ANNOUNCING THE
Manhattan School of Music
“
NEW YORK CITY AT LAST HAS A FORMAL CONSERVATORYBASED DEGREE PROGRAM IN MUSICAL THEATER!”
BEGINNING IN FALL 2016
– K ELLI O’HAR A TO N Y AWA RD W IN NER
“DRAWING FROM ALL NEW YORK CITY HAS TO OFFER, MSM
WILL BE COMMITTED TO DEEPENING AND ENRICHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF MUSICAL THEATER ARTISTS. MUSICAL THEATER 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 WILL SOON PLAY A KEY ROLE IN THAT TRADITION.” – LUIS PEREZ, PROGRAM DIRECTOR
“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
It is with great pleasure that I announce the
Committee for the program that is comprised
launch of Manhattan School of Music’s Musical
of many of Broadway’s best and beyond, a
Theatre Program, which will provide students
who’s-who list of musical theater professionals
with a fully accredited Bachelor’s degree.
that reflects the full range and scope of what’s
Remarkably, it will serve as New York City’s
possible within the art form.
first-ever conservatory-based degree program in
Although MSM has many alumni active on
an art form that was birthed on Broadway and
Broadway, in pit orchestras and on stages
has, since the early part of the 20th century,
(including Artistic Advisory Committee members
become inseparable from this city in the popular
Shuler Hensley, Jose Llana, and Joseph Joubert),
imagination. Like jazz, which MSM introduced to
and although the School has long provided
its academic programs in 1984, musical theater
related training via its superb American Musical
is New York, part of the city’s heartbeat. It’s the
Theater Ensemble, this new offering will be
“great” in the Great White Way.
a full-blown professional Bachelor’s degree
MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC LAUNCHES A NEW YORK CITY FIRST.
program. It will provide each student with a
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 will
MSM will dramatically further its mission to
be MSM, just a few years shy of its centenary
provide excellence in education, performance,
celebrations, that ends that drought. I am truly
and creative activity, while providing students
delighted to have the honor as MSM’s President
with all the advantages that New York City and
to announce that the lights are at last coming up
the Broadway community can offer (including
on such a program. Raise the curtain, cue the
a top-flight artist-teacher faculty). Already,
orchestra, and let the show begin!
solid foundation in fundamental musical and theater skills, as well as a broader background in practical courses, literature, and humanities. If it is remarkable that New York City has until
the School has assembled an Artistic Advisory
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 will benefit from its New York City setting
curriculum will include 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; 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 will also venture beyond
world experience that only New York can provide.
technique, offering students courses in musical
Indeed, given its proximity to the center of all things
theater repertoire and history, drama study and
musical theater in this country, MSM will have
analysis, and technical production training.
unparalleled access to an artist faculty comprising
Finally, the program will be rounded off with a core
the best performers, directors, choreographers, and
of humanities courses, providing each student a fully
coaches – distinguished theater professionals all –
accredited Bachelor’s degree in addition to the richest
working today. This stable of talented artists and
possible professional training in musical theater.
educators will share their knowledge and experience,
MSM is committed to providing a Musical Theatre
offering students a unique working perspective of
Program that gives a full range of training, turning
musical theater at the top levels of the craft.
out not merely the next generation of triple threats
All students will have opportunities to participate
but “quadruple threats” as well, equal parts actors,
in master classes, workshops, and fully produced
singers, dancers, and artistic leaders.
“WHAT DO YOUNG THEATER COMPOSERS NEED BESIDES THE TALENT TO WRITE GREAT MUSIC AND LYRICS? THEY REQUIRE YOUNG MUSICAL THEATER ACTORS TO PERFORM THEIR WORK WITH SKILL AND ARTISTRY. THIS NEW PROGRAM AT MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC WILL HELP NURTURE MANY NEW THEATER PERFORMERS, WHICH WILL PROVE TO BE A GIFT TO THE COMPOSERS.” – MICHAEL A. KERKER VICE PRESIDENT OF MUSICAL THEATRE, ASCAP
“TO BE INVOLVED WITH CREATING AND DEVELOPING
A TRULY INNOVATIVE MUSICAL THEATER DEGREE PROGRAM IS EXCITING ENOUGH, BUT TO HAVE IT AT MSM MAKES IT A BONA FIDE PASSION PROJECT! MSM WAS THE START OF MY THEATER DREAMS AND CONTINUES TO AFFECT MY CAREER TO THIS VERY DAY. WITH MSM’S CENTENARY JUST A FEW YEARS AWAY, THIS NEW PROGRAM, WHICH WILL LAUNCH IN FALL 2016, IS CAUSE FOR EARLY CELEBRATION. BRAVO, MSM!” – SHULER HENSLEY (BM ’90, Hon. DMA ’14), TONY AWARD WINNER
“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
“I AM DELIGHTED THAT NEW
YORK CITY WILL AT LAST BE HOME TO A CONSERVATORY-BASED DEGREE PROGRAM IN MUSICAL THEATER AND CONGRATULATE MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC ON THIS WONDERFUL NEW INITIATIVE.” – BEBE NEUWIRTH TWO-TIME EMMY AND TONY AWARD WINNER
ADVISORY TED CHAPIN,* as President and
MICHAEL KERKER* is Director,
Executive Director of Rodgers & Hammerstein:
Musical Theatre, at ASCAP, where, among
An Imagem Company, has spearheaded over 20
other things, he coordinates ASCAP and Disney/
award-winning Broadway and London revivals, as
ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshops in New York
well as several film and TV movie remakes and
and Los Angeles.
numerous recordings.
NORM LEWIS is a Tony-nominated singer
GRACIELA DANIELE, elected to the
and actor with a long list of leading roles on
American Theater Hall of Fame, is a dancer,
Broadway. He was nominated for a Tony Award
choreographer, and theater director with 19 Tony
for his performance as Porgy opposite Audra
and Drama Desk nominations.
McDonald in the Broadway production of The
CHRISTINE EBERSOLE is an
Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess.
actress and singer who has enjoyed many leading
JOSE LLANA (’95) is a Drama Desk Award-
roles on stage, film, and television. She has won
winning singer and actor with a wide range of roles to
two Tony Awards.
his credit. His professional theater career was launched
JULES FISHER is a celebrated Broadway
when, during his freshman year at MSM, he landed
lighting designer and producer, who has won nine
opposite Lou Diamond Phillips and Donna Murphy.
Tony Awards for Lighting Design.
In 2015, he joined the cast of the show’s Lincoln
SETH D. GELBLUM,* Chair, Theater,
Center Theater revival as The King (opposite fellow
at Loeb & Loeb, LLP, is an attorney specializing in theater, television, and film. He was listed in Thomson Reuters’ list of the Top 100 Super Lawyers.
SHULER HENSLEY* (BM ’90, Hon. DMA ’14) is an accomplished singer and actor with a resume that includes leading roles in musicals, plays, and operas. He has won the Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle,
a starring role in a Broadway revival of The King and I
Artistic Advisory Committee member Kelli O’Hara).
MARIN MAZZIE is a three-time Tony Award nominee, a singer and actress who has been heard in many of the country’s major concert venues and 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
and many other awards.
City of Angels and Chicago.
JOSEPH JOUBERT* (BM ’79,
BEBE NEUWIRTH* is an actress,
MM ’81) is a pianist, composer, arranger,
dancer, and singer with two Tony Awards and two
conductor, and Broadway orchestrator and
Emmy Awards to her credit. In the current revival of
musical director who has performed both as a
Chicago on Broadway, she played the role of Velma
solo performer and ensemble player in New York
in the original cast and subsequently returned to
City’s major concert halls, including Carnegie
the production to play Roxie, making her the only
Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, and Alice Tully Hall.
performer to have played both parts on Broadway.
COMMITTEE KELLI O’HARA is an acclaimed singer and actress, a Tony Award-winner for her portrayal of Anna in the Lincoln Center Theater revival of The King and I. She has been nominated for five other Tony Awards over the course of her illustrious career.
LUIS PEREZ* has been Director of the Musical Theatre Program of Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts since 2008 and is now spearheading MSM’s newly announced Musical Theater Program. A former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet, he has enjoyed a multi-faceted career on Broadway as a performer,
& 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.
choreographer, and fight director.
Founded as a community music school by Janet Daniels
RON RAINES* is a singer, actor, voice
Schenck in 1918, today MSM is recognized for its more
teacher, frequent MSM Master Class artist, and on
students who come from more than 50 countries and
the faculty of the School’s new Musical Theatre
nearly all 50 states; a world-renowned artist-teacher
Program. He is a Tony and Emmy Award nominee
faculty; and innovative curricula. The School is dedicated
with a distinguished history of leading roles in
to the personal, artistic, and intellectual development of
musicals, opera, and on television.
aspiring musicians, from its Precollege students through
SUSAN STROMAN* is a director,
those pursuing postgraduate studies.
choreographer, and performer. She has won five Tony Awards, including for Best Choreography and Best Direction, five Drama Desk Awards, and eight Outer Critics Circle Awards.
TOMMY TUNE is a nine-time Tony
than 900 superbly talented undergraduate and graduate
Offering both classical and jazz training – and, beginning in fall 2016, a Bachelor’s degree program in musical theater – 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,
Award-winning dancer, choreographer, actor,
the Precollege program continues to offer superior music
singer, director, and producer. He is this year’s
instruction to young musicians between the ages of five
recipient of the Special Tony Award for Lifetime
and 18. The School also serves some 2,000 New York City
Achievement in the Theatre.
schoolchildren through its Arts-in-Education Program, and another 2,000 students through its critically acclaimed Distance Learning Program.
*STEERING COMMITTEE
Manhattan School of Music