Theatre Company of Saugus

We bring back one of last summer’s most popular workshops on Theatre Skills:  Healthy Singing for Musical Theatre, presented by Lori L’Italien.  Thursday 23 July 2015, starting at 7:30 PM.

This workshop will also cover the subject of How to Prepare for a Singing Audition.

How many times have we heard the dreaded words, “belting is unhealthy for your voice” or “if you belt, you will lose your voice”?  But, here’s a secret not all classical teachers want you to know… Belting CAN be done healthfully.  After studying with teachers in Boston, New York and across New England, in Classical/Operatic and Musical Theatre/Pop, Lori has a unique understanding of both classical and musical theatre technique and how two can not only assist but strengthen each other. This workshop will be an overview of posture, breathing and vocal technique that can be used in musical theatre or classical singing. Students will learn warm-ups and exercises they can do on their own to grow their technique.

Lori L’Italien holds a Bachelors of Music Education and Master of Music in Opera Performance.  She is on staff at Lasell College where she teaches voice, music fundamentals, and musical theatre classes, in addition to serving as Director of Choirs, and both stage and music director of Lasell’s musicals.  Lori owns and operates a busy private voice studio in both Newton and Somerville. She also serves as Boston Program Administrator for The Metropolitan Opera Guild’s Urban Voices Program, a program that brings vocal and choral instruction to students in disadvantaged neighborhoods in and around Boston.

L’Italien is, in her own right, a versatile, sought-after performer of musical theater, opera, and oratorio throughout Boston and northern New England. Most recently, she appeared as Adelaide in Reagle Music Theatre’s Guys and Dolls and in their fall production of A Grand Night for Singing, Betty White in White Christmas with Weston Friendly Society, Fantine in Les Miserables with Woodland Theatre Company, and created the role of Catherine Eddowes in the World Premeire of Jack the Ripper: the Whitechapel Musical.  Other favorite roles include the Homeless Lady in A New Brain with Moonbox Productions, Sally Bowles in Cabaret with Theatre Company of Saugus,  and Lucille Frank in Fudge Theatre Company’s production of Parade, for which she earned a nomination as Best Actress in a Musical from the IRNE (Independent Reviewers of New England.)  My Entertainment World raved that she was,”The true star in this performance; she is breathtaking in every moment…she has everything of a star performer.  L’Italien’s singing is simply stunning, and, late in the first act, I started counting my goose-bumps… Take note: L’Italien is more than worth the price of admission.”  See:  LoriLItalien.com for more studio and performance news.

There is a $5 fee for the workshop, payable at the door with cash or check.

Our second Workshop on Theatre Skills for the summer of 2015 is on Sunday 12 July, starting at 7:30 PM.  The subject is Public Speaking, and the presenter is Sherri Raftery, M.Ed.  The title of the presentation is “Helping You Take Center Stage!” Would you like to learn simple tips and tricks that will help you feel comfortable while speaking in front of an audience, a large or small group. or even one on one in the board room or at the dinner table?  This is the workshop for you. Sherri hosts and produces “Helping YOU Take Center Stage” – Public Speaking and Leadership Tips at Revere TV, and is the Drama Club Coordinater at Northeast Regional Metro Technical High School. Sherri Raftery earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Theatre & Communications from Emerson College, and a Master’s in Education in Arts & Learning from Endicott College.  Some of her clients include corporations, international organizations, high schools, colleges, universities, nonprofits organizations and community groups. Sherri is the Theatre Company of Saugus Recording Secretary.  She has been a member of Toastmasters International since 2005, and was the District 31 Governor serving Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island where she earned several leadership and public speaking awards. Sherri was honored by the Home for Little Wanderers in 2008 and speaks out as a live testimonial raising funds and awareness and is currently writing a children’s book called Almost Adopted. All the Theatre Skills workshops meet at the TCS home at the East Saugus United Methodist Church / 85 Chestnut Street / Saugus, Massachusetts 01906.  See our Directions page. The workshop is open to everyone.  There is a fee of $5 per person.

We continue our successful series of Workshops on Theatre Skills from last summer.  We have some returning presenters and some great new ones.

Plan to put most of the month of July 2015 on your calendar.  Specific dates for each workshop subject are shown below.  We have recently changed this schedule, so look at it carefully!   There are also more complete descriptions of each workshop on other posts on this website.  Here is the current schedule:

• Improvisation, with Britt Mitchell.  Tuesday 7 July.
• Public Speaking, with Sherri Raftery, M.Ed.  Sunday 12 July.
• How to Prepare for a Musical Theatre Audition, Acting with Adam Schuler and Dancing with Kathleen Tringale.  Tuesday 14 July.
• Tap Dance for Beginners, with Kathleen Tringale.  Thursday 16 July.
• Tap Dance Continued, with Kathleen Tringale.  Sunday 19 July.  This will start at 3:00 PM.  Depending on the progress at the beginning tap dance workshop on July 16, this may either be a continuation of that, or for Intermediate tap dancers, or on other Dancing Styles, or be cancelled.  Please watch this space for further developments.
• Dialects, with Adam Schuler, in preparation for Drood.  Tuesday 21 July.
• Healthy Singing for Musical Theatre, with Lori L’Italien.  Also How to Prepare for a Singing Audition.  Thursday 23 July.

Sessions will start at 7:30 PM, unless noted otherwise.  There is a $5 fee per person for each session, with a maximum fee of $25 for an individual that attends more than five workshops.  Payable with cash or check at the door.

All sessions are at the TCS home at East Saugus United Methodist Church / 85 Chestnut Street / Saugus, Massachusetts  01906.  See the Directions page.

Britt Mitchell, Sherri Raftery, and Lori L’Italien return with enhanced versions of the workshops they presented last summer on Improv, Public Speaking, and Singing for Musical Theatre.

Adam Schuler is the director of our fall show, Drood, and his workshops on Acting Auditions and Dialects will prepare you for it.  As will the Improv workshop.

Kathleen Tringale is our Choreographer for the upcoming season, so her workshops on Dance Auditions and Tap will prepare you for it.