Maplewood Welcomes Performers Theater Workshop

The well-known Performers Theater Workshop, long a mainstay of Livingston, has recently moved to Maplewood. PTW owners Dean and Liz Kravitz feel positive about the move, describing Maplewood as "a very vibrant artistic community"—and indeed, their new offices/rehearsal studios at 1 Pierson Road are buzzing with energy and excitement.

In fact, I recently had the opportunity to visit the husband-and-wife team at their new headquarters, where they discussed the organization's history and their plans for the future.  

"A lot of people would still remember 'Bits of Hits,' a review showcase my parents created," Dean says, referring to the shows staged at the JCC for many years under the direction of his mother, PTW founder Esther Kravitz (whose black-and-white glamour photo graced the wall).

"The shows were multi-generational—parents, kids, families," Liz Kravitz says. "[Esther] did amazing shows. She created an ice rink on the stage once. She was a creative visionary." 

"Both of my parents were Juilliard graduates," Dean continues. "My father, Howard Kravitz, passed away in April 2009. I had been working with him on the school and now I'm continuing the legacy."

The legacy, it appears, is in capable hands. Dean, the artistic director and head of the music department, draws on his family's rich history as well as his own extensive education to make sure the Performers Theater Workshop is the exceptional place his parents envisioned.  

First and foremost, he provides a solid teaching foundation for the young artists in training. Dean holds a BA in music from Yale University, a Masters in teaching from the Eastman School of Music, and has studied at the University of the Arts and Westminster Choir College. Professionally, he wrote music for TV and radio before taking over PTW full-time.

"My mother always envisioned a school like this," Dean says. "A place where students could get the same quality of instruction as they would in Manhattan."

Dean and Liz say that very few such programs exist in New Jersey. PTW has a full range of dance classes—ballet, tap, jazz and hip-hop—as well as group/private acting instruction and group/private vocal instruction. In addition, a range of specialty classes is offered, such as Broadway Kids, TV Commercials and On-Camera Acting, Sight-Singing, Comedy and Improv and Group Song Interpretation. 

PTW also offers Glee classes, where students perform a variety of numbers from the hit TV show. The class is so popular that it's offered several times a week for three different age groups.

Twelve-year-old Kimberley Newschulz from Chatham takes both the senior Glee class and the 12-14 year-olds' Performers Class. As I toured the studios, Kimberley and her talented fellow performers showcased a lively number from "Hairspray," taught by Broadway dancer Brian Loeffler, before taking a break to talk.

"I believe there is such a thing a triple threat," Kimberley declares confidently. "I've learned that since I've been here. I'm a natural singer but I've learned to grow into the acting and dancing." 

"I believe Kimberly has over a three-octave range," Dean says, moving over to the piano to find out. As he plays a progression of scales, Kimberly hits the low notes, the high notes and everything in between. She is remarkable.

"Her range is low F below middle D, two octaves above middle C," Dean declares proudly. "That's a 3½ octave range."

"I think she might have perfect pitch as well," adds Harrison Young, standing nearby. Young is the musical director of the number.

Dean describes how the young singers are taught to interpret a song, a process students are taught at PTW.

"We talk about objective, character development, playing the action," Dean explains. "The best singers know what happened just before the song. They know how the story evolves as the song unfolds. This is the stuff that kids learn at the top theater and music conservatories." 

Dean describes PTW instructors as "high-credentialed." Young, who teaches songwriting, piano, voice and guitar, is a graduate of the Berkeley School of Music, and Loeffler starred in Grease, West Side Story and Bye Bye Birdie on Broadway. Acting instructor Dawn Sobolewski studied at the Stella Adler Conservatory in New York and is currently working on a feature film.

I peeked in on Sobolewski's class next. The 9-11 year-old thespians had been writing monologues and performing them for the class.  That evening, the intensity of the experience inspired an emotional breakthrough for one of them. 

"It's okay if you cry when you act out your monologue," Sobolewski assured the student comfortingly. "That's what acting is all about."

The student nods silently, brushing away a tear as her classmates gather around supportively. 

Though I find the young actors' empathy for one another striking, Dean and Liz are not surprised by it.

"This is a non-competitive environment," Liz observes. "The kids feel they can take emotional risks here. A lot of them say this is their refuge.  In junior high and high school that's so important."

Perhaps another reason the environment is so supportive is because many of the instructors are alumni. Dean says it's not unusual for a performer to go on tour with a show and then return "home" to PTW. Though PTW's most famous alumna, Anne Hathaway, has yet to come back to teach, Dean mentions Livingston native Kathy Trien, who starred in Gypsy on Broadway and now teaches at PTW.

However, Dean is quick to point out that, "Not everyone (who takes classes here) will wind up on Broadway. Recently the casting director of Nickelodeon invited one of our students to audition and that child is now being considered for a future pilot," he says with pride. "But that's not why people come here. I always describe it this way: people don't take tennis lessons so they can go pro. I mean, a small percentage might wind up going pro, but basically you play tennis for enjoyment."

For now, everyone at the Performers Theater Workshop is focused on "A Night of Scenes and Songs," their upcoming showcase in December. The Kravitz's promise there will be—everything from Hairspray to Frank Sinatra to Glee.

"There are as many solos as there are kids," Liz says, smiling. "Everyone will be featured."

"A Night of Scenes and Songs" will be performed at Heritage Middle School in Livingston; exact dates and times TBA.