Musical Theatre Intensive

Aimed at young artists (ages 12–19) with a passion for singing, dancing, and acting, the Arts Club’s Musical Theatre Intensive (MTI) exposes students to the kind of rigorous training typically found only at the post-secondary level and begins their journey toward becoming a true “triple threat” (actor/singer/dancer).

Now entering its 21st year, the MTI continues its history of emphasizing process over product, guiding our students through voice, dance, and acting techniques that can consistently be applied outside of our program as well. We don’t simply teach music and dance steps; we give our students the skills to be authentic and expressive on any stage they play.

Beyond this practical application in the theatre, students finish our program having discovered more self-confidence, more respect for the talents and opinions of their peers, and greater engagement with the world around them. Our aim is to move beyond teaching kids how to sing and dance as we ask them to put aside their fears, believe in themselves, and act (on and off the stage) with passion and integrity.

We don’t want to simply train actors—we want to nurture artists.

THIS PROGRAM IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY
Charles and Eve Chang Foundation
Kate Dahlstrom
Jean Hurst
John C. Kerr Family Foundation
Irma & Marvin Lamoureux
Lohn Foundation

SENIOR PROGRAM

This program is aimed at young artists (ages 15–19) who are seriously considering post-secondary training in the performing arts. The program provides an experience similar to a full-time conservatory training program. Aside from attending classes for 7hrs/day 5 days/week, participants can expect to complete a great deal of prep work at home throughout the program.

Ages: 15–19
Dates: July 22–August 9, 2024
Times: Mon–Fri, 10 AM–5 PM
Tuition: $1275 (plus GST)
Location: BMO Theatre Centre

Entrance into the senior program is by audition only.
Auditions: Sun, May 26, 2024
To be considered for an audition, please submit a photo and résumé to intensive@artsclub.com.

JUNIOR PROGRAM

This program is aimed at young artists (ages 12–17) who feel they are ready to move beyond beginner level classes in musical theatre performance. While our instructors are happy to work with students who have limited experience/training, please note that this is not an “intro” level program. Though a little less intense than our Senior Program, participants are expected to put extra time into their work at home each night.

Ages: 12–16
Dates: July 8–19, 2024
Times: Mon–Fri, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $727 (plus GST)
Location: BMO Theatre Centre

To apply for the Junior Program, complete and submit the application. No audition is necessary, but we do ask that students meet at least two of five prerequisites for the course.

Applicants must have any TWO of the following:

• dance training (2 years or more)
• private voice training (1 year or more)
• singing with a school or community choir (1 year or more)
• acting/drama classes (1 year or more)
• experience performing in a school or community musical

HIGHLIGHTS

• instruction from industry professionals
• intimate class size ensures lots of one-on-one attention
• private vocal coaching
• dance classes
• acting classes
• musical theatre performance classes
• tickets to live performances
• meet other young people with similar aspirations and interests
• Q&A sessions with guest speakers from the professional theatre world
• final showcase to share your new skills with family and friends
• final reception for students, instructors, and guests

To learn more about the programs, contact intensive@artsclub.com.

If tuition is an obstacle for you, the MTI has a limited number of subsidy spots available on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Kevan Ellis, Director of Education, at kellis@artsclub.com if you would like to apply for a tuition subsidy.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Peter Jorgensen
After a brief hiatus as Program Director, Peter is incredibly happy to be back at the helm for his 21st summer with MTI.

A theatre artist working and playing on the ancestral and unceded territories of the Halkomelem speaking peoples, he has over 25 years of experience as a performer, director, choreographer, producer, writer, and educator specializing in musical theatre.

As Co-Artistic Producer and resident director for Patrick Street Productions he directed and choreographed Into the Woods, The Full Monty, Bat Boy: the Musical, The Light in the Piazza (Jessie & Ovation Awards for Outstanding Production), Rodgers & Hammerstein: Out of a Dream, Floyd Collins, The Best Laid Plans, A Little Night Music, as well as his own musical adaptation of It’s a Wonderful Life. Other favourite directing/choreography credits include Once, Les Misérables, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma! (Chemainus Theatre Festival), Emperor of Atlantis (City Opera), Little Shop of Horrors, Fiddler on the Roof (Persephone Theatre), as well as the run-away hit Avenue Q (Jessie Award for Outstanding Musical) and Rock of Ages right here at Arts Club.

As an actor Peter has performed leading roles for the Arts Club, Playhouse, Gateway, Bard on the Beach, Belfry Theatre, Western Canada Theatre, Touchstone, Blackbird Theatre and Royal City Musical Theatre among others. Favourite credits include LumieĚre in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Arts Club), Don Juan in Don Juan (Blackbird), Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (Western Canada Theatre), and his Arts Club debut as Georg Nowack in She Loves Me where he met his wife and collaborator, Katey Wright.

Peter is a passionate educator. In addition to being the founder and Program Director of the Arts Club Musical Theatre Intensive, he has led professional master classes through Patrick Street Productions and is a highly sought out instructor and adjudicator for music and theatre festivals. As a private voice coach, he continues to mentor artists of all ages and abilities from his home studio in New Westminster.

Along with his wife, Katey and really great musical theatre, he loves chocolate, dogs and his son, Lukas.

He is immensely grateful to every person that inspires him to learn and grow.

Classes via Zoom:

• Tuesday, July 13, 1:30–3:00 PM
• Tuesday, July 20, 1:30–3:00 PM
• Tuesday, July 27, 1:30–3:00 PM

Classes in-person at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage*:

• Thursday, August 5, 10 AM–1 PM
• Friday, August 6, 10 AM–1 PM
• Saturday, August 7, 10 AM–1 PM

Final performances at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage*:

• Saturday, August 7, 2 PM

Each student will receive a total of 3.5 hours of private coaching with Program Director Peter Jorgensen and Musical Director Sean Bayntun. These sessions will be scheduled in advance in consultation with each participant, and can be online or in-person.*

*Public health orders permitting

Applications for the 2021 MTI program are now closed. To be added to the mailing list, contact Hila Graf, Education & Community Engagement Manager, at hgraf@artsclub.com.

When young people take part in the Arts Club’s Musical Theatre Intensive, they become part of our community and, whenever possible, we offer alumni opportunities to perform at special events and workshops.

The greatest thrill, however, is seeing our students move on to greater and greater success throughout the industry. Alumni of our program study at top theatre schools around the world, including Sheridan University, the National Theatre School, NYU Tisch, Studio 58, Grant MacEwan University, UBC, The Randolph Academy, AMDA, and LAMDA, among others.

We are also seeing more of our alumni working with professional companies around the world, including, of course, the Arts Club:

• Stuart Barclay—Enjolras in Les Misérables and Sky in Mamma Mia!
• Sierra Brewerton—Gypsy, Mary Poppins, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and Mamma Mia!
• Darren Burkett—ensembles of Mary Poppins, Hairspray, White Christmas, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Producers, and Gypsy
• Andrew Cohen—Judas in Godspell; Circle Game (a Joni Mitchell revue he created with Anna Kuman)
• Kayla Dunbar—Kate Monster/Lucy in Avenue Q; ensembles of Hairspray and Gypsy; movement director for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
• Cameron Dunster—ensemble of Spamalot
• Allison Fligg—ensembles of White Christmas and Hairspray
• Joel Grinke—projection/video design for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and The Day Before Christmas
• Shannon Hanbury—Mamma Mia!; Babette in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
• Kaylee Harwood—Cosette in Les Misérables
• Ellzabeth Irving—Mary Poppins and A Christmas Story: The Musical
• Daniel Pitout—White Christmas and The Producers
• Christine Quintana—Saint Joan and She Stoops to Conquer
• Brian Ribback—Billy Elliot
• Courtney Shields—assistant director on Rock of Ages
• Amanda Testini—assistant choreographer on Onegin
• Graham Verchere—Mary Poppins and A Christmas Story: The Musical

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  Photo by Moonrider Productions