Music Theater Works, is proud to announce its Two Day Tap Workshop with Darryl Kent Clark and Molly Smith for Ages 10 - 18 at Music Theater Works’ Rehearsal Hall, 516 4th Street Wilmette, Monday, August 14 and Tuesday, Aug, 15. Session A will take place from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Monday and Tuesday) for tappers with 1 – 3 years of consistent tap training. Session B will take place from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. (Monday and Tuesday) for tappers with three-plus years of consistent tap training. Space is limited, with only 25 spots available per session.
An early bird, discounted registration fee is now available for $175 through July 20 at MusicTheaterWorks.com. On July 21, registration will be $225 per student per two day class. Included in class enrollment is one ticket to a matinee performance of THE PRODUCERS A Mel Brooks Musical at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. Scholarships are available, based on need. For more information on scholarships, contact Jen King Russell at jkrussell@musictheaterworks.org.
This two day workshop with master tap dancers, Darryl Kent Clark, Music Theater Works (MTW) choreographer for THE PRODUCERS and assistant professor musical theater dance at Southern Illinois University and Molly Smith of Chicago Tap Theatre, increases dancers’ tap skill set and hones their dance abilities while learning more about the dance for musical theater process. All participants will also be taught a modified number from Music Theater Work’s production of THE PRODUCERS.
Friends and family are invited to attend a showcase of the Tap Workshop on the second day, Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 1:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
ABOUT DARRYL KENT CLARK, INSTRUCTOR
Darryl Kent Clark (he/him/his) brings a total of over thirty years’ experience as a dancer, actor, choreographer, director and teacher to his position as assistant professor of Musical Theater Dance at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. His performance credits include stints with Princess Cruises, Sesame Street Live!, Zyngara Performance Troupe and Concert Dance, Inc. He has played roles as diverse as “Henry Brown” in Race, “Jacob” in La Cage aux Folles, “Mickey” in The Normal Heart and “Papa Ge” in Once on this Island to “Benvolio” in Romeo and Juliet and “Caliban” in The Tempest. He has also performed as soloist with the Brockport Community Chorus in Brockport, NY and Men’s Chorus of the Ozarks. His choreography runs the gamut from concert work for the New York City-based #TapLife Dance Company and Springfield Dance Alliance to musicals to dance entertainment for the Mike Ditka Foundation Benefits produced by Clements, Brady and Associates. Recently, he has extended his creative interests to directions and staged productions of LeRoi Jones’ classic Dutchman and newer scripts like the musical The It Girl and Norman Allen’s one man piece, Nijinsky’s Last Dance. He has taught many forms of theatrical dance at Missouri State University, Western Carolina University, SUNY College at Brockport and the University of Amsterdam as well as at studios in the United States of America and the Netherlands.
ABOUT MOLLY SMITH, INSTRUCTOR
Molly Smith (they/them/theirs) is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and arts administrator originally from Charlotte, North Carolina with a BS in dance and arts management from Oklahoma City University. Smith has almost a decade of experience teaching dance and currently teaches at Incite Dance Center as well as being on faculty with Activate Your Artistry dance convention. They are a choreographer and dancemaker, presenting works recently through Take Up Space Dance Festival, The Newport Theatre and Poonie’s Cabaret at Links Hall; they are also a co-founder of and tap dancer/musician in Them the Band. Smith also has experience in company management, stage management, production management, and arts administration for various theaters throughout Chicagoland. At Chicago Tap Theatre, they are proud to serve as both rehearsal director and production manager.
More information on THE PRODUCERS A Mel Brooks Musical:
THE PRODUCERS A Mel Brooks Musical
August 10 - 20
Written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Directed by L. Walter Stearns
Music Directed by Eugene Dizon
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts In Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd
Preview: Thursday, Aug. 10 at 1 p.m.
Press Opening: Friday, Aug. 11 at 8 p.m.
Performance Schedule: Wednesdays at 1 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. with a Saturday matinee, Aug. 19 at 2 p.m.
Ticket Price: $39 - $106, with tickets for guests 25 years old and younger available at half-price.
It’s Music Theater Works’ 150th production, a big, bawdy and brilliant Broadway show based on Mel Brooks’ classic film, THE PRODUCERS sets the standard for giant production numbers and modern, outrageous, in-your-face humor. This musical which debuted in 2001 became the record holder for the most Tony Awards ever received by a single production with 12 awards, including Best Musical.
ABOUT MUSIC THEATER WORKS
Music Theater Works is a resident professional not-for-profit music theater founded in 1980. During its 43-year history it has presented more than 150 productions and intimate presentations. Music Theater Works is a professional theater company whose mission is to present works for the musical stage including historic repertoire, revitalizing the Golden Age of Broadway and earlier works, celebrating the Great American Songbook and introducing modern classics
JOYCE SAXON is the 2023 Music Theater Works Season Sponsor.
(L to R) Music Theater Workshop TAP Instructors Darryl Kent Clark and Molly Smith