Dates: July 14th-18th
Times: 1-4 pm Monday-Thursday, 1-5 pm on Friday
Ages: 8-12
Location: Lafayette County Arena Classrooms
Instructors: René Pulliam & Justin Wadkins
Join us for an exciting week exploring the skills needed for the musical theatre: singing, acting, and dancing. The week will end in a studio recital sharing the skills learned by the group, presenting the songs and dances learned in class. The students will receive expert vocal instruction, focusing on vocal technique. Performing the songs with purpose, the art of acting the song is explored. And finally, through learning the choreography, we will explore how dance helps tell a story.
Prices: $100 for YAC and Theatre Oxford Members
$115 for Non-Members
Online registration closes at 5 pm on July 13th.
Instructor Bios:
René Pulliam was head of the BFA program in Musical Theatre at the University of Mississippi, from 1993-2019. She received her BA in Music from Whittier College in 1972 and her MFA in Dance/Choreography from Mills College in 1992. She has directed and/or choreographed hundreds of musicals across the United States, including the West Coast premiers of Smile, Closer than Ever, and Over Here. She has been awarded the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Award for her choreography on No, No Nanette and Good News. Her performance credits include television (The Carol Burnett Show), commercials (Dr. Pepper), and touring companies (The King and I, Godspell). She is an advocate for Theatre and Dance in the community, having been on the founding board of Theatre Oxford (1996) and returning in 2019. She continues to work professionally as a theatre and dance artist, directing and coaching for The Cumberland County Playhouse, in Tennessee. Most recently, she directed “Oklahoma”, the Ford Center for the Performing Art’s summer community musical.
Justin Wadkins is an award-winning music director, having music directed many shows across North Mississippi and Tennessee. Some favorites include MAMMA MIA, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, OLIVER, CATS, SWEENEY TODD and Disney’s TARZAN. Favorite performance credits include Jud Fry (OKLAHOMA!), Old Deuteronomy (CATS), and the Baker (INTO THE WOODS). Justin is an active voice coach, specializing in musical theatre and audition preparation. Additionally, Justin facilitates sound baths as a certified sound healer and is passionate about spreading awareness of personal well-being with the community.
