POPULAR SONG MASTER CLASSES AT SUNDANCE INSTITUTE

The Sundance Theatre Program and the Johnny Mercer Foundation are pleased to announce The Power of American Popular Song, a weekend designed for professional musical theatre and film actors, and songwriters to focus on the interpretation and personalization of the American songbook.Ý Running from August 4th through 7th at the Sundance Village, UT, the weekend is centered around master classes conducted by award-winning performers, composers, and directors.Ý Panel discussions and performances round out the weekend's programming slate.Ý

Through an open application process, 30 professional performers will be selected to participate in the weekend's events.Ý Master classes will be taught by Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Melissa Manchester; Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Jimmy Webb; Tony Award-winning and legendary Broadway composer Charles Strouse (Annie, Applause, Ýand Bye Bye Birdie); musical director and performer Billy Stritch; legendary singer and recording artist Margaret Whiting; musical director Don Rebic, and director and producer Jack Wrangler.Ý Additional instructors will be announced throughout the summer.Ý

Interested professionals should apply no later than June 7, 2004.Ý Applicants must submit a completed application form, accompanied by a tape, CD, or video.Ý There is no application fee.Ý Tuition for the weekend is $750.00.Ý Students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from Salt Lake City, and hotel reservations at either the Sundance Village or in nearby Orem, Utah.Ý Applications and more information about the program are available on the Sundance Institute website at http://www.sundance.org/ .Ý ÝÝ

The Power of American Popular Song is a creative a partnership between Sundance Institute and the Johnny Mercer Foundation.Ý This is the second year of the organizations' partnership.Ý The Johnny Mercer Foundation furthers the rich legacy of American popular song and strives to ensure that it has a powerful future.Ý The Foundation is equally focused on joining the past and the present, assuring an appreciation for America's unique musical heritage, just as it on honoring the risk-taking of new artists and new voices ‚ in large measure through the support of new composers writing for the American musical theatre.

Since 2002, the Johnny Mercer Foundation has provided underwriting support for one new musical play each year which was developed at the Sundance Theatre Laboratory in addition to the Master Class Weekend.Ý In 2002, that play was THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA with lyrics and music by Adam Guettel and book by Craig Lucas.Ý THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA was subsequently produced at the Intiman Theatre in Seattle and at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.Ý In 2003, the Mercer grant supported a new musical work by composer Ricky Ian Gordon entitled FOR MY FAMILY.

The Sundance Institute Theatre Program identifies and assists emerging theatre artist through its developmental activities at the Sundance Theatre Laboratory, the Sundance Playwright's Retreat at the Ucross Foundation in Wyoming, and the Sundance Institute Theater Lab at the White Oak Plantation. It also contributes to the creative growth of established artists, and encourages and supports the development of new work for the stage. In the last seven years, over 45 Sundance Theatre projects have gone on to productions at regional theatres across the United States, Mexico, and Europe, in the last seven years.Ý Some of the past projects that have been supported by the Sundance Institute Theatre Program include MoisÈs Kaufman's THE LARAMIE PROJECT, Dael Orlandersmith's YELLOWMAN, and Doug Wright's I AM MY OWN WIFE, which was recently awarded the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.Ý

Founded by Robert Redford in 1981, Sundance Institute is dedicated to the development of artists of independent vision and the exhibition of their new work.Ý Since its inception, the Institute has grown into an internationally recognized resource for filmmakers and other artists.Ý Sundance Institute conducts national and international labs for filmmakers, screenwriters, composers, writers, and theater artists.Ý The annual Sundance Film Festival, a major program of Sundance Institute, is held each January and is considered the premier showcase for American and international independent film.Ý The Institute supports non-fiction filmmakers through the Documentary Film Program by providing year-round support through the Sundance Documentary Fund and a series of programs that nurture their growth, encourage the exploration of innovative nonfiction storytelling, and promote the exhibition of documentary films to a broader audience.Ý Through the Sundance Institute Theatre Program, the Institute is committed to invigorating the national theatre movement with original and creative work and to nurturing the diversity of artistic expression among theatre artists.Ý The Institute also maintains The Sundance Collection at UCLA, a unique archive of independent film.

 

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