September 5 , 2007                                                                                                                                         Associate Director of Marketing

                                                                                                                                                                             Phone: 253.573.2360

                                                                                                                                                                             Email: laceyl@broadwaycenter.org

Broadway Center Conservatory's

Dynamic Fall Session of Arts Programming to Begin

Tacoma, WA - The Broadway Center Conservatory, an Education Program offered by the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, is poised to present a full year of theater arts curriculum beginning September 24, 2007 with the launch of the Fall term. The curriculum of the Conservatory will impact the landscape of Arts education in the South Sound by achieving new standards for both youth and adult Arts training programs.

With classes for students ages four through adult and a cadre of professional teaching artists, the Conservatory aspires to lead the South Sound in Arts Education training. Inspired by Drama School programs at Seattle Children's Theatre, the Conservatory hopes small class sizes and expertly designed and taught offerings will attract both the interested theater hobbyist and the aspiring professional.

In addition to a wide variety of classes for all skill levels, the Conservatory will offer financial aid enabling students to attend who might otherwise not have the financial means.  The deadline for applying for Fall financial aid is September 14, 2007 at 5:00 pm.

The Conservatory launched in July 2007 with a successful Summer Session.  During the span of one month, the Conservatory touched more than sixty students and hundreds of audience members through the full-scale musical production of Jungle Book by Northwest playwright Bryan Willis and composer Edd Key.  Students enjoyed professionally-taught workshops and rehearsals by an expert faculty. One parent said, “I was very impressed with the staff. I appreciate their education and training. Everyone was very friendly and supportive,” and another said “I was extremely impressed with everyone I met.”

In addition to onsite programming, the Conservatory has partnered with two Tacoma schools to offer after-school arts programming in an open-enrollment setting. Point Defiance Elementary and Bryant Montessori will host several Creative Dramatics and Fundamental Acting classes. Enrollment at these sites is open to the general public and the offsite locale offers community outreach unparalleled by other Arts education programs in the region.

Enrollment is open for school year classes and is filled on a first-come, first –served basis. The Conservatory plans on maintaining wait lists for classes that fill. For more information, please visit http://www.broadwaycenter.org/conservatory/overview.asp or contact Jesse Michener at 253.591.5202 to request more information.

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