Media Theatre 'Glee Experience' Auditions, Performance Class Coming Up

The widens its performance opportunities this fall with the new "Media Theatre Glee Experience."

The vocal ensemble will meet Tuesday evenings beginning Oct. 11 under the direction of 2007’s Delco Idol winner Jack Raymond. He will be joined by choreographer Patrick Murray, of Chichester High School. The "Glee Experience" will have music direction by voice instructor and actor Eric Longo.

The Media Theatre "Glee Experience" will hold auditions on Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. at the theatre (104 E. State Street). It begins one week later and will meet weekly throughout the year, rehearsing for local performances.

Jesse Cline, the artistic director for Media Theatre, is looking forward to this new addition to the educational and performance aspects of the professional music theatre.

"There is nothing more popular with young people these days than the prospect of singing current radio or Broadway hits within an ensemble," he explained. "By making this experience available to our community the Media Theatre is fostering a new generation of performers."

Jack Raymond, familiar to local audiences from his winning performances in Delco Idol, agrees.

"What we hope to do is stimulate interest in furthering a young person’s education and career through the experience of working with others with a similar passion," he said. "This is also an opportunity to inspire audiences who will get caught up in the Glee Experience and want to sing along."

Raymond has his own educational background to bring to the "Glee Experience." He is a recent graduate of Marymount Manhattan College with a BA in Acting and Musical Theatre. He has performed in the shows Heaven Can Wait, Bare and Falsettoland. At Cardinal O’Hara High School he was very involved in the theatre program, bringing those talents to the forefront of 2007’s Delco Idol when he won the contest with his powerful bari-tenor vocals and instinctive ability to interpret his song choices.

Choreographer and assistant Patrick Murray has performed in community productions, such as at Neumann College, and at Chichester High School where he is now in his senior year. He plans to pursue a career in musical theatre performance and public relations. He is a trained tap, jazz, and musical theatre dancer as a student of Gina Veith (Dance Fusion Performance Center). He has been an assistant choreographer and director for shows such as Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr. and Beauty and the Beast.

Music Director Eric Longo has been seen recently in Media Theatre’s The Who’s Tommy. Last season, he music directed the children’s production Snow White. He will portray Mary Sunshine in Media’s upcoming Chicago and has worked with Storybook Musical Theater and City Theatre Company. He is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon (BFA).

Students—the performers of the "Glee Experience" will develop singing technique through the varied song selection which will include recent hits that have topped the charts and classic pop, as well as Broadway songs which can be incorporated into an upbeat and positive performance selection. Harmonies will be an important ingredient to the ensemble and dance moves will be added to create a unique "Glee Experience."

The Media Theatre "Glee Experience" is best for ages 10 and up. All Media Theatre New School students are automatically registered into this addition to Media Theatre’s educational and performance opportunities.

For all others, auditions will take place at The Media Theatre on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. Please prepare 16 to 32 bars of a popular song and have sheet music for the accompanist. The Media Theatre "Glee Experience" begins rehearsals on Tuesday, Oct. 11 and meets throughout the year.

The cost, for those accepted, will be $400 for each semester.
For information about the auditions or The Media Theatre "Glee Experience" call 610-891-0100 or visit mediatheatre.org.