DCT Jr. - Summer Program

DCT Jr. is a comprehensive, immersive theatre experience for young actors, supported by a professional creative staff of directors and designers at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in downtown Bridgeport, CT. Both sessions will create a full production of a musical, starting with the initial audition and followed by a multi-week rehearsal process, culminating in an exciting weekend of performances where family and friends can enjoy your hard work from the audience. No previous experience required!

WHAT WE WILL DO EACH DAY: The day will begin with vocal and physical warm-ups, and then we will rehearse the show until lunch. After lunch, we will play theatre games that teach participants about improvisation, focus, confidence, and character building. We will also teach theatre technique, including projection, diction, as well as some dance and voice technique. For the younger children, we will also spend some time building some props and costumes for the show.

ABOUT THE SHOWS

BYE BYE BIRDIE GRADES 6-12: Performances are Friday, July 29 at 7:30pm, Saturday, July 30 at 4pm and 7:30pm, and Sunday, July 31 at 2pm. “Conrad Birdie is the biggest rock & roll star of the 60’s ever to be drafted. Aspiring chemist and song writer Albert is convinced he can make his fortune and marry his girlfriend Rosie if he gets Conrad on the Ed Sullivan show to kiss a high school girl goodbye.”  A NOTE ON CASTING: Based on demand, if attendance is strong we may double cast the show. Regardless, each student is guaranteed two performances in their role.

THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA GRADES 1-6: Performances are Friday, July 22 at 7:30pm, Saturday, July 23 at 4pm and 7:30pm, and Sunday, July 24 at 2pm.  “When a handsome young prince falls in love with an unknown princess, there is only one way to prove she is true royalty. Based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen, this new retelling of the classic story is filled with music, fun, and a few surprises along the way.”  A NOTE ON CASTING: Based on demand, if attendance is strong we may double cast the show. Regardless, each student is guaranteed two performances in their role.

DCT RISING STARS: Performance is Friday, July 15 at 7:30pm. In addition to starring in BYE BYE BIRDIE and THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA, our participants will also star in a concert where they can showcase their talents by performing scenes and songs from their favorite musicals and plays! This performance will involve both age groups and be an excellent chance to show off and play parts they’ve always wanted to play!

ABOUT THE STAFF

CHRISTY MCINTOSH – Co-Director: is thrilled to return for a second season of DCT Jr., having directed last season’s “Rapunzel.” Christy also directed all three seasons of BTC Jr., including “Schoolhouse Rock,” “101 Dalmatians,” “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” and “Hairspray Jr.” Other educational theatre includes “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” at Curtain Call SYT, “In The Heights” at the Bijou, and Project Broadway. For the Cabaret Main Stage, Christy has directed “Memphis,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Dreamgirls,” “Next to Normal” and “Hairspray,” as well as “Rapunzel” and “Princess and the Pea” for the esteemed DCT Children’s Company. Christy also made her DCT Main Stage performing debut this year, playing the title role in “Evita.” As an actress, Christy is a proud member of Actors Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild and has appeared Off-Broadway in “Evil Dead: The Musical,” “The Truth,” “The Girl in the Park,” “Road to Ruin,” “False Solutions,” and starred opposite Fred Willard in “Elvis and Juliet.” Regional credits include Hartford Stage, George St. Playhouse, Denver Center Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Barrington Stage. TV/film includes “Law & Order: SVU” and “My America.” Christy is a voice teacher and audition coach with students who have appeared on and off Broadway, in National Tours, and in countless local productions. christymcintosh.com

ELI NEWSOM – Artistic Director: Here at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre Eli has served as Artistic Director of Bridgeport Theatre Company on the mainstage community theater productions, as well as rotating between serving as Director/Musical Director or occasionally a performer on various productions: “Hair” (Musical Director), “Shrek” (MD), “To Kill a Mockingbird” (Director), “Little Shop of Horrors” (MD), “Sounds of the 60s” (MD), “The Wedding Singer” (MD), “Next to Normal” (performer: Dan), “The Music Man” (MD), “Lend Me a Tenor” (Music Supervisor), “The Laramie Project” (Director), “Hairspray” (performer: Corny Collins), “(R)evolution”, “Sounds of the 60’s”, “BTC Rocks: Dark Side of the Moon”, “Divas in Concert” and “Hooray for Hollywood” benefit concerts (MD), and “Doubt” (Director). Eli also is on staff at Downtown Cabaret Theatre (Musical Director) and Fairfield Teen Theatre where he directed the musicals “SHREK”, “…Spelling Bee”, “Rent”, “Disney’s Cinderella”, “13”, and “The Who’s Tommy”. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Eli has worked for 15+ years in non-profit and professional theatre as a singer/actor/dancer, but eventually discovered he prefers directing and producing. Eli lives in Fairfield with his wife Christy, son Carlson John, and two Yorkies, Abby and Fozzie Bear.

JOHN STEGMAIER – Co-Director: John is a trained professional actor, director, and instructor. With over 12 years of performing experience, his career has taken him to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland with Western Connecticut State University. There he performed in Anton Chekov’s Three Sisters. He has worked most recently as part of the Downtown Cabaret Childrens Theatre company in their ‘13-’14 season. For BTC, John starred as Lord Farquaad in “Shrek,” The Dentist and others in “Little Shop of Horrors,” Robbie Hart in “The Wedding Singer,” and Robert Renfield in “Dracula.” He also co-directed BTC Jr. alongside Christy McIntosh for the past two summers. He directed the all-boys cast in a staged adaptation of “Lord of the Flies”. John previously worked as a teaching artist for Northeastern Children’s Theatre Company’s outreach program in 2014. John studied Theatre Arts at Western Connecticut State University, and hopes to share the knowledge he has gained over his career with positivity, enthusiasm and fun!

LANCE GRAY – Choreographer: Lance is excited to be a part of the DCT Jr. summer program. He has been a part of Downtown Cabaret Theatre’s Children’s Company for the past 12 seasons. He started as a costume assistant, auditioned and was cast (and has appeared in all but one of their productions since 2010), and is now one of their director/choreographers. Additionally, for the past two seasons, he has been the director and choreographer for BTC’s (now DCT Mainstage) “Little Shop of Horrors” (2013), “Hair” (2014), and this season’s “American Idiot.”  He has also written pieces for both of our Annual Playathons. He welcomes the chance to bring his experience to DCT Jr. and looks forward to working with these amazing kids and staff.

DATES AND TIMES

ORIENTATION

Saturday, June 25 from 11am-12pm.  Students and parents will meet the staff and each other, receive audition materials, and tour the theatre!

BYE BYE BIRDIE (Entering grades 6-12 in Fall 2016):

Program runs June 27 – July 31.  Rehearsals Monday-Friday June 27 – July 29 from 9:30am-3pm (drop-off beginning 9am, pickup window 3pm-3:30pm). DCT RISING STARS Performance is July 15 @ 7:30pm. BYE BYE BIRDIE performances are Friday, July 29 at 7:30pm, Saturday, July 30 at 4pm and 7:30pm, and Sunday, July 31 at 2pm. Closing party/strike immediately following the July 31 2pm performance.  July 4 is an observed holiday and there is no program that day.

THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA (Entering grades 1-6 in Fall 2016):

Program runs July 5 – July 24. Rehearsals Monday-Friday July 5 – July 22 from 9:30am-3pm (drop-off beginning 9am, pickup window 3pm-3:30pm. ADDITIONALLY: parents of younger children may opt for earlier pickup times if desired, please contact us for more info). DCT RISING STARS Performance is July 15 @ 7:30pm. THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA performances are Friday, July 22 at 7:30pm, Saturday, July 23 at 4pm and 7:30pm, and Sunday, July 24 at 2pm.  Closing party/strike immediately following the July 24th 2pm performance.  July 4 is an observed holiday and there is no program that day.

DCT RISING STARS

Friday, July 15 at 7:30pm.