Clockwise from upper left: Lisa Brescia, Joshua Young, Dave Clemmons, Dean Nolen, Robert Westenberg, Dave Gaschen
College Audition Prep Weekend (CAPW) is setting the standard nationally for their event Aug. 3-7, 2022. In fact, the CAPW faculty represents Broadway and theater experience unequaled by any other event of its kind in the U.S. All of the faculty bring extensive Broadway, off-Broadway, national and international tour experience to bear.
Josh Young originated the lead role of John Newton in Broadway's Amazing Grace and was nominated for a Tony for the role of Judas in the 2011 Broadway revival of Jesus Christ Super Star. Josh is also coordinator for musical theater at Oakland University.
David Gaschen has played the Phantom in Broadway and European tours of The Phantom of the Opera, performing the role over 1,300 times worldwide and is renowned vocal and acting coach.
Dave Clemmons is a former Broadway Jean Valjean and original cast member of Les Miserables, The Civil War and The Scarlett Pimpernel, has worked as a Broadway casting director and is a nationally highly sought-after college audition coach.
Drama Desk Award-winning Dean Nolen originated the role of Harry Bright in Mamma Mia on Broadway and is the head of acting & directing at Texas Tech University.
Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Robert Westenberg is no stranger to Broadway, having performed in the 1983 revival of Zorba and the original companies of Sondheim's Sunday In The Park With George and Into The Woods which featured his award-winning performance as Cinderella's Prince. In 1991 he also starred in the original cast of Secret Garden. He heads the musical theater BFA program at Missouri State University.
Special Guest Speaker Lisa Brescia, currently on the musical theatre faculty at Stephens Conservatory, counts Broadway lead roles Donna Sheridan of Mamma Mia, Heidi Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen and Elphaba in Wicked among her extensive repertoire.
Visiting faculty sharing their one-on-one feedback with CAPW students includes Tony nominated head of Musical Theatre at Webster University, Lara Teeter; Long Island University Director of Musical Theatre, Dave Hugo who played roles in the Broadway casts of Les Miserables, Jekyll & Hyde, Iolanthe AND Into the Woods; award winning choreographer & director, Brenau University coordinator of Musical Theatre Michael Jablonski appeared on Broadway in The Book of Mormon, West Side Story and the original cast of Cry-Baby; Slippery Rock University Head of Musical Theatre, Aaron Galligan-Stierle’s critically acclaimed work includes Broadway roles in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Phantom of the Opera and the revival of Ragtime. University of Oklahoma head of Musical Theatre Ashton Byrum’s Broadway credits include three seasons on Broadway in Susan Stroman’s annual A Christmas Carol. Choreography is being taught this year by Lauren Gibbs, whose Broadway credits include Wicked, as well as being a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall.
The rest of the attending college faculty represents a raft of award winning and critically acclaimed international, concert, national tour, regional, film and television experience in performance and directing that our students may learn from.
CAPW executive director Tracy Jordan notes, "this extraordinary collection of talent and experience is absolutely unparalleled by any other program of its kind in the U.S. This event absolutely unique in the nation."
This year's event is hosted by Texas Woman's University School of Music in Denton, Texas, just thirty minutes north of DFW airport.
University Musical Theater faculty includes representatives from national top ten Texas State University, NYU Tisch, Long Island University, Webster University, Texas Christian University, Baylor University, Sam Houston State University, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Tech University, Abilene Christian University, Texas Woman's University, University of Oklahoma, University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University, KD Conservatory and Missouri State University, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Brenau University and Slippery Rock University.
Registration is open to high school performing students in grades 9-12 from across the U.S. For more information or to register, visit www.collegeauditionprepweekend.com.
