Musical Theatre Intensive

Students who attended Music Theatre Intensive in 2023 will be automatically accepted and will be contacted to confirm your attendance through CampInTouch after you complete your application. However, we do still want you to submit a video to help us plan and prepare for the upcoming summer. Follow the same instructions as the audition requirements below.

All new applicants should submit an audition following these guidelines:

Video files (approximately 60 seconds each):

Video 1: A recorded video of you singing approximately 16 bars, or up to one minute, of a song from a published musical of your choice. You should use a backing track with no other vocals on it.
Video 2: A recorded video of a one minute monologue from a musical or comedy that best shows off your talents.

Audition Instructions:
Complete an online Camper application through CampInTouch.
Once you have completed the Camper Application, your application will be reviewed within 5 days by a member of the Enrollment team. At this time, you will be charged the $50 application fee and receive an email with a link to the Submittable audition application for you to submit your audition.
Complete the Submittable audition application and provide an email address for your teacher recommendation form within Submittable.

We use the platform Submittable to receive all auditions for the Summer Program (a universal platform utilized for exhibitions, contests and even university and job applications). It is very easy to use. You will be prompted to set up a free Submittable account with your email. This account can be used for any future open calls you apply to at Idyllwild Arts and beyond!

Priority Audition Deadline: February 1, 2024
First round evaluation will take place shortly after this date. You will be notified of acceptance as soon as evaluations are complete. Auditions will be reviewed on a rolling basis after February 1. Please allow up to two weeks for a response to allow time for faculty evaluation.

Water bottle
Black/dark dress or skirt, or black/dark leggings, pants and/or jeans
Black dress, character, or jazz shoes, closed-toe dress shoes, or black sneakers
Black socks
White blouse or camisole
White button-up long-sleeved shirt
Comfortable clothes you can move in
Athletic or tennis shoes
Rehearsal blacks (pants and shirt)
Hair ties or clips for long hair
Combat/winter boots (optional)
White blouses/shirts
White, short-sleeved button-down shirt
Tank tops/undershirts
Stage makeup kit (basic version, such as Ben Nye makeup kit)

This is an anticipated list of items needed for this theatre workshop. You may be required to bring additional items pertaining to the specific production. We will communicate with enrolled students on those needs about 6 weeks prior to the program.

On a typical day in our Musical Theatre Intensive, we will begin by collectively warming up both our bodies and our voices preparing us for the work ahead. We will explore collaborative creation of a Devised Theatre Performance by working together in deep and thoughtful guided conversations. With this process we will ultimately create a final performance together around a central theme. Everyday we use the techniques of the masters of our craft to hone our skills in singing, dance & acting. Faculty work with every student where they are in all of those areas of skill and look to develop the whole young artist. A normal day is from 9am to 4pm with some additional evening rehearsals added as we get closer to performance.

Denis McCourt Stryjewski is dedicated to acting, writing, and directing for the stage. Denis began studying theater at the University of South Florida, and, in 2003 he graduated with a BA in Theater, with an emphasis on Performance. Then, in 2008, he received his MFA from the University of Florida, in Gainesville. Thirteen years later, Denis is now a member of the Theater faculty at Idyllwild Arts! His professional creative ventures since leaving Florida have included teaching for ten years at the New York Film Academy’s Hollywood campus, directing for Coachella Valley Repertory, an hour from Idyllwild, and “convincing Long Beach Shakespeare Company to do contemporary works.” He is exhilarated by the chance to work with aspiring performers from many different countries.

Jonathan Sharp was trained at National Academy of the Arts and the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet. While on full scholarship at SAB he was trained by master teachers Stanley Williams, Peter Martins, Andrea Kramarevsky, Suzanne Farrell, Alexandra Danilova, Suki Schorer, and Sean Lavery. He danced professionally with the Boston Ballet, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and the touring Stars of American Ballet, headlined by Robert LaFosse and Darci Kistler. He has appeared on Broadway in the original casts of The Red Shoes, Carousel (1994 Tony winner for Best Revival), The Rocky Horror Show Live, The Dance of the Vampires, and Fiddler on the Roof. He has also appeared on television as a contract player on Another World and guest-starred on Law and Order and Gilmore Girls. He has taught at Idyllwild Arts Academy for thirteen years and he also teaches and directs internationally.

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Northwestern University, Jeff Bell has over 30
years of experience in musical theatre as a music director/vocal coach/arranger/accompanist/
keyboardist. His career started in the Chicago Area, continued in the Pacific Northwest and
now continues in beautiful Idyllwild. Jeff is thrilled to be part of the Idyllwild Arts community of
artists and students.