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The Morris Museum and Bickford Theatre are pleased to announce that the popular Brightest Star Summer Musical Theatre Program has expanded to include courses for both youth and adults. The program, now called the Brightest Star School of Performing Arts will provide year-round programs and courses in all areas of the performing arts. Most sessions will run in three 11-week sessions, while the popular Brightest Star Summer Musical Theatre Program will continue its regular summer schedule. For more information or to request a brochure, please call 973.971.DRAMA.
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- Fall: September 11 - December 2, 2006 (closed November 20 - 25)
- Winter: December 11, 2006 - March 3, 2007 (closed December 25 - 30)
- Spring: March 12 - June 1, 2007 (closed April 9 -14)
Home-schooled students will acquire the skills in singing, instrument playing, acting and public speaking. The course will afford the opportunity to work with other students on the preparation of skits, songs and presentations. Character development and proper vocal technique will be emphasized.
An energizing, interactive weekly class for the youngest musicians and their caregivers, loaded with singing, movement, stories, games and instrument playing. A songbook and CD containing the music sung in class will be provided.
Fall Session: The Farm
Winter Session: The Seasons
Spring Session: All aboard!
This course gives primary-age performers a chance to take the stage. Using literature as the medium, these students will bring a featured storybook to life with both music and dramatic components. Students will learn about characterization through improvisation and storytelling, as well as compose original songs and accompaniments using Orff instruments (xylophones, glockenspiels and metallaphones). A culminating presentation for family and friends will take place on the final day of each session.
Each of these acting courses will include improvisation, scene study, character development, class critiquing, vocal production, breathing, use of body and concentration exercises. Material used in class will allow each student to create an audition-ready monologue.
This comprehensive public speaking course is designed to improve oral communication skills, enhancing comfort in front of the group and the ability to organize thoughts, vocal production and persuasiveness. Particular attention will be given to students preparing for college interviews, fire and police oral exams and those involved in sales careers.
Whether you are preparing for a musical or non-musical audition, you will gain techniques to enhance your presentation. Learn how to analyze, how to impress and how to choose the right material. Each student will leave the class with a monologue and song specifically designed to "sell."
Using the art of listening, we explore the music of the great masters from Monteverdi to Mozart and Bach to Bernstein. Guest speakers will analyze and discuss the music and how societal changes have impacted current trends. This course is designed for the avid concertgoer, as well as the classical music novice.
Following the National Standards for Arts Education, the Musical Theatre Dance programs are designed to explore each dancer's innate knowledge and understanding of dance through physical dance training and notation, enhancing the skills of discipline and teamwork.
- In a creative dance format, this class uses a conceptual approach of the elements of time, space, body and relationship to introduce dance and the performance of this art form to young dancers. Children will learn basic stage directions, dance notation and control of movement through lessons and activities that stimulate verbal and non-verbal expression.
- This class uses an elementary ballet warm-up and introduces jazz techniques to the students, teaching performance skills and encouraging social interaction. Rhythm and timing will also be introduced through the elements of tap.
- This class uses a conceptual approach of the creative dance elements of time, space and body to teach basic stage directions, dance notation and greater movement control through lessons and activites stimulating both verbal and non-verbal expression.
- This class helps refine movement control to enhance the dance craft and teaches dancers performance and audition skills while engaged in expanding their movement vocabulary. Dancers involved in the musical theatre workshop will perform with the Brightest Star at the end of each session.
- This class uses the performance aspect of dance to help both the beginner and experienced dancer perfect their craft and shape their body for the stage. Variations from Broadway shows will be taught weekly, expanding and reviewing participants' knowledge of theatre dance.
The flagship program of Brightest Star is the Musical Theatre Workshop. Now available all year long, these workshops offer students the opportunity to grow as a "triple threat" with classes in singing, acting and dancing. This program culminates in a musical theatre presentation on the Bickford stage. Students need not have previous experience. The course is designed to challenge each student at his/her own level.
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Each one-week intensive program will give the student an opportunity to strenghten his or her skills in singing, dancing and acting. The week will culminate in a cabaret-style production in which each student will be featured on the Bickford stage.
Summer Musical Theatre is a three-week "triple threat" program designed to fully educate teens in the musical theatre genre. Students will receive daily classes in voice, acting and dance, as well as lessons in technical theatre, story writing, character development, puppetry, costuming and more. In addition to preparing audition pieces, each student writes a program "bio" and resume and performs in a final musical production, presented on the Bickford stage for the public.
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This ensemble chorus explores the world of a cappella singing. Participants will create vocal and instrumental sounds using only unaccompanied voice. After achieving a blended sound, the group will perform for the community. Repertoire will include a cappella arrangements of many well known, popular songs, as well as standard classics.
Students who are passionate about singing are invited to audition for this 33-week session. Participants will sing the music of the masters, traditional folksongs, popular tunes and music of other cultures and languages. This select group of singers will perform at community events and give a winter and spring concert on the Bickford stage.
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At Brightest Star School of Performing Arts, we believe that the performing arts provide opportunities for learning about all aspects of one’s world, enhancing academic learning capacity, increasing self esteem and building strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Our students participate in group activities led by master educators and art professionals in an environment, which promotes independent thinking, creative problem solving and group decision-making. The programs are structured so that participants work toward a common goal, ensuring the emotional growth necessary for success in the modern world whether or not their future lies in the arts. Our goal at Brightest Star is to empower each participant with a strong sense of individual accomplishment and achievement.
Elizabeth A. Vecchio
Elizabeth has been an arts educator for many years, teaching in public and private schools. Having been a music fellow at Northwestern University and a Fulbright recipient, she has directed hundreds of dramatic and musical productions throughout the Tri-State area. A professional soloist, volunteer and arts advocate, Elizabeth has sung with Rosemary Clooney, Debbie Boone, The Lettermen, The Naples Philharmonic and the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. A foster parent and mother of four, she is devoted to children and their families and sees performing arts as a way to strengthen relationships between all people.
Pamela Meys Kane
Prior to full-time work with Brightest Star, Pamela Meys Kane taught elementary and middle school for 20 years, most recently at Oak Knoll School in Summit. Additionally, Pamela served as music director at Notre Dame Church in Cedar Knolls where she directed and accompanied the adult, teen, and children’s choirs and founded a “Moms and Tots Music” program which has grown and spread to other locations. An accomplished and published composer, Pamela has written numerous works for the stage, including her newest musical based on the story, The Day that Henry Cleaned His Room. Her first recording of songs for children is soon to be released.
Ruthann Lanni
Dance teacher and choreographer for Brightest Star School of Performing Arts, Ruthann studied dance as her life’s passion. She received her M.A. in Dance Education from New York University and has taught ballet, tap, jazz and musical theatre in studios in the Northern New Jersey area to beginner through advanced, children and adults. Ruthann has developed a dance curriculum for a preschool corporation, which is taught in schools throughout New Jersey, New York and Michigan. She brings years of teaching experience, curriculum development and performance experience to the dance program.
Located on the grounds of the Morris Museum, Bickford Theatre is the proud home of Brightest Star School of Performing Arts. This beautiful theatre produces professional theatre and presents children’s theatre performances, lectures and , jazz and dance concerts. Bickford Theatre is a senior member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.
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