BREAKING NEWS!
WATCH FOR THE NEW PARADIGM THEATRE ON CHANNEL 12 THIS WEEKEND!
TWO MORE ENTERTAINMENT PROS ADDED TO THE LINEUP OF JUDGES!
Be sure to watch, “Our Lives” with Gwen Edwards on Channel 12 as she interviews Youth Board member, Kelsey Llewellen and Producing Artistic Director, Kristin Huffman about the Audition Event, So Ya Wanna Be a Broadway Star set for OCT 24TH. It will air five times this weekend.
EXCITING NEWS! We have two more Entertainment pros to add to our lineup of judges. If you would like to be heard and given professional feedback (as well as possibly being chosen to sing in two more shows with our Broadway stars) please be sure to PREREGISTER online at our event page.http://www.nptheatre.org/nptevents/broadwaystar-2/
The set up onstage and with our professional accompanist is like a real Broadway audition. The twist is that the participants and the audience will also have a chance to listen in and learn from the constructive comments given by the judges.
Adding to our already stellar lineup of judges are:
John Reid is the Producing Artistic Director and Executive Director of the Fairfield Theatre Company (FTC), one of the most active and well-respected performing arts organizations in Connecticut and the surrounding region. He produces over 200 live-music concerts a year in several venues, which range from 225 to 1450 seats. Productions feature artists such as BB King, Jewel, Buddy Guy, The Lumineers, Alice Cooper, Lyle Lovett, Leon Russell, Foreigner, John Hiatt, Booker T, Boz Scaggs, Peter Frampton, Pat Benatar, Taj Mahal, the B-52’s and many, many others. John is also the cohost of the Friday afternoon “Radio FTC” program with Bruce Swan on WPKN.
John has an extensive background in music and theatre, having played music and acted professionally since he was a teenager. He served as the Producing Director of the Roundabout Theatre Company’s Conservatory and Ensemble Company in New York City and produced, directed and acted in numerous Roundabout Ensemble productions. He has been featured in many television commercials and voiceovers. He studied acting with Stephen Strimpell, Hal Holden, and Gene Feist, while living in New York City.
Karl Gastayer has recently transitioned to the Klein’s Director of Operations, however, over the last 3 years Karl has served as Executive Director of the Klein Memorial Auditorium, a 1400 seat performing arts center in the heart of Bridgeport, CT. While at the Klein, Karl has revamped theater operations, successfully negotiated union contracts, implemented a new systems, established new staff positions and initiated partnerships with other arts and education organizations. Karl’s proudest achievement has been the creation of an extensive arts education program free to Bridgeport students. In the twenty years prior to becoming the Klein’s Executive Director, Karl was a stage manager, technical director, sound and light board operator, stage carpenter, company manager, theater electrician and is experienced all aspects of theater. He has run two theater companies, taught theater at university and middle school levels, toured with road shows throughout North America, worked as an electrician revamping large and small theater lighting systems all over Connecticut, created new theater spaces, made a living as a working actor, supplied work for other working actors and created new theater pieces as a writer, director, choreographer and is a member of the Actors’ Equity Association.
