Adventures in BroadwayLand
Ages 10 - 14
February 17-20 | 10:00am - 5:00pm
Adventures in BroadwayLand will engage students ages 10-14, of all skill levels, exploring their creativity through acting, singing & movement. Students will learn and experience all aspects of the theatre in a four-day intensive workshop over the course of February vacation week (February 17-20), including:
- preparing, memorizing, and recording a performance of a 16-32 bar audition cut of a musical theatre piece
- preparing, memorizing, and recording a performance of a short monologue from a musical
- attending workshops on Audition Techniques, Theatrical Improvisation, and Stage Combat Basics
- participating in and leading socratic-style discussions (dubbed Theatre “Tea”) on various topics in theatre, ranging from audition-result-recon to theatrical history and piping hot takes
- performing solos, duets, and/or ensemble numbers in a cabaret style recital
Students will focus on communication, teamwork, building self confidence, as well as make lasting friendships, all in a positive and fun environment! They will spend part of the day rehearsing and interacting as a large group, and part of the day in smaller groups according to age and/or repertoire. The program culminates with a recorded mock audition & cabaret showcase performance, All About Love. This theme is a nod to Valentine’s Day and explores all different types of love such as friendship; family love; self love; passion for certain pursuits, places, or things; crushes; loss of love; and more. All About Love will take place on the last day of the program, February 20 at 4 PM. Family, friends and loved ones are all invited to attend!
Each student will receive edited video files of their 16-32 bar cut and monologue no later than 2 weeks after the end of the workshop. Topics for Theatre “Tea” discussions will be chosen by both instructors and students.
There are no audition requirements to participate in this workshop. However, if the student is working with a private voice teacher, it is recommended that they discuss and prepare possible solos, duets, and 16-32 bar cuts prior to the workshop commencing.
Early Bird Tuition: $525
Register By January 1
Regular Tuition: $575
Register January 2 and onward
Faculty
Akela Franklin
Akela Franklin is a versatile soprano and music educator based in Boston. Originally from California, she holds degrees in vocal performance from the University of Puget Sound and Longy School of Music. Akela’s passion for vocal pedagogy has driven her career, blending her love for singing with a deep understanding of the voice’s scientific function.
As an educator, Akela has taught with various organizations including Youth and Family Enrichment Services, Children’s Music Center of Jamaica Plain, and First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton. She currently teaches at Community Music Center of Boston and serves as soprano section leader and soloist at Park Ave Congregational Church in Arlington.
Akela’s operatic repertoire includes roles in Cendrillon, Der Zwerg, and Le Comte Ory. She made her international debut in Dido & Aeneas on the Greek island of Lefkada. Known for her exuberant interpretations of German Romantic repertoire, Spanish art song, and Golden Age musical ballads, Akela is an accomplished recitalist, with notable performances including “A Recital You May Not Survive” and “Queens, Fairytales, & Fantasies.”
Beyond singing and teaching, Akela is training in Alexander Technique at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Her diverse interests encompass cooking, traveling, experiencing live music and theatre, and playing ukulele. She is passionate about helping people of all ages and skill levels fall in love with singing, bringing creativity and joy to her artistic life.
Akela’s multifaceted career as a performer and educator showcases her commitment to vocal artistry and pedagogy, making her a rising figure in New England’s classical music scene.
Liana Greger
Liana Greger, soprano, is a compassionate performer and scholar based in Boston hailing from the Pacific Northwest. While earning her Bachelor of Music degree under the tutelage of Dr. Dawn Padula, Liana won the 2024 University of Puget Sound Concerto Aria competition. Her showcase included “Ah! Je veux vivre!” (Roméo et Juliette), “Ach! Ich fühl’s” (Die Zauberflöte), and “Spiel ich die Unschuld vom Lande” (Die Fledermaus). She was also awarded the competitive Delwen and Genevieve Jones Music scholarship. As a researcher, Liana published the article “Gender, Self-Identity, and Vocal Music Education: Student Experiences at the University of Puget Sound in the 1990s” in 2023. Her scholarship examined how collegiate music education affects vocalists’ musical identity negotiation, especially considering the impact of gender concepts embedded in classical music cultures.
Liana has performed with the Puget Sound School of Music Opera Theater as Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, Cinderella in Into the Woods, and in scenes as Pamina from The Magic Flute and Lily Craven from The Secret Garden. Liana is pursuing her Master of Music in Vocal Performance at Boston Conservatory at Berklee and studies with Dr. Kerry Deal. Liana has performed with the Boston Conservatory Opera in the ensemble of Così fan tutte, as Pousette from scenes from Massenet’s Manon, and as Voice 3 in Mark Adamo’s Little Women.