Wednesday, June 26, 2013

You can sing for Broadway Stars on July 17th... but how?

How do you become a Star on Broadway?
First, Stop at SoNO Plaza.
SoNo plaza, South Norwalk, CT, June 26, 2013:  
For anyone who has ever dreamed of being discovered and making it big on Broadway, Wednesday July 17 could be their lucky day.
It will not help those dreamers to wish upon a star (though it can’t hurt); what they need to do is get themselves to SoNo Plaza in South Norwalk, CT on July 17. That is where the New Paradigm Theatre Company will be hosting the "So ya wanna be a Broadway Star” competition.
The competition is being run in partnership with The Sono Concert Series.
Stand up and sing
The July 17th competition will be an American Idol-style competition. Contestants are invited to sing any Broadway song of their choosing. A piano accompanist will be provided; contestants must bring their own sheet music. Judges will select who from among the contestants will have the opportunity of performing that night for the Sono audience.
The competition will be between 3-4 pm, and will be limited to the first 30 contestants who arrive at 3 pm. All the judges are Broadway performers from the New Paradigm Theatre and will provide all the contestants with helpful feedback and advice.
Three winning contestants will be invited to join the other Broadway performers to be part of that evening’s SoNo Concert Series “Disney Magic Broadway” concert, featuring Bret Shuford(Broadway: Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) and Kristin Huffman (Broadway: Company, Tours: Phantom, Miss OH and runner-up Miss America, Exec.Dir: New Paradigm Theatre) performing with the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. The three winners will have the opportunity to be on stage and sing with the Broadway cast and “Youth Board” members of New Paradigm’s non profit professional theatre company.  
The open-air concert will start at 6 pm.
The competition rules and the required three forms can be downloaded from www.nptheatre.org or http://www.sonocorp.com/Charity%20Concerts/
Venue
SoNo Park is located at 50 Washington Street, in the historic waterfront area of South Norwalk. South Norwalk is easily accessible from I-95 with ample parking available.

Identity through Theater
The New Paradigm Theater Company is a non-profit community theater, run by Kristin Huffman as artistic director with the dedicated support of a team of theater professionals with Broadway backgrounds. The mission of the New Paradigm Theatre is to further the community’s cultural identity with professional theater.
In addition to the competition partnership with the SoNo Concert Series, NPT hosts “Sunday Spotlight”, a virtual master class featuring Broadway, TV, and Film stars who offer aspiring actors and performers advice and tips on advancing their career. “Sunday Spotlight” is currently on summer hiatus, but will resume in the Fall 2013. Information is available at the Sunday Spotlight page on Facebook, the NPT blog, or by email to emeraldtown@att.net .


For More Information
Sono concert series
Sono Corporate center
Directions
New paradign theatre
Norwalk Symphony Orchestra
Sunday spotlight
Kristin Huffman
Attachments
SoNo Charity Concert Series flyer
SoNo Charity Concert Series Sponsorship information
Kristin Huffman photo (JPEG)
Bret Shuford photo (JPEG)

Competition forms

~The NPT Youth Board

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

The Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards Gala Event, June 4th, 2013

What a night it was! Last night, June 4th, was the 5th Annual Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards. Several Schools submitted applications and from then, nominations were chosen from those schools. The nominations were posted, and schools began to rehearse for one of the greatest nights of the year.

To describe the Award Ceremony, I can only put it like this: It is the high school equivalent to the Tony Awards. The Ceremony took place at the Waterbury Palace Theater.

Winner of Outstanding Featured Performer, Stamford High School's GUYS AND DOLLS, starring the Youth Board's Matt Sweeney
Each school that was nominated for Best Actor, Best Actress and/or Best Production performed a number from the show. The shows nominated for Outstanding Production were:

Little Women- St. Paul's Catholic High School
In the Heights-Immaculate High School
Sweeney Todd- Amity High School
Crazy for You- Trumbull High School
Les Miserables- Ridgefield High School
How to Succeed- Newtown High School

In addition to the nominations, 2 representitives from each school were asked to perform a special rendition of Seasons of Love in honor of Sandy Hook. The arrangement/ blocking was created by Trumbull High's Director Jessica Spillane and Musical Director Jerold Goldstien. It was a moment that moved everyone to tears.
2 representatives from each participating school sang Seasons of Love as a tribute to Sandy Hook



Winner of Ensemble Group (Follies Girls) and other awards, Trumbull High School's Crazy for You, starring the Youth Board's Nathan Clift


Here are the Winners for the Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards 2013: 


OUTSTANDING HAIR & MAKE UP ACHIEVEMENT 

Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Andrea Kennedy

OUTSTANDING COSTUMING ACHIEVEMENT 

Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU
Mary Joan Wright, Merial Cornell, Jeanette Davidson

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT 

Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Dan Hassenmayer 

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT 

Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS
Joe Loya & Mary Raymond

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION 

Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Robert & Andrea Kennedy

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY 

Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU
Frank & Abigail Root 

OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION 

Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES
Joyce Flanagan

OUTSTANDING ORCHESTRA 

Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS 

Jillian Caillouette, St. Paul Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN 

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR 

Taylor Varga -Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED



OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS 

Grace Carver , Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON 
– MEG BROCKIE

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR 

Peter Charney , Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD – TOBY

OUTSTANDING CHORUS 

Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMER 

Bennett Leeds -Stamford High School – GUYS & DOLLS, NICELY-NICELY JOHNSON

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE GROUP 

Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU – Follies Girls

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR 

Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD

OUTSTANDING LOBBY DISPLAY 

Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Cheri Charney & Tom Lawler

OUTSTANDING GRAPHIC DESIGN 

Westhill High School 

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT Awards

Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU
Greg St. Germain – Student Lighting Design

Waterbury Arts Magnet School – IN THE HEIGHTS
Claire Gaudette - PSM

Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES
Catherine Heller – Scenic Artist

Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON
Benedict Stephens – Student Percussion

Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED
Sean Watkins – Stage Manager

ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS EDUCATION AWARDS

Plainfield High School – WILLY WONKA
Brian Stevenson & Kevin Mariano


Winner of Ourstanding Production and many others, Amity High School's Sweeney Todd, starring the Youth Board's Kevin Durkee
The Winners of the Leading Actor and Actress Awards (Highlighted in Yellow) will represent CT in the National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City. 

Overall, it was an amazing time. I was so glad I was able to see all the amazingly talented high schools around CT! Just by going onstage, you all are winners. 

Congrats to the nominees and the winners! Continue your talents! Continue to give back your gift!

~Nathan Clift, 16, Trumbull High School
VP of the NPT Youth Board