former
Outstanding Librettist, a Richard Rodgers Award, and
Director of the Musical Theatre Program of Roosevelt
the first Burton Lane Fellowship for Young Composers
University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts. A
from the Theatre Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.
former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet, he has enjoyed a multi-faceted career on Broadway as a
ANDREA GREEN (Private Voice) is a skilled
performer, choreographer, and fight director.
vocal technician, singer, and musician with one of
CLAUDIA CATANIA (Private Voice) has
the busiest private voice practices in New York City.
appeared in over 22 roles at the Metropolitan Opera,
Broadway’s biggest shows, including Hamilton, Kinky
and on Broadway and regionally in The Most Happy
Boots, Fun Home, Matilda, Book of Mormon, Something
Fella, The King and I, South Pacific, Titanic, and
Rotten, The King and I, The Lion King, and Wicked.
with Zero Mostel in Fiddler on the Roof. She is an Assistant Professor of Voice at Westminster College
J. JARED JANAS (Makeup) is a wig, hair,
of the Arts and at the Mannes School of Music, and
and makeup designer for theatre, TV, and film. His
teaches Singing for Actors at the American Academy
Broadway designs and consultations include The Visit,
of Dramatic Arts.
The Real Thing, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, The
JUDITH CLURMAN (Ensemble Voice,
Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, Motown the Musical, Peter
Private Voice) is an Emmy- and Grammy-nominated conductor, vocal educator, and choral specialist.
DAVID LOUD (Musical Director) is a
She conducts Essential Voices USA, collaborates
distinguished Broadway musical director and vocal
with the New York Pops on the iconic institution’s
arranger. His Broadway credits include The Visit, The
Carnegie Hall subscription series, and maintains an
Scottsboro Boys, Sondheim on Sondheim, Curtains,
active vocal studio.
Ragtime, Steel Pier, Sweeney Todd, Company, and The
CATHERINE COX (Script Analysis) is
Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. He has served on the faculty
a Tony Award-nominated and Drama Desk Awardwinning actress and educator. Her Broadway credits
SUE MAKKOO (Costume Design) is a
include leading roles in Oh, Coward!, Footloose,
designer and costume director whose 25-year career
Baby, Rumors, Music Is, Whoopee!, Barnum, and
has taken her from the international fashion industry
One Night Stand. She is an adjunct professor for the
to Broadway. She has spent the past 11 years at the
Drama Department at Queens College and has taught
Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse developing
musical theatre performance for many years at the
new shows and participating in sending many of
American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
them to Broadway. She is a frequent lecturer at the
Her students are currently performing in several of
and the Starcatcher, All About Me, and Next to Normal.
of the Yale School of Drama and Fordham University.
University of California, San Diego Department of Theatre and Dance MFA program.
RIVERSIDE PARK IN MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, ADJACENT TO MSM
JOAN MELTON (Speech), an Associate
LAURA SAMETZ (Fundamentals of Acting)
Artist with New York Classical Theatre and the author
coaches young actors who come from all disciplines,
of three groundbreaking voice textbooks, is a pioneer
including opera, musical theatre, and dance. As a
in the integration of singing techniques and voice/
teacher, she stresses the importance of the written text
movement training for the actor.
and story. An actress herself, with numerous New York
ANDREW PARKS (Private Voice) is
theatre credits, she has developed a technique that
an actor, singer, and teacher with over 20 years’
true to the written word.
experience on musical theatre and light opera stages. He is a former faculty member of California State
SCOTT STAUFFER (Sound Design)
University, Fullerton, with appointments in both the
has been sound designer and engineer for over 25
Theatre and Music departments, and Pacific Lutheran
Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, and has
University. His students appear on Broadway, in
been sound designer for Lincoln Center’s American
national tours, and at the Metropolitan Opera.
Songbook Series since 1999.
helps students discover their own voices while staying
TINA PAUL (Introduction to Acting for Musical Theatre) is an actress, dancer, director, and choreographer with over 25 years of Broadway experience. Her teaching experience includes nine years at Roosevelt University’s College of Performing Arts, numerous New York City studios, and a ground-breaking tenure bringing contemporary ballet, jazz, modern, and tap styles to China’s Academy of Dance in Beijing.
“DRAWING FROM ALL NEW YORK CITY HAS TO OFFER, MSM IS COMMITTED TO
DEEPENING AND ENRICHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF MUSICAL THEATRE ARTISTS. MUSICAL THEATRE IS A DISCIPLINE THAT HAS A TRADITION OF BEING PASSED DOWN FROM PERSON TO PERSON, FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT. FROM ITS PERCH ON (UPPER) BROADWAY, MSM IS PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN THAT TRADITION.” – LUIS PEREZ, ASSOCIATE DEAN AND CHAIR, MUSICAL THEATRE PROGRAM
Manhattan School of Music