WAHT IS The BROADWAY UNLIMITED Summer Program?
Broadway Unlimited is a unique one-week performing arts learning experience for young performers ages 8-18. In this immersive program, students will have the opportunity to train with working Broadway professionals and specialized faculty on their one-week journey. This summer the Journey begins in Bergen County, NJ. Once admitted into the program through audition, students will have daily training in acting, singing and dance. Students will also receive speciality master classes from Broadway performers who will work on tv & film acting, mock auditions (cold readings and audition cuts), comedy improv and more. Every student will leave the program with a rehearsed and coached monologue and a song repertoire book of at least 2 cut audition songs. They will also learn key tools from the pros about how to build confidence, battle nerves and of course have fun while performing.
All participants will see a Broadway show and have a lunch Q&A / workshop with a current Broadway star at a NYC rehearsal studio. Our final event will be a showcase for family, friends and industry professionals. Parents are also invited before the showcase to attend a panel with industry professionals who can answer questions about a career in the performing arts.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN BROADWAY UNLIMITED’s Summer Program?
Students ages 8-18 are invited to audition and anyone who receives an offer of admission following an audition and accepts the offer is eligible to attend.
HOW CAN I AUDITION OR SEND IN A VIDEO AUDITION? OR HOW CAN I REGISTER MY CHILD OR STUDENT TO AUDITION?
Please click on the “schedule your audition” tab or right here.
WHY ARE THERE AUDITIONS?
Broadway Unlimited is a very unique performing arts intensive. Students will be learning from professional Broadway performers every day. We feel that an audition is important as we want to make sure that we reserve this opportunity for serious, motivated young people and SPACE IS VERY LIMITED. We also want to make sure that our students are a good fit for this intensive program. Auditioning is a necessary component of performing and a learned skill. In the Broadway Unlimited experience our audition process is the first step on taking one’s passion for the performing arts to the next level. Our audition process is fun and welcoming and we also provide a group warm-up. Think of our audition as a meet and greet -- with a little bit of song. ;)
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE BROADWAY UNLIMITED Summer Program held?
Broadway Unlimited 2024 will be July 31 - August 3 9am - 5pm with industry showcase in New York City on Saturday August 3. Wednesday July 31 the students will be bussed to NYC for classes in a real NYC rehearsal studio and will attend a matinee of a Broadway show. (Show selection choices will be announced at a later date).
Where: Studio L Dance Company in Waldwick, NJ in Bergen County, NJ on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday in NYC (bussed from Waldwick, NJ) and Saturday at a NYC Theatre space.
WHO TEACHES AT the BROADWAY UNLIMITED Summer Program ?
Instructors: Broadway guest artists and industry professionals including program director Donna Vivino (Wicked, Hell’s Kitchen (Alicia Keys’ new musical) Law & Order, Les Miz) .
Past guest artists have included Alex Brightman (Beetlejuice), Donna Murphy (Tangled), Annaleigh Ashford (Sweeney Todd), Christy Altomare (Anastasia) Adriana Hicks (Six, Some Like it Hot), Thayne Jasperson (Hamilton).
MY SON OR DAUGHTER ISN’T A STRONG SINGER OR DANCER BUT LOVES TO ACT. MY CHILD SINGS BUT ISN’T A STRONG DANCER. SHOULD THEY STILL AUDITION?
Absolutely! This program is designed to help students become “triple threats” if they desire, but we also focus on students’ own individual strengths. For example, if a young performer is proficient in acting they will have an opportunity to showcase this strength while learning how to incorporate their acting ability into singing and movement.
MY SON OR DAUGHTER IS NOT INTERESTED IN PURSUING A PROFESSIONAL CAREER ON BROADWAY OR IN THE PERFORMING ARTS. IS THERE STILL A BENEFIT TO THIS COURSE?
Yes! The skills essential to success as a performing artist are the same skills essential to success in life. One-on-one communication, successful job interviews, confidence in speaking publicly, problem solving within a group dynamic, creativity, spontaneity, thinking critically, literacy skills, learning how to collaborate with others, developing a strong sense of work ethic; and presenting one's best self are all essential life-skills. This program aims to focus on all of these life-skills by utilizing performing arts as the vehicle. All students will personally benefit from the unique exposure to top performing arts professionals in our daily master classes. Regardless of whether your child plans to pursue a career in the arts, students will have the opportunity to hear individual success stories from leading arts experts in their field; their guidance and tribulations transcend into any future professional career path.
WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY IN THE PROGRAM?
Every day students will take classes in acting, singing and dance with their group. Classes include song interpretation, musical theatre singing, scene study, audition technique, theatre games, movement and dance. Prior to beginning the program students will be placed in their group according to age. In addition to the Core classes students will have daily special guest workshops and master classes with industry professionals and current Broadway artists who will be coming to Bergen County to work with the students. This fast moving day will challenge each student and allow them to take the next big step in their training, while having an incredible time!
Broadway Unlimited master class teachers are highly regarded professional actors/teaching artists who have starred in major Broadway shows, on Television and in Film.
WHAT IS THE WEEKLY SCHEDULE?
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday we have master classes and rehearsals at our rehearsal studios from 9am-5pm in Waldwick, NJ along with a catered lunch daily. On Wednesday we will see a Broadway matinee preceded by a Q&A workshop and lunch with a Broadway star. Saturday we head to our showcase space (Theatre TBD) for the final performance. Parents are invited to attend a panel consisting of industry professionals before the showcase. Parents will have the opportunity to ask questions to our panel guests about a career in the performing arts. Following the showcase performance there is a certificate ceremony.
CAN PARENTS ATTEND THE MASTER CLASSES AND TRAINING SESSIONS?
We do not permit parents to attend any sessions or classes as it affects the students’ performances and training. There is a lot offered to parents during the week. The first event is an orientation on Sunday July 30th where parents and classmates, chaperones and some faculty members can meet and greet and discuss the upcoming week. Finally there is an industry panel for parents preceding the student showcase on Saturday the final day of the program. The showcase is free for friends and family of the student. Extra complimentary tickets are available on a first-come first service basis. All students are guaranteed 2 tickets each.
CAN A YOUNG CHILD HANDLE THIS LEVEL OF ACTIVITY?
Yes! All participants are all selected by audition and are pursuing something they love. Our program is challenging but age-appropriate.
WHAT DOES TUITION INCLUDE FOR THE PROGRAM?
Broadway Unlimited’s Summer Program is over 40 hours of programming and includes ALL of the following :
Daily catered lunches, snacks and water (no packed meals necessary)
Daily Special Master classes with Broadway Guest artists and industry professionals from shows such as “Hamilton”, “Six” “Frozen”, “Dear Evan Hansen”, “Beetlejuice”, “Wicked” that will cover the following -- including but not limited to:
Song interpretation (Finding your voice & voice type)
Theatre/Broadway Dance (How to learn a dance combination quickly)
Acting for the camera with guest artists from TV and Film
Comedy improv
Cold Readings
Choosing the right songs and monologues for YOU
The Dos & Don’ts of Auditioning
Key tools to Battle Nerves and Have Fun Onstage
Daily work with owner/director ” Donna Vivino (Broadway’s “Wicked”(Elphaba), “Hairspray”, “Legally Blonde” “Les Miz” TV “Law & Order” )
Daily intensives and rehearsals for our Showcase (Location TBD) from 9am-5pm in acting, singing and dance (ALL STUDENTS ARE DIVIDED INTO AGE/SKILL APPROPRIATE GROUPS) in a rehearsal studio in Waldwick, NJ with our performing arts team and master guest teachers. Students will learn the “Broadway basics” including how to break down a dance combination, how to pick the right place to cut a song down to 16-32 bars and scene study/monologue. Every student will leave the program with a rehearsed and coached monologue and a song repertoire book of at least 2 cut audition songs. They will also learn key tools from the pros about how to build confidence, battle nerves and of course have fun while performing.
Tickets to a Broadway matinee on Wednesday preceded by a Q&A lunch and workshop with a Broadway star in a New York City rehearsal studio
Mock audition session with NYC casting director and/or agent for young performers
Guest Panel and information session for parents with industry professionals the day of the showcase.
Orientation night and meet & greet Sunday evening
Showcase performance for family, friends and invited NYC industry guests (Location TBD)
Zoom/Facetime coaching session prior to the start of the program for help with preparation for the week
Bus transportation round trip to NYC on Wednesday
Certificate for completing “Broadway Unlimited” summer program
Two “Broadway Unlimited” t-shirts
…...and more specially tailored programming
TUITION IS $1350 which can be paid in installments and 10 percent sibling discount for eldest child’s tuition.
WHAT IS THE BROADWAY UNLIMITED CANCELLATION POLICY?
After a student has been invited into the program and accepted their invitation there is a 50% deposit due to secure a spot. If a student must withdraw from the program, there are no refunds or credits of any kind for the initial 50% deposit. These deposits guarantee your space in the program. After the remaining 50% of the tuition is charged on the dates listed in your acceptance letter, there are no refunds or credits of any kind. If you choose to pay in full at the time of your registration and must withdraw before the final payment due date listed, we will refund you the remainder payment only (50% percent of the total program fee).