Musical Theater Training Company

Now in its 4th Year

The Musical Theater Training Company, our 2-week training program, provides professional training for the serious student in American musical theater. Taught by expert faculty, company members train in singing, acting and dance technique in daily classes. They then apply these skills in rehearsals, working toward a polished, final showcase, which is attended by members of Arena Stage’s artistic team. Members of this elite ensemble learn the importance of training within their art form, experience the professional rehearsal process within a company, and begin to develop a professional network. May be done alone or in conjunction with the Musical Theater Audition Intensive.

The Musical Theater Training Company faculty represents the high standards of musical theater and education professionals. All members are returning faculty, have worked regularly on Arena Stage’s mainstage productions, and demonstrate the excellence that comes with arts training.

Parker Esse (Choreographer) returns to the Arena Stage Academy in 2012 having just finished choreographing Molly’s Smith’s production of The Music Man.  In 2011, he won a Helen Hayes award for his choreography for Oklahoma!, also at Arena Stage. Other work at Arena Stage includes The Light in the Piazza, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Christmas Carol 1941, Animal Crackers, South Pacific (Helen Hayes nom), Camelot and Damn Yankees. He also has assisted Baayork Lee on Mack and Mabel at the Shaw Festival in Canada and Warren Carlyle on Mame at the Kennedy Center; Pirates of Penzance at Goodspeed Opera House and Paper Mill Playhouse; Stairway to Paradise and Juno for City Center’s Encores; and the feature film The Tourist, starring Hugh Jackman. Mr. Esse choreographed the world premiere of Katie Couric’s The Brand New Kid at the Kennedy Center’s Family Theatre and was associate choreographer of the recent Broadway musicals Finian’s Rainbow and A Tale of Two Cities.

Brad Gardner (Music Director) is thrilled to return for his 4th year with Arena Stage Academy. Brad currently plays piano at Silence the Musical off-Broadway.  Other recent New York credits include The Addams Family and Lucky Guy. In November 2011, he made his Broadway conducting debut with the Follies Gypsy of the Year performance, starring Elaine Paige. Regionally, Brad has worked at North Carolina Theatre and Burning Coal Theatre Company. He is the music director of recording artists Will & Anthony Nunziata, regularly playing piano for them on the road; he can also be heard on their debut album Make Someone Happy. Brad is a staff music director and accompanist at NYU Tisch, Gallatin, and Steinhardt. He also works as an audition pianist and Broadway vocal coach.

Lynn McNutt (Acting Instructor/Director) just recently finished My Fair Lady with Terrance Mann at Connecticut Repertory and a NYC Workshop of Coffee Stains with Tony-nominated producer Heather Provost.  National and international tour: Annie. Regional credits include: Arena Stage, Kennedy Center, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Charlotte Repertory, Florida Stage, Goodspeed Opera House, Indiana Repertory, Struthers Library Theatre and Taffety Punk Theatre.  Lynn has appeared on Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, summer stock, children’s theatre and cruise ships (The Norway). In addition to workshops nationwide, Lynn has taught music theater, Shakespeare, acting, movement and stage combat at Florida State University, University of Miami and Auburn University.  She holds an MFA in Acting from The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy of Classical Acting and a BFA in Music Theater from Florida State University.  Lynn is also a Society of American Fight Director’s certified actor/combatant with a certification in six weapons.