Broadway comes to Boulder: Big stars hosting free labs

BOULDER, Colo. — Professionals from the entertainment industry -- including big-names from Broadway and Cirque du Soleil -- will teach labs at the University of Colorado this spring, giving participants a glimpse into what happens behind the curtains.

The good news: The sessions also are open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. More good news: The labs are free, a treat from the university and a Boulder studio to the public during the recession. The workshops are the result of a partnership between CU's ATLAS center and Broadway in Boulder Studios.

Jennifer Rudin, the director of casting and talent development for Disney Theatrical Productions, taught CU students and attendees Monday how to rock an audition and what casting is like on Broadway.

Tony Award-winning conductor and musical director Kevin Stites will teach the next session on Monday and cover issues like blending voices and conducting. His Tony Award-winning credits include "Les Miserables," "Sunset Boulevard," "The Color Purple," "Titanic," "Nine," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Oklahoma!" and "A Tale of Two Cities."

The other sessions will reveal what its like to direct a large-scale Broadway production, and the Cirque du Soleil designer of the Las Vegas production "LOVE" will focus on the massive technical aspects of a full-scale multimedia production including sound, lighting and video projection.

"It's hard to be out there in the world as an artist," said Rebekah West, director of the ATLAS Center for Arts, Media and Performance. "We want to help our students at CU make connections so they can go on and be successful, and we want to do the same for our community members."

The visiting professionals are also helping Broadway in Boulder Studios produce its first full-scale musical "The Secret Garden," which will be performed in CU's ATLAS Black Box Studios in June. The all-student production will have a full orchestra and original Broadway costumes.

Broadway stars David Ayers ("Wicked," "Mamma Mia!" and "Fiddler on the Roof") and Angela Gaylor ("La Cage Aux Folles," "Hairspray" and "Oklahoma!") are the co-founders of Broadway in Boulder Studios. Ayers said they wanted to use their connections in Hollywood, Las Vegas and New York to bring the series of classes to Boulder, and CU's new state-of-the-art studio is an ideal stage.

"We want to promote the arts here in Boulder," he said.

Contact Camera Staff Writer Brittany Anas at 303-473-1132 or anasb@dailycamera.com.

About the ATLAS Center Directors' Labs

Each ATLAS Center for Arts, Media and Performance lab this month offers up to 16 CU students a chance to get hands-on experience in various aspects of producing a multimedia production and to network with people in the industry. In addition, each lab at the ATLAS center offers an opportunity for 30 to 60 people, either from CU or the Boulder area, to sit in on the sessions as observers on a first-come, first-served basis.

Students from any major can participate in the labs by contacting ATLAS Center for Arts, Media and Performance Director Rebekah West at rebekah.west@colorado.edu.

The hands-on observation opportunities are on a first-come, first-served basis. More information is available at www.colorado.edu/atlas/directorslabs/

Schedule of labs

Monday, 5:30-9:30 p.m. -- Master class focusing on music direction led by Tony Award-winning conductor and musical director Kevin Stites. Issues addressed will include blending voices as well as individual work, conducting and directing. Stites' Tony Award-winning credits include "Les Miserables," "Sunset Boulevard," "The Color Purple," "Titanic," "Nine," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Oklahoma," and "A Tale of Two Cities."

March 23, 12:30-4:30 p.m. --Thomas Kail master class focusing on the issues of directing a large-scale Broadway production. Kail is the 2008 Tony Award-winning director of Broadway's smash hit "In The Heights."

March 30-31 (times to be determined) -- Eric Ludacer, Cirque du Soleil designer of the Las Vegas production "LOVE," focuses on the massive technical aspects of a full-scale Las Vegas multimedia production including sound, lighting, video projection and more.