Point Park's Conservatory Dance Co. Opens Season Oct. 11

Mark Burrell

Work by Mark Burrell, 1997 Donna Reed Scholarship Recipient in Dance, to be featured

Point Park University's Conservatory Dance Company opens its bold 2018 - 2019 season with Contemporary Choreographers, a diverse selection of pieces from four renowned choreographers who stretch the boundaries of dance. One of the contemporary selections featured is "Dancin' in the Dark" by Mark Burrell.

Burrell, a 1997 Donna Reed Scholarship recipient in dance, is an assistant professor of dance at Point Park University in Pittsburg. He has performed on Broadway and internationally. He has served as associate and assistant choreographer of several Broadway shows, in addition to holding positions as dance captain and swing. His body of work weaves in and out of the commercial and concert dance worlds. He was part of the international touring company of PIPPIN, and was the assistant choreographer for Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular for 11 years.

Fall in Love Again with Paul Gordon's EMMA Now Streaming On-Demand

Adam Daveline

2000 Donna Reed Scholarship Alumnus, Adam Daveline, part of cast

EMMA, a TIMELESS love story from one of the most widely read writers of all time, is a musical that will entice modern audiences to fall in love again with one of Jane Austen's most adored heroines.

Tony Nominee Paul Gordon's critically acclaimed stage adaptation re-imagines Austen's classic in mid-century modern while keeping the language fans have come to adore intact.

Daveline, a native of Jacksonville, FL, holds an MFA in Acting from the University of San Diego/Old Globe and a BFA in Musical Theater from Brigham Young University. He is an actor, writer, and director who has created productions both on film and on stage.

Visit him at www.adamdaveline.com
Read the Broadway World article.

Broadway-Bound Tootsie Musical Opens in Chicago

Santino Fontana and Dustin Hoffman

Musical stars 2000 Donna Reed Festival scholarship finalist Santino Fontana

The best moment in “Tootsie,” which opened its pre-Broadway tryout in Chicago on September 30, is not when the remarkable Santino Fontana first appears in a dress as Dorothy, the ill-advised creation of an out-of-work actor turned by the relentless cruelty of a rejection-heavy biz into a two-bit, Midtown version of Dr. Frankenstein. It is when Fontana first opens his mouth to sing.

The musical adaptation of Tootsie, features a score by The Band’s Visit Tony winner David Yazbek and book by Robert Horn. It opened its pre-Broadway engagement at Broadway in Chicago’s Cadillac Theatre September 30. Performances continue through October 14.

Pre-Broadway Review: 'Tootsie' the Musical - Variety

'Tootsie' brings lots of laughs in its pre-Broadway run - Chicago Parent

Tootsie remains charming, even in the #MeToo era - Chicago Reader

2003 Donna Reed Scholarship Alumnus to appear in Peter Pan and Tinker Bell - A Pirate's Christmas

Ben Giroux

Ben Giroux joins cast as Smee

Ben Giroux will join the holiday spectacular Peter Pan and Tinker Bell - A Pirate's Christmas presented by Tennessee Performing Arts Center and the Lythgoe Family Panto December 13-23 in TPAC's James K. Polk Theater. 

Giroux, star of Nickelodeon's Henry Danger, has appeared in numerous productions for Lythgoe Family Panto.

Filled with big laughs, magic, dancers and contemporary songs by everyone from Taylor Swift to The Bee Gees, this family show has a little bit of something for everyone.

The star-led production blends fairy tales, comedy, the holidays, dancing, contemporary songs, and local and regional references to create an unforgettable theater experience.

Read the Broadway World article.

Ben Gunderson to appear in all-new Cole Porter musical Anything Goes.

Ben Gunderson

2005 Donna Reed Foundation National Award Recipient in Musical Theater plays role of Purser

Casting is now complete for Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater's upcoming production of the classic Cole Porter musical Anything Goes, which will be presented November 2–December 23 on the Fichandler Stage. Artistic Director Molly Smith directs.

"I’m excited to be tackling this musical,” shares Smith. “Although this musical was written in the 1930s, the cast is representative of America right now. Expect to experience the best and wildest tap dancing you’ve ever seen in the Fichandler and a string of brilliant comics singing their hearts out in classic Cole Porter style. Joined by a wonderful creative team who are taking this on with all the glamour and verve of the ’30s, we will bring this classic musical into the current moment.”

More about Ben Gunderson