New Episode of STAGES: Stories from the BW Music Theatre Program - Senior Year, Episode #3

My latest episode of STAGES!  Senior Year Episode #3.  In this episode Showgirls, Sheldon and Follies...Oh My!  In this episode, STAGES goes behind the scenes of the dress rehearsal for the Fall musical "Follies", including a special Showgirl Dance Masterclass by Guest Choreographer/Dancer Wendy Pasquale.  Then a Broadway Legend visits campus - Tony Award Winning Fiddler on the Roof Lyricist Sheldon Harnick gives students an amazing workshop as they perform his songs!

My Latest Episode of STAGES: Senior Year Episode 2

The Senior Year Season of "STAGES" is here!

Premiering 3 years ago (when the Class of 2013 were just Freshmen), STAGES has documented the stories of the acclaimed Music Theatre program at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio (Just outside Cleveland) headed by Program Director Victoria Bussert.  BWU music theatre students are some of the most talented and elite performers in the country, many of whom go on to perform in Broadway productions.


In this episode, auditions and call-backs for the Fall musical "Follies" are heating up with more vocal auditions and an intense dance call.  Finally the casting results are posted at midnight  - a BW tradition that can be nerve-wracking and exciting all at the same time.

My new Promo Video for B-W's 2012 Music Theatre Showcase!

Check out this promo piece I put together for the Baldwin-Wallace College Music Theatre Class of 2012 Showcase! If you get a chance check out these amazing performers on their way to Broadway! April 9th at B-W! April 16th & 17th in New York!

STAGES: Stories from the BW Music Theatre Program - Pt. 20

In this episode, STAGES goes behind the scenes of the process of producing the musical RENT. For the first time anywhere, Director Vicky Bussert and the B-W music theatre department produced both RENT and the opera it's based on - La Boheme - in repertory. Be a part of the action from the first read-thru all the way to opening night! Thoughts from Costume Designer Charlotte Yetman, unexpected flash mobs and more! It's all in this episode of STAGES!

Produced by Geoff Short
www.geoffreyshort.com

The Newest Episode of "STAGES: Stories from the BW Music Theatre Program"

Episode 19: A look at auditions for "Rent" and the learning opportunities that can happen for Music Theatre students, both in the audition room and in the classroom.

Live Theatre...In Your Living Room!

If they won't come to the theatre, bring the theatre to them!

I've always thought that finding creative ways of merging live theatre and video can be a cool way to raise awareness of plays and musicals. Check out one of my previous posts Why Video Should Be Center Stage in Theatre Marketing. Obviously there are a lot of people smarter than me who think so, otherwise we would never have seen motion picture versions of musicals. And speaking of movie musicals, isn't it ironic that some people will pay good money to go to a movie theatre to see a film version of a play or musical while seats remain empty at local productions often producing the same works? But I digress...

In the never-ending quest for theatres to maintain and build audiences, I've been experimenting with the concept of streaming video of live performances over the internet. I was really excited recently when I was successfully able to test out an internet broadcast using UStream, a free online service . The show was the Baldwin-Wallace College Music Theatre's senior class production of "Edges", a contemporary song cycle.

It was fairly easy to set up a show page for "STAGES", the video series I produce for the BW Music Theatre Program and I figured out how to add cool on-screen graphic elements like logos and links throughout the program. So with a single video camera,my computer and an audio mixer, we were on the air! We had a few glitches...the internet signal wasn't great in the theatre and the program crashed once....but after restarting some things, everything worked pretty weel for the rest of the show. UStream even lets you record your program as you broadcast so you can replay it later or embed the video in other sites:



Obviously the biggest challenge with broadcasting theatre are the licensing issues that prohibit the videotaping or broadcasting of most theatre works. "Edges" was the perfect project for this experiment because it wasn't a scripted piece, but a very interactive, in-concert presentation of songs by composers known to the Director. Audience members were encouraged to text and tweet the cast during the show to tell the cast what they would like them to do. I even texted one cast member to come up and say hello to the camera at some point during the show and sure enough, he did!

But the point is, we're on to something...this particular night was about erasing traditional boundaries of producing theater.....the house lights remained up so the cast could see the audience who were communicating with them in real time. We were texting, tweeting, broadcasting live on the internet and - oh, yeah - singing the living shit out of some wonderful new music!

But for me the coolest part of the experiment was hearing from relatives of the students on stage from all around the country who now had the chance to share in the experience and were communicating with the cast in real time right on stage. Really an incredible experience. Especially the cast member's brother in the military, stationed out of town who got to see his brother on stage.

That's what it's all about.

Cleveland Plain Dealer Covers New Season of "STAGES"!

Click the link below to check out this cool piece from Cleveland Plain Dealer Theatre Reporter Tony Brown about the start of the new Season of "STAGES" and our "It Gets Better" Special Episode! Thanks Tony!


Baldwin-Wallace music-theater program director
Victoria Bussert works with students in 2008.
(Photo by Scott Shaw, The Plain Dealer)

Baldwin-Wallace College musical theater program is back, and so is video documentary 'Stages'

My Latest Video! It Gets Better!

A special episode of "STAGES: Stories from the BW Music Theatre Program"
IT GETS BETTER!

Produced by Geoff Short
www.geoffreyshort.com



In response to recent national news stories of bullying and a rash of tragic suicides by young gay people, Baldwin-Wallace College Music Theatre students and teachers took time out of rehearsal for "Rent" to share personal stories and offer hope to anyone who is hurting...and desperate.

STAGES: 2010-2011 Season Premier! (Episode 18)

SEASON PREMIER! STAGES: Stories from the BW Music Theatre Program

The 2010-2011 school year begins! Meet the new freshman class and some new faces on the teaching team too as students begin preparations for auditions for BW's Fall productions of "Rent" and "La Boheme"!




This documentary series follows the stories of the students and teachers of the acclaimed Baldwin-Wallace College Music Theatre Program led by Victoria Bussert. Produced by theater artist and documentarian Geoffrey Short (www.geoffreyshort.com), STAGES gives viewers unprecedented access to this exclusive program that draws the very best talent from around the country to this small private college in Berea, Ohio (just southwest of Cleveland). Graduates of this program often go on to careers on Broadway. Learn more about Baldwin-Wallace College at www.bw.edu. See other theater video documentary series from Geoff Short at www.youtube.com/CallBackCleveland.

Call-Back: Rent School Edition at Near West Theatre -Pt. 1

Behind the scenes look at Near West Theatre's production of "Rent- School Edition"
Produced by Geoff Short

Part 1 focuses on the unique audition process at Near West Theatre designed to break down walls and inspire auditioners from all walks of life at all skill levels to find their artistic voices. Includes insight from Artistic Director Bob Navis, Jr. and Executive Director Stephanie Morrison-Hrbek.



RENT - SCHOOL EDITION
Near West Theatre -www.nearwesttheatre.org
Directed by Bob Navis,Jr.
Choreographed by Stephanie Morrison-Hrbek
Music Direction by Jordan Cooper

July 23, 24, 29, 30, 31,August 6, 7 & 8
Thurs., Fri. & Sat. @ 7:30 pm, Sun. @ 3:00 pm
Tickets: $8 Adults, $6 Children (12 & under)
Performance Location:
St. Patrick's Club Building
3606 Bridge Ave.- 3rd Fl.