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Learn the theater song and dance

By BARBARA FREDRICKSEN
Published January 20, 2007

Has it really been four years since a great bunch of people from the Show Palace Dinner Theatre, Richey Suncoast Theatre, Avenue Players Theatre and Stage West Community Playhouse came to Pasco-Hernando Community College in New Port Richey to talk theater with members of the PHCC Senior Academy?

It has indeed.

When I agreed to lead those four two-hour sessions, continuing education coordinator Carol O'Grady, Senior Academy administrator Jan Anthony and I hoped that at least eight people would sign up so we would have enough to justify a class. (Full disclosure: I get a little over $100 for moderating the four sessions.)

To our surprise, so many people wanted to learn about the theater from the experts that we eventually had to move our classes into the PHCC Performing Arts Center so everyone could have a seat.

Those who came got firsthand theater stories from people like the late Bruce Blaine, who had performed on Broadway with Helen Hayes, Peggy Cass and Bert Convy; Show Palace set designer Tom Hansen, sound designer Anthony Sessa and co-owners Nick and Sal Sessa; former Broadway dancer John Vincent Leggio; Avenue Players founder Diana Forgione (who coordinates a Hometown Pasco page in the Pasco Times); Richey Suncoast Theater board president Charlie Skelton; and others.

We learned the nuts and bolts of "behind the scenes" and were fascinated by the true stories of Broadway, road shows and community theater. The Senior Academy members raved about the experience and begged the panelists to come back.

We did. In spring 2004, we concentrated on performances. Stage West director Harvey Laskey and Show Palace actors Candler Budd and Matt McGee showed us how a scene comes together. Singer and makeup artist Sara DelBeato transformed Show Palace artistic director Matt McGee from a regular guy into a gorgeous "Mary Sunshine." Musician Joe Camper showed how to record music for a production. And Richey Suncoast choreographer Marie Skelton demonstrated how to create dances that even nondancers can do.

And that's just part of what we saw and heard.

Since then, I've had scores, perhaps hundreds, of people ask me when we're going to have another series of sessions. Apparently there are a lot of people who love to dish about theater.

So, after a two-year hiatus, I'm asking the experts to do another theater seminar for the PHCC Senior Academy.

The speakers from the original sessions had so much fun, most of them have agreed to come back and do it again.

The syllabus isn't final yet, but for one session, I've asked Tom Hansen to explain where he comes up with his incredible set design ideas.

And since Singin' in the Rain will be playing at the Show Palace then, maybe he'll share how he does a rainstorm on stage. Or not.

And I'll make the same promise I did the first time we had these sessions: There won't be any pop quizzes, and I won't make you take the FCAT.

Fast Facts:

If you go

What: Broadway theater seminar

Where: Pasco-Hernando Community College Performing Arts Center, 10230 Ridge Road, New Port Richey

When: 10 a.m. to noon on March 14, 21 and 28; and April 4

Tuition: Seminar counts as eight hours included in the Senior Academy tuition. All others, $50.64. Apply in person at Student Development on any PHCC campus from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Fridays. Online, to to www.phcc.edu and click on Admissions.

[Last modified January 19, 2007, 23:48:09]