Without a performing arts high school, the East End seems an unlikely cultivator of future Broadway stars. But high school students who take advantage of Sag Harbor's Bay Street Theater master classes have more than enough talent to star in award-winning shows -- and potentially win an award themselves.
Throughout August, Bay Street is offering a variety of one-day classes every day of the week dedicated to nurturing teenage talent. Aspiring and accomplished performers have been encouraged to sign up for programs in which they will not only enhance their acting and playwriting techniques but also gain the invaluable experience of being taught by playwrights and directors spanning regional, Off Broadway, and Broadway productions.
On Friday, Scott Schwartz, Bay Street's artistic director, will lead a workshop on musical theater auditions. Students will focus on one up-tempo song and one ballad that they choose themselves beforehand and take to class. Mr. Schwartz graduated from Harvard University, has produced many Off Broadway shows, and has worked at more than 15 regional theaters.
On Monday, Aug. 5, Wade Dooley will teach a class on monologue writing, character creation, and performance. Mr. Dooley graduated from Bradley University and trained at the Running Deer Musical Theatre Lab. He works both as a playwright and actor at Bay Street, where his comedy "The Prompter" ran in June, and he has toured in such shows as "Jersey Boys" and "The Radio City Christmas Spectacular."
Bay Street's final master class of the summer will take place on Aug. 12, giving students an opportunity to analyze classic theater scenes with Will Pomerantz, the associate artistic director there. Mr. Pomerantz, a director and playwright, frequently teaches workshops and master classes and has directed new shows at more than 15 theaters.
These courses can lead to other things for young performers. At the end of each academic year, the Teeny Awards honor teenage performers across the East End for their roles in school productions. At this year's 17th annual ceremony, which took place on June 9 at Southold High School, 23 students won awards for acting performances while over 100 students involved in technical direction or orchestra received recognition. Bay Street's master classes are one way to gain a competitive edge in such awards, the theater said.
The classes take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and are open to students ages 13 through 18. The price for one class is $125. Enrollment in two classes at once is $220, and three is $325. To enroll, students and parents must fill out a form that can be found on the "Teen Programs" page of Bay Street's website.