The members of ComPAny 2013 from Pebblebrook High School enjoyed a 6-day adventure in New York City over the Christmas break. The 28 performing arts students had days filled with classes comprised of singing, dancing and acting. Well-known Broadway performers, choreographers and directors shared their expertise and advice to a group that one day hopes to be in their shoes.
A few of the highlights of the master classes included attending those taught by former students of the Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts’ (CCCEPA) program. The teachers’ biographies read like the Who’s Who of Broadway, and for nearly a week the ComPAny kids were lucky enough to learn from some of the best.
Teachers included Ryan Breslin (CCCEPA graduate who is currently performing the role of Race in Newsies on Broadway), Peter Flynn (acclaimed Broadway artistic director), Tyler Hanes (CCCEPA graduate who has been cast in several Broadway shows and was recently featured with Kristin Chenoweth on Dancing With the Stars), Allison McDowell, Craig D’Amico (noted Broadway performer and staff member at Broadway Dreams) and Darrell Moultrie (highly acclaimed Broadway performer and teacher at some of the top theatrical colleges in the US).
“Each year, our trip to New York is an invaluable part of the curriculum for our young musical theatre students in the magnet program,” said Frank Timmerman, Director of the CobbCountyCenter for Excellence in the Performing Arts. “There is nothing more inspiring for our current students than seeing alumni from our school performing on a Broadway stage.”
And what did the performing arts students do after a full day of classes? Why of course they attended shows and took in the sites of New York City. Broadway shows included Newsies, Once, Nice Work if You Can Get It, Peter and the Star Catcher and Mystery of Edwin Drood. They dined at such landmarks as Carmine’s and even found time to take in the Christmas decorations at RockefellerCenter.
From the February 2013 issue of The Bright Side, Cobb County Georgia’s Newspaper covering Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton and Austell, GA.
