Musical Theatre Curriculum
Welcome to the Harrison Musical Theatre Department!
The faculty believes that to achieve success in a musical theatre career, one must first achieve excellence in all three disciplines of acting, voice and dance. The curriculum is made up of classes in: acting, dance techniques, choreography, history, vocal technique, comprehensive/production, technical support and private voice lessons. At the end of each term, to demonstrate artistic growth, students must pass a performance jury.
The Musical Theatre Department at Harrison School for the Arts provides a concentrated study on the disciplines of acting, singing, and dance within the frame of musical dramatic performance.
The Musical Theatre Department's goal is to provide a rigorous education in the disciplines of dance, music, and drama. Students in the department will study various dance techniques, vocal styles, acting styles, theatre history, audition skills, stagecraft, backstage production techniques, specialty skills from guest artists, critique skills, choreography, music theory, rehearsal techniques, and performance techniques. These artistic mediums also include life skills, time management, and social skills.
A pdf of the Musical Theatre Department Handbook can be accessed here.
A pdf of the Musical Theatre Department Jury Manual can be accessed here.
Music Theatre Department audition requirements can be found here
The 4-year Musical Theatre Department Plan of Study can be accessed here.
Year I
Comprehensive Theatre (acting)
In this class, students will learn about dramatic styles, musical theatre history, stagecraft, audition techniques, critiquing a play and will culminate in the performance of a showcase. While learning this material students will also focus on improving personal goals as an artist of the theatre.
Vocal Techniques I (1/2 credit)
The purpose of this course is to enable students to gain an in-depth understanding of the human body as an instrument through study of the anatomy and physiology pertaining to tonal production. Emphasis will be placed on study of the human voice, intermediate - level sight-reading and rhythm proficiency, basic tonal production, and vocal health.
Dance Techniques I (1/2 credit)
Students will learn basic dance skills in the area of performing arts, as well as social dances from a variety of periods. The creative process of dance will also be explored. Styles covered are tap, ballet, contemporary jazz, musical theatre jazz, social dance, pilates, and modern. This course is designed to teach alignment, fundamental dance technique and conditioning exercises, locomotor skills, and basic technique for jumping and turning. Short dance combinations will also be taught.
Year II
Acting II
The objective of this class is to comprehend and develop good technical acting techniques that can be used in a performance. This includes knowledge of vocabulary, preparing for a performance, stage movement, collaboration in an ensemble, the development of clear acting goals, and memorization of scenes and monologues.
Vocal Techniques II
The purpose of this course is to enable students to develop basic to intermediate - level performance skills in a solo setting using varied song literature. Emphasis will be placed on the methodology of dissecting songs, healthy and interpretive singing, performance techniques, musical knowledge, independent analysis and development of critical analyses, and aesthetic responses to music.
Dance Technique II
This class builds on the Dance Technique I class with further emphasis on developing strength and flexibility, enhanced musicality, creative expression and anatomy for better understanding of body movements.
Year III
Acting III
This class focuses on classical text (Moliere and Shakespeare) analysis and performance, vocal production, and audition techniques and packaging. Performance pieces include monologues (4 total), two scenes. Course assignments also include critiques, research papers, creative presentations and plot summaries.
Vocal Ensemble III: World Music Ensemble
This course is open to students from all departments. Students (at the junior and senior level) will learn and perform world music. This group will perform at community events, as well as choral music performance assessment and seasonal concerts.
Dance Technique III
This course continues to develop dance techniques taught in earlier classes. Students will become familiar with various musical theatre styles from historical periods, will learn dance audition and performance methods for musical theatre, and will work on further development of technical and performance skills.
In addition, students will learn pedagogy skills such as teaching beginning level dance warm-ups including center and travel work. Written assignments will include lesson plans, goals, and objectives. Students will in turn teach/work with ESE students from Doris Sanders Learning Center which culminates in a May production. Students will explore the tools required to create dances, sets, props, and scripts for the production.
Year IV
Acting III
The objective of this class is to comprehend and develop good technical acting techniques that can be used in a performance. This includes knowledge of vocabulary, the development of clear acting goals, creating performance pieces, using various methodologies, memorization of scenes and monologues culminating in the production of a showcase of your abilities.
Vocal Techniques III
The purpose of this course is to enable students to hone all of the performance skills learned thus far. Students will continue to develop ear training, sight reading, and piano skills as they prepare solo and ensemble work for performance.
Choreography I (1/2 credit)
Students will explore the tools used to create dance, namely movement, time, space, shape, design, dynamics, sound, text, and visual aspects. This course is designed for students with a previous dance background. Students will be given class and main stage performance assignments to demonstrate proficiency in the field.
Dance Repertoire II (1/2 credit)
This class expounds upon skills taught in previous dance classes and includes higher proficiency levels in all styles of dance.
Each year private voice lessons will be given to each student in the musical theatre program. Supplemental instruction will be offered by professional guest artists.
Supplies
• All students are required to have the following items for their individual use during vocal lessons and musical theatre classes.
• 1 large 3 ring binder notebook for jury and audition material
• 1 planner calendar
• 1 small audio recording device to record vocal parts and lessons
• 1 personal small mirror for vocal class
• Closed toe sneakers or shoes for acting class
• All supplies such as notebooks, journals, pencils for individual musical theatre classes. (These basic supplies are prescribed on each individual class syllabus)
•1 musical anthology from the following:
• The Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology (There are several volumes of this anthology published by Hal Leonard and categorized by vocal part and preference. Choose one that is best suited for you.)
• The Contemporary Singing Actor (There are several volumes of this anthology published by Hal Leonard and categorized by vocal part and preference. Choose one that is best suited for you.)
• The Definitive Broadway Collection Hal Leonard pub.
• The Best Broadway Songs Ever Hal Leonard pub.
• The Big Book of Broadway Hal Leonard pub.
• The First Book of Broadway Solos (There are several volumes of this anthology published by Hal Leonard and categorized by vocal part and preference. Choose one that is best suited for you.)
• These books may be purchased at Amazon.com or through Barnes and Noble.
Students will learn how to dress appropriately for auditions and interviews. Here is a list of what we expect students to wear for juries and auditions:
Audition Clothes
Men should have a nice pair of slacks they can move in, dress shoes, and a nice looking button up shirt. Jacket and tie are optional. For Dance, they should have black jazz pants with appropriate undergarments, the appropriate shoes based on the style of dance, and a white t-shirt.
Women should have a nice knee-length or full skirt, dress shoes, and a nice looking blouse. Full dresses and pant suits are optional. For dance, they should have a full black leotard with the appropriate undergarments and the appropriate shoes based on the style of dance.
Voice Lessons
All students are required to take 5 hours of vocal lessons each semester. These lessons are provided by professional voice teachers approved by the faculty. The cost of the lessons is subsidized by our department so that students are assisted in paying for the lessons.
Dance Classes
Students are required to dress for all dance classes. The following is a list of dance wear accepted by our department:
• Black leotard for women
• Black tight T-shirt for men
• Black jazz pants
• Black "biker" shorts
• Black jazz shoes
• Character shoes for women
• Tap shoes for women and men
• Ballet shoes for women
• Any sweaters or extra dance wear must be black
• (No writing or stripes on jazz pants or shirts)
Faculty
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B.M.E. Florida Southern College, NBCT
Mrs. Lambert has taught in Polk County for over twenty years. At Harrison she teachers both in the Musical Theatre Department and the Choral Music Department. While teaching at Rochelle School of the Arts, she was chosen as Teacher of the Year and was a finalist for the Polk County Teacher of the Year. Her choirs have performed at the state and national levels, including performances at the 25th Anniversary of the Kennedy Center, the Florida Music Educators Conference, and at Polk County Days at the state capitol.
Mrs. Lambert holds a Bachelor's of Music Education from Florida Southern College and is a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT). She currently serves on the executive board of the Florida Vocal Association and is an active member in NafME, FMEA, and ACDA. She is an FVA-certified adjudicator and has been a guest clinician for various honor choirs around the state.
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BFA Musical Theatre Dance, United States International University, San Diego, California
Laurel Renfroe received her B.F.A. in Musical Theatre Dance from United States International University in San Diego, California (USIU). Laurel was an Associate Professor of Dance at USIU and on faculty at Chula Vista Performing Arts High School in CA. She began a jazz program at San Diego Ballet, taught at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and at the University of San Diego (USD). Her performance career landed her roles at the Old Globe Theatre and San Diego Civic Light Opera in CA. Laurel has also taught and choreographed for Florida Southern College, Cypress Gardens Ski Show, Manassas School of Dance in Virginia, the Kinetic Body Workshop in NYC and was resident choreographer for Trollwood Performing Arts High School in Fargo, North Dakota for seven summer productions.
She began the dance program at The Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts and now teaches dance in the musical theatre department. She shares in the director position for the main-stage musicals and has choreographed 22 musicals. Laurel also directs the Mentorship Program at Harrison for disabled students. She has been faculty chair for 15 years and was elected Teacher of the Year in 1996. She is currently owner and director of her own Pilates studio. Her dance concert work has been seen at the Florida Dance Festival and has been set on New York University's Washington Square Dance Company, on Towson State University Dance Company, Spelman College, Atlanta Jazz Theatre, and Trollwood Performing Arts School in Fargo, North Dakota.
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BA in Theatre, Auburn University, Alabama; BA in History, University of Alabama
Dean of the Musical Theatre Department, Joe Sniegocki, has been teaching at Harrison School for the Arts for the past 9 years. He teaches 9th-12th graders in a variety of subjects including Theatre History, Acting, and Comprehensive Theatre. A graduate of Auburn University with a B.A. in Theatre and the University of Alabama Birmingham with a B.A. in History and Social Sciences, he has worn a number of hats in the theatre world including Production Manager for Naples Dinner Theatre, Artist in Residence at Birmingham Children's Theatre and Master Puppeteer at Theatre West Virginia. He has directed several productions for Harrison including: The King and I, The Music Man, Songs for a New World, Carousel, and The Pirates of Penzance, Camelot, and The Fantasticks. He has served as Harrison’s Thespian troupe director, SACS accreditation coordinator and as a member of the school advisory council. Although he devotes much time to teaching and house managing Harrison’s theatre, Mr. Sniegocki also enjoys playing fantasy football with his brothers, traveling, watching movies with his wife, and quiet reading times.
Alumni
Quentin Darrington, a 1996 graduate of Harrison, stars as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in a Broadway revival of Ragtime.
Karen Olivo, a 1994 Harrison graduate, won a Tony award in for her role as Anita in a Broadway revival of West Side Story.
Yurel Echezarreta appeared in the chorus of the Broadway revival of West Side Story and attends the University of Michigan.
Sarah Claire Smith is a resident company member at Charleston Stage in South Carolina.
William Boles recently won the Barbizon Award for Excellence in Scenic Design. This is a national award where William was honored by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Katie Komcowycz is currently a camera operator who just finished work on the film, Quantum of Solace.
Kiira Schmidt is currently on Broadway in Follies; was last seen on Broadway in White Christmas.
Scott Reed - Director of operations/Executive assistant to CEO for Flying Television in New York City.
Elizabeth Burton is currently touring with Wizard of Oz based out of New York City.
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