Diary of a Triple Threat Performer - Part Two

We at The Palace Theatre could go on and on about the talented students that participate in our Arts-Education programs.  We thought it was about time you hear about the experience directly from the source.  Brandon Wolfe is an 18 year old student from Stamford who participated in our Triple Threat program for a second time.  It wasn't easy, but with hard work and endless talent, the group put on a spectacular show for parents and friends to see!  

This is Part Two of a two part journal chronicling his time in the Triple Threat program.  Thank you Brandon, for sharing your experience!

Campers "break the mold" and rehearse for the big day!

Thursday, July 23 - SANCTUARY

Today was probably the best day this week! We finally got to put everything together and see how the show was going to go, and my thoughts were: not too shabby! We got to hear almost everyone’s prepared songs, but our teacher put a little twist on it. After he listened to each person individually, he gave each of us a different exercise to help our acting. Mine was push-ups (keep in mind I am not that strong and instead of 16 bars I did 32). It helped a lot, but I was pooped for the rest of the day.

Then, we finally put the body percussion together (WHICH I FINALLY GOT!!!). We added free styles and as I was volunteered by the others, (this happens a lot at Triple Threat) I remembered that I can’t dance but I could sing. I decided to sing “You Can’t Stop the Beat” since we were, in fact, making beats. It didn’t fit into the time frame so I decided to speed it up double time.

As some of you may remember, I have an alternate name for that song: “You Can’t Stop to Breathe.” So, doing it twice as fast was interesting. By that day we had all came out of our shells, so the energy was up and we were all ready for tomorrow.

But the biggest problem had to focus on for the rest of the night was…what am I going to wear for the show?!

Friday, July 24 - ESTOOO!!!

So, today is the day of the show and by now we are all ready. That’s the great thing about intensive programs; by the end of the week, you learn so much that by Friday, it’s like you have been training for months (I hope this is how college is). We have grown together quite nicely and I’m really going to miss all of them.

The start of the day was basically just a recap and warm up so I’m not going to waste time going into that. I’m going to tell you about what you really want to hear about; the show.

For starters, the amount of energy and the lack of anxiety were impressive. I still don’t know why I, of all people, was not scared because I’m scared of everything. We messed up quite a few times but Luis (our main teacher) managed to cover it up and made it look like it was all on purpose. He presented us like he was teaching it right before their eyes.

One of my favorite solos that day was “Defying Gravity” (Wicked) when she performed it on Tuesday her exercise was to have everyone in the room laugh at her and discourage her because she was singing it to her classmates who were mean to her and she had to sing it like she was proving them wrong (which she did amazingly). This time, the audience had to discourage her (which they did rather well…) and we had to stand behind her as her as she represented us. I felt the most connection to her having because I have a similar story and decided instead of just standing behind her, we should encourage her. The rest of the kids joined in and you could hear the difference in how powerful her voice was she was asked why did that song her response told us of how bullied and how everyone doubted her and as she graduated middle school she finally overcame and let her confidence shine. If I ever see her again, I just hope she keeps that spirit because it took me until senior year of high school to get where she is now.

P.S . if you are wondering what ESTOOO meant  here’s the story. Valeria, our body percussion teacher, was Italian with a very thick accent and every time we did something right she would yell out ESTOO and now all of us also yell ESTOOO.

Epilogue

One of the best quotes from this program that I will keep forever is, “There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.”  This overall was a great experience and I’m glad I got to do it. I like this quote because I often held back in fear I might outshine someone or be too much but because of it I always ended up falling short. I have learned that my light, talent energy or whatever you want to call it is powerful and there is no use holding it back.

Thank you to all of our camp participants for their hard work and dedication year after year!  We look forward to the fantastic talent coming to next year's Triple Threat!

Diary of a Triple Threat Performer - Part One

We at The Palace Theatre could go on and on about the talented students that participate in our Arts-Education programs.  We thought it was about time you hear about the experience directly from the source.  Brandon Wolfe is an 18 year old student from Stamford who participated in our Triple Threat program for a second time.  It wasn't easy, but with hard work and endless talent, the group put on a spectacular show for parents and friends to see!  

This is Part One of a two part journal chronicling his time in the Triple Threat program.  Stay tuned for Part Two tomorrow!

Brandon Wolfe, seen in a yellow shirt, at Triple Threat week

Monday, July 20 – THE DAY HAS FINALLY COME

The first day of Triple Threat was amazing. I must be honest, I had a little trouble keeping up in the body percussion class, but I’ll catch up. It was a lot different from when I did it two years ago. For starters, we did not split up by age group, but it gave us a chance to help the younger kids and meet even more people. These kids are very talented (they could probably give me a run for my money!), and I look forward to the rest of the week with them.

Tuesday, July 21 – TIME TO CRANK THIS UP

So, today was totally different from yesterday in many ways. We finally broke into groups, but not by age. Yesterday, we broke into groups while still together for a body percussion exercise. She gave us three different routines, and we split ourselves based on what routine we felt most comfortable with. Today, we took those groups and finally rotated between acting, singing and body percussion. 

I started off with acting and learned another poem, but mostly just got to learn about the people in my group better (my favorite part about small groups). Then, we went to body percussion practice. Remember how yesterday I said I would catch on to this body percussion thing?  I was wrong. We added on to the dance we did yesterday, and it took me over 30 minutes to learn a dance that took less than 30 seconds to do. (Imagine if I had to do a whole song).

Then we went to my favorite subject; singing. We got a chance to sing 16 bars which is around 30 seconds to a minute of a song we were supposed to prepare for Monday. I forgot my sheet music, but luckily the teacher knew the song (“Proud of your Boy” from Aladdin). My favorite song sung by someone other than myself was “Naughty” from Matilda, sung by one of the most adorable little girls I’ve ever seen. She performed the song with the British accent like the soundtrack and could totally be “Matilda” on Broadway.

After lunch, we focused more on singing, but the bulk of the afternoon went to dance. We learned “Fame” which went great for the program but not so great for me. All the moves were super balletic and me who has not done ballet since I was 6 (don’t ask me why it was not my choice) was not ready. This dance is probably the second hardest dance I have ever done (right after “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from Hairspray which should have been called “You Can’t Stop to Breathe!”). However, I refuse to let a little dance slow me down, so I have a lot of practicing to do if I’m going to catch up.

Wednesday, July 22 - WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO?!

As the days go by, this continues to get harder and harder. Those of you who are reading this may know about “hell week” (the week leading up to a performance where the director is scattered, everything is super busy and you stay really late 'til everything is done) and the stresses that go with it. Now, imagine a “hell week" where you not only have one week until the show, but the whole cast is brand new. As we get closer to the performance, the dances get harder, there is more to memorize and people become more distracted.  

So, today we started off with dancing and boy, was that something! We learned a new dance for a song (“96,000” from In the Heights) we had just learned that morning which is all still jumbled in my head. We finally put the final parts together for the body percussion, which I’m starting to get. 

After lunch, we went back to dance FOR THE NEXT 2 HOURS! It’s actually not hard to do two hours of dance, but when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed with a pain in your neck and a cold, it becomes a bit harder. We learned the rest of the dance to the song “Fame” from Fame which is so fast. The fact that I am 6’1" and I was 2 seconds from kicking someone in the face multiple times scares me. It was a very tough day today. 

Will Brandon make it through the week?
Tune in for Part Two tomorrow to find out!

How Your Contribution Will Help The Palace Theatre on Fairfield County Giving Day

How Your Contribution Will Help The Palace Theatre on Fairfield County Giving Day

Thursday, March 5 at 12 AM will begin the annual Fairfield County Giving Day, a 24 hour event in which our community comes together to donate as much as they can to Fairfield County Non-Profit Organizations in order to create new opportunities for all citizens of Fairfield County throughout the year. 

The Palace is participating and hopes to raise $10,000!

Here’s a few ways in which just $10 can go a long way at The Palace.

Students participating in The Palace Theatre's various educational programs

You will bring education to the next generation of great performance artists

The Palace offers children from low-income and disadvantaged families the chance to attend world-class entertainment on our stage through organized trips. For five years, The Palace has awarded an Emerging Young Artist Scholarship in a specific field of study, to ensure ALL children have chances to succeed.

Participants of the Triple Threat Program at The Palace Theatre

The Palace has already served thousands of disadvantaged youth in Fairfield County this year; from providing educational show tickets to low-income schools to providing full scholarships for deserving students to our transformative performing and education programs.

The Palace believes that every child deserves the opportunity to experience the performance arts.

STOMP visits Cloonan Middle School with an inspirational performance

The Palace also partners with local schools to offer exclusive performances and motivational talks. The experience of an up-close presentation and meaningful question and answer session provides children the opportunity to receive career advice from arts professionals and the encouragement to stay motivated. 

Thank you letters from students of Cloonan Middle School

Education = scholarships for greater success in higher learning

Noelia, student who participated in the Triple Threat Program

Watch Noelia’s inspiring story about her transformation through The Palace’s Triple Threat Program

Daniel, student who participated in the Triple Threat Program

Watch Daniel talk about how The Palace’s Triple Threat Program has helped him as a creative person

Your money helps all of Fairfield County

The Palace is a large, multi-faceted theatre, but did you know we are also a 50c3 not-for-profit organization? Box office receipts only cover a fraction of what it costs to keep our doors open. The Palace has been a beacon for the best live performance – music, comedy, dance and theatre – since its curtain first rose in 1927, and where world-class artists continue to reach the minds and hearts of every patron who enters its doors.

Our mission is to be the premier regional arts destination for exciting entertainment that also enhances and enriches the cultural, educational, economic, and social life of our community. At this time of year, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us reach this goal.

Thank you for your support! DONATE HERE

National Touring Cast of STOMP Meets & Greets 600 Local Middle School Students

Yesterday was not your typical day at Stamford's Cloonan Middle School. For a few hours, students had the chance to put down their pencils, join in the fun, and learn how to STOMP...from the pros! 

On January 8, tomorrow night, the Palace Theatre is presenting STOMP, the wildly entertaining dance-percussion theatrical phenomenon. Through special arrangement by the Palace, members of the show's national touring cast made an in-school appearance on Tuesday for 600 kids, grades 6 through 8. Following an exclusive performance of two numbers, "Hands and Feet" and the intro to "Matches," the 5 dancers invited students to join them on the auditorium's stage to share the experience and make a little noise of their own. A Q&A session between cast and students followed.

Check out these wonderful photos of the event from The Stamford Advocate.
 
STOMP’s history reaches back to the 1980s, to the streets of Edinburgh, where Luke Creswell and Steve McNichols thought it would be fun to entertain the public with their unique brand of explosive music. Their grassroots gigs soon caught the eye of Heineken, which debuted the show’s iconic dustbin dance to the world in a commercial. Since taking New York City’s downtown performance scene by storm in 1991, where the show continues its award-winning, record-breaking run at the Orpheum Theatre, STOMP has grown into a worldwide box office sensation – with movies, television shows and music videos added to its repertoire.

Various casts of STOMP have drummed their way around the world, performing more than 14,000 times in front of 14 million people in 50 countries. Connecticut native Kris Lee (Colchester), is one such “stomper.” After performing at the Orpheum since last year, she is now a member of the show’s national touring cast performing at The Palace tomorrow night.

STOMP cast member and Connecticut native, Kris Lee, in the classroom with students from Cloonan Middle School.

The Palace is dedicated to nurturing and working with young artists through our innovative arts education programs. In addition to coordinating this exceptional event, we have provided Cloonan Middle School with complimentary tickets to the performance to share with faculty, staff and students however they want. To make sure the preforming arts are accessible to all future artists, we have offered a special discount of 35% off regularly priced tickets to the entire local school community.

“DANCEFEST” RETURNS IN JANUARY TO THE PALACE THEATRE

Annual Festival of Professional Master Classes for Young Dancers Culminates with Public Performance on Sunday, January 18

Each year in winter, The Palace Theatre showcases some of Fairfield and Westchester Counties’ most committed and promising young dancers on its stage. DanceFest 2015, a Student Festival Performance of original choreography, will take place on Sunday, January 18th at 6 p.m. Leading up to this special night, DanceFest takes over The Palace for two weekends, from January 10 through January 18, for a series of master classes taught by world-renowned professionals. Tickets for DanceFest 2015 are now on sale now.

Now celebrating its 13th anniversary, The Palace’s annual performing arts festival is designed for intermediate and advanced dance students ages 10 through 18 who regularly train at several dance schools in the area. They participate in master classes taught by outstanding professionals in the dance world in six disciplines: ballet, tap, modern, hip hop/jazz/funk, contemporary and musical theater. School directors, teachers and parents are invited to observe the classes at no charge.

Master Class teachers this year include: Guillermo Asca, Kristin Sudeikis, Jermaine Browne, Daniel Ulbricht, Luis Salgado, and Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards. (Bios are below.)

Participating schools in DanceFest 2015 include*:

Fairfield County, CT: Ballet School of Stamford; Bonafide Dance Company (Norwalk); Center Stage Dance Studio (Stamford); Darien Arts Center-Dance; Finelines Theatre Arts Studio (New Milford); Greenwich Dance Studio; Locust Performing Arts Center (Stamford); Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County (Bridgeport); Performing Arts Center of Connecticut (Trumbull); and Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance;

Westchester County, NY: City Center Dance (White Plains); Coleman School of Dance (New Rochelle); Dance Nyaad (Bedford Hills); East Pointe Dance (Rye Brook); Magical Movements School of Dance (Harrison); Monroe Dance Academy; New York Dance (Harrison); The Pulse Performing Arts Studio (Bedford Hills).

You can read about DanceFest 2014 (last year) in The Stamford Advocate here. 

*Media is welcome to attend master classes and performance.

MASTER CLASS SCHEDULE (weekend of January 10):

Saturday, Jan 10:
Modern: 9:30-11:00am (10-13yrs.); 11:15-12:45pm (Int./Adv., ages 14-18yrs.)
Musical Theatre: 1:00-2:00pm (ages 10-11yrs.); 2:15-3:45pm (Int., ages 12-15yrs.); 4:00-5:30pm (Adv., ages 14-18yrs.)
Tap: 5:45-7:15pm (ages 10-13yrs.); 7:30-9:00pm (Int./Adv., ages 14-18yrs.)

Sunday, Jan 11:
Ballet: 9:30-10:30am (ages 10-11yrs); 10:45-12:15pm (Int., ages 12-15yrs.); 12:30-2:00pm (Adv., ages 14-18yrs.)
Contemporary: 2:15-3:45pm (ages 10-13yrs.); 4:00-5:30pm (Int/Adv., ages 14-18yrs.)
Hip-Hop/Jazz/Funk: 5:45-7:15pm (ages 10-13yrs.); 7:30-9:00pm (Int/Adv., ages 14-18yrs.)

MASTER CLASS TEACHERS:

Modern: Guillermo Asca
Performer, Alvin Ailey American Dance Company, Ailey ll, Director, Ailey/Fordham Student Dancers & Ailey Student Performance Group/Ailey Certificate Program Advisor/Faculty Ailey School

Contemporary: Kristin Sudeikis
Choreographer/Artistic Director & Dancer for TV, Film and Stage/Choreographer for NBC’s hit “30 Rock”, featured dancer for Mariah Carey, guest appearances on “The View”, “Good Morning America” & “The Today Show”

Hip-Hop/Jazz/Funk: Jermaine Browne
Performer/Teacher/Model/Video Choreographer for Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and J.Lo. EuropeanFashion Shows/ Victoria Secret/MTV Music Awards

Ballet: Daniel Ulbricht
Principal dancer, NYCB, Artistic Advisor of Manhattan Youth Ballet and Associate Artistic Director of New York State Summer School for the Arts in Saratoga Springs, Founder and Director of “Daniel Ulbricht and Friends”, a touring group focusing on high art, education and outreach.

Musical Theatre: Luis Salgado
Dancer/Actor/Teacher/Director/Choreographer, Latin Assistant Choreographer “In The Heights”, B’dwy shows include The Mambo Kings, Fame on 42nd Street, Aida, Rocky and American Dance Machine

Tap: Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards
Performer, Choreographer, Instructor) is known for setting high standards in the world of Tap Dance. Tap coach to the king of pop Michael Jackson over the course of 11 years, she received a Bessie Award for her featured performance in Jason Samuels Smith & Company at the Joyce, and an Astaire Award for Best Female Performer for her featured performance in Broadway’s After Midnight.

ARTISTIC AND PRODUCTION TEAM:

Producer and Director – Carol Bryan

Production Director – Randy Thomas

Production Stage Manager – Lori Rosecrans Wekselblatt

Stage Manager – Dan Stahl

Lighting Designer – Scott Borowka

For more information, please contact Carol Bryan at 203-517-3431 or cbryan@scalive.org

Don’t Miss the 4th Annual Young Choreographers Festival - This weekend!

 

PalaceStamford.org

Looking to see some local dance talent? Join us Sunday, November 9th at 5pm for an evening of dance at the 4th Annual Young Choreographers Festival, “Voices & Visions.”

Through styles of Classical and Contemporary Ballet, Modern, Hip-Hop, Tap, Ethnic and Theatre Dance, aspiring, young choreographers will be able to present their original work to the general public, dance community, and family right here on the HARMAN stage.

The choreographers are between the ages of 13-18 years old and study dance at their schools and/or dance schools in Fairfield and Westchester Counties. They were involved in all aspects of the festival: choreography, auditioning dancers, choosing music, costumes, lighting and staging.

Our Young Choreographers Festival is one of our popular arts education programs, come see the different types of work from young dancers of various backgrounds and training!

For more information, please visit out website: http://bit.ly/1EoZtuC