3 YEAR MUSICAL THEATRE DIPLOMA COURSE

Mission Statement

In September 2011 PPA launched their own exciting new three-year musical theatre diploma course, which offers the serious musical theatre student the chance to develop into a fully prepared professional performer. The course offers intensive training with equal emphasis in all three disciplines of acting, singing and dancing in order to become a fully rounded triple threat performer. The course is also unique in adding a fourth discipline in musicianship. The course is industry linked and will promote the student into the world of performing arts with access to agents, casting directors and potential employers.

Students will be given the opportunity to work with luminaries from the world of the musical theatre and will be given master classes with celebrated names from the industry. The course is delivered by a highly professional and supportive team of practitioners in a family friendly environment. The training is of the highest standard and encourages and demands the student to achieve the maximum skills necessary in order to reach their goals. Our focus is on the students, the world of theatre and our aim is to supply the entertainment industry with highly competent performers equipped with the necessary skills to face the challenges that current musical theatre trends demand.

"PPA is the new kid on the block – exciting and innovative and delivers musical theatre training and preparation that is unequalled in triple threat education."

Gerry Tebbutt - Head of PPA 3 Year Musical Theatre Course
(Ex Head of Musical Theatre and Performance Guildford School of Acting)

PPA Three-year course overview

Year 1

Students are expected and encouraged to achieve and maintain a high level of physical fitness and classes will build on technique, flexibility, strength and stamina in all disciplines. Levels of understanding are demanded in using imagination in all subjects with prime importance placed on delivering and communicating text, lyrics and physical awareness effectively through the art of acting. They will be expected to increase their knowledge of developing performance skills through research, group work, text analysis and individual presentation. Importance will be placed on the spoken voice and classes will work on articulation, accent, how the voice works, the basic principles of breathing, understanding the diaphragm and sight reading. Singing will be taught through group singing, song repertoire, song presentation with emphasis placed on using the voice safely and effectively through healthy practice. Each student will be assigned their own singing tutor for one to one tutorials. Acting classes will include classic and modern text, improvisation, story telling and group projects. Dance classes will include Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Jazz, Modern and Social Dance alongside Stretch, Body Conditioning and Pilates. Acting classes will cover Sight Reading and Text, Contextual Studies and Stagecraft and will be taught alongside Play Text with Acting Workshops and Musical Theatre Styles.

Year 2

The second year continues to build on the foundations learnt during the first year. Integration of musical theatre techniques is developed, aided by increased ability to articulate thinking and emotional responses to text and other material. Technical and physical skills continue to be developed and integrated into rehearsal practice. Projects in acting, musical theatre and dance are rehearsed and performed each term of the second year in order to show evidence of a good work ethic, personal discipline, training and the ability to understand theatre and performance practice. Students will be expected to demonstrate effectively in three disciplines and will be continuously assessed at each level of their training in order to explore and further their employment potential. Students will be expected to demonstrate a high level of physical and technical ability across the many different genres of musical theatre. Contextual studies in musical theatre are given in order that the student understands the many different aspects of the performing arts. Professional practice and audition skills are introduced and each student is looked at individually in order to assess their unique marketing qualities. At the end of the second year students perform their first public full length musical.

Year 3

High levels of performance practice in three disciplines demonstrate the confidence and versatility of each student. Students will have acquired the specialised skills in dance – tap, ballet and jazz – a thorough knowledge of vocal and singing technique and a commanding use and delivery of language and text. Individual needs are considered by the faculty and guidance and help are given following assessments. Mock auditions will take place with agents and casting directors and masterclasses will be given by luminaries from the world of theatre. The third year continues to develop the work of the student through public performances and culminates with students performing a showcase to a cross section of potential employers from agents, casting directors and performance specialists.

Course Curriculum

Dance/Movement

Students will develop artistic and performance skills and be able to execute dance to the highest level for both musical theatre and dance productions. Students will also learn to use their bodies effectively and without undue tension, in order to express and employ the physical dimensions required in creating a character. The process of dance is effectively supported by using the skills and techniques of the actor.

On completion of the course, students will be able to demonstrate:

• A broad and specific understanding of the use of different techniques for different genres of music theatre dance
• A controlled use of anatomical alignment and placement
• An ability to execute movement sequences which build strength, balance, co-ordination, flexibility and control with accurate, safe and technical fluency
• An understanding of music in order to perform expressively and sensitively
• An ability to take direction and recall complex combinations accurately
• An ability to use and adapt techniques to maximise effect
• An understanding of how to protect and maintain physical health through the use of effective warm-up and cool-down exercises
• An ability to work accurately and effectively in dance ensembles
• A knowledge and understanding of technical vocabularies
• An ability to use their bodies without strain in the physical embodiment of different characters

SINGING

The aim of the Singing Course at PPA is to provide the students with the technical and interpretative skills required for a successful career in Musical Theatre. The approach is inspired by the Estill Model, which is universally recognised within training and the industry.
In addition to their own private singing tutorial,* students will study the following classes on a weekly basis:

• Technical Singing
• Acting Through Song
• Presentation Class
• Ensemble Singing/Score Reading
• General Musicianship
• Musical Theatre Knowledge

* not included within the fees at many colleges

There is also an opportunity for those who have instrumental experience for pursue an Actor/Musician strand to the course.

Course Content over 3 years

• Jazz
• Ballet
• Tap
• Double Work
• Pointe Work
• Pilates
• Body Conditioning
• Acrobatics
• Stretch and Strength
• Social Dance – Waltz, Salsa, Tango, Rock, Swing, Jive, Flamenco etc.
• Contemporary Dance
• Historical, folk and character dance
• Musical Theatre Styles
• Mock Auditions
• Movement techniques as appropriate
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Group classes
• Showing of group and individual work
• Rehearsals
• Production (both in-house and public performances)

Fees and Funding

PPA is a private college. We aim to continue this way so we are never reliant upon government or university funding. We believe that we can offer the best quality training by staying an independent establishment. However students on the 3 year National Diploma may apply for a career development loan to help fund their training with us. These are available through Barclays and Co-Operative banks. More information on career development loans can be found on the YPLA website. Students under the age of 19 are also eligible for housing benefit through Guildford Borough Council. All information on Housing Benefit can be found on the general fees and funding page.

3 year National Diploma fees are set at £7200 per year.

Faculty

GERRY TEBBUTT

Gerry Tebbutt began his career as an actor in weekly rep at Shanklin Theatre performing in seventeen plays in eighteen weeks! He followed this working with repertory companies up and down the country before embarking on a career in musical theatre. In London’s West End he appeared in many long running musicals such as "The Canterbury Tales" (Phoenix) "Billy" (Drury Lane) "Irene" (Adelphi) "Annie" (Victoria Palace) "Strike A Light" (Piccadilly) "The Wizard of Oz" (Victoria Palace) "Gypsy" (Piccadilly) "Mack & Mabel In Concert" (Drury Lane) "The Wombles" (Shaftesbury) and two Royal Variety Performances from The London Palladium. To date he has been involved in over three hundred theatre productions either as a performer, choreographer or director.

Gerry was Associate Director of the Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich from 1980 – 1993 where he directed fifty percent of Main House plays and musical productions and was also responsible for the running of the Wolsey Youth Theatre - a training programme for young performers. He was a regular guest director at the Palace Theatre Watford, Playhouse Theatre Derby, Queens Theatre Hornchurch, Mercury Theatre Colchester and Pitlochry Festival Theatre. He is a freelance lecturer on Musical Theatre and has lectured and given masterclasses at many arts institutions including the Bernstein Musical Theatre Academy, Bologna, The Beit Zvi Drama School, Tel Aviv and recently at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket as part of their Masterclass series. Gerry has run courses on "Directing Musicals" at the University of Warwick and the University of Lancaster. He has delivered courses on Musical Theatre for the University of Westminster’s London Liberal Arts Programme and lectures on musicals for the Leadership and Development Programme for Hong Kong University.

Gerry was Overseas Director for the Kenya National Theatre in Nairobi where he directed and choreographed "West Side Story, Godspell and Stepping Out" with a multi racial company and has directed and choreographed musicals such as "Grease, How To Succeed...." and "West Side Story" for the Academy for Performing Arts at the Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong. He has also directed in Hungary and Vienna (The Rocky Horror Show), Holland (Godspell), Norway (Winnie The Pooh), Jordan (Old Time Musical Hall), America (Darling Of The Gods) and Israel (British Week).

For ten consecutive years he has directed and choreographed the annual pantomime for the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford working with international theatre luminaries such as Kate O’Mara, Stephanie Beacham, Bonnie Langford, Nigel Havers and even Neil and Christine Hamilton! He recently directed and appeared in the 2009/10 pantomime Cinderella which starred Gethin Jones and can be seen in the music video Dirtee Dancing with Dizzy Rascal!

Gerry has written several compilation musicals - "The Master's Voice" based on the life of Noel Coward which he toured through Africa and which has played at many theatres in the U.K. "By George" the life of George Gershwin which he directed and performed on the QE.11 crossing from New York to Southampton along with Simon Williams and Gemma Craven and "Darling Of The Gods" the life and times of Ivor Novello which he directed and starred in with Tony Award winner Elizabeth Seal.

Gerry was overseas director for the New York based company "Broadway Bound" for whom he wrote and directed compilation musicals that were premiered on board the QE 2.

As a freelance director in drama schools he has worked for Mountview, Guildhall and Italia Conti and for sixteen years was Head of Musical Theatre and Performance at Guildford School of Acting.

Dramatic Lines recently published his book "Musical Theatre" which explores training for a career in the performing arts and he has contributed to "British Pantomime Performance" by Dr. Millie Taylor and "Producing Musicals" by John Gardyne.

JOHNNY SHENTALL - HEAD OF DANCE

Johnny Shentall was a member of British Pop Band Hear'say in 2002 having replaced Kim Marsh. Johnny is also the husband of pop star Lisa Scott Lee a member of pop band Steps.

Johnny has worked extensively in musical theatre, including performing in 2006 as Chuck Cranston in "Footloose" at the Novello Theatre in London's West End, as well as Hip Hopper and understudy Greaseball in "Starlight Express". He has worked at many prestigious performing arts colleges including Arts Ed London. Johnny is delighted to joining the PPA faculty as 'Head of Dance' on the 3 year National Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre.

JILL FRANCIS - HEAD OF DANCE STUDIES

Jill trained as a dancer and began her professional career at the age of thirteen with Danny La Rue in Queen Passionella at the Saville Theatre, London. After a long career as a performer, working with such stars as Leslie Crowther, Arthur Askey, Dickie Henderson, Dora Bryan, Harry H. Corbett, Anita Harris, Morecombe and Wise, Roy Orbison and many more, she now choreographs musicals, TV shows, opera, films and pantomimes and has choreographed over a hundred musicals. Her work has taken her all over the world working for The National Theatre of Nairobi, The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts including being invited to devise, direct and choreograph a new show The Game of Love for the QE2’s last world cruise. For the last 9 years Jill has been associate choreographer and children’s director for the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre pantomimes in Guildford.

Alongside her career as a choreographer Jill has worked as a freelance dance teacher and over the years has worked at The Arts Educational School, London, Central School of Speech and Drama, RADA, The Italia Conti Academy, London, Artts International, York, The Guildhall School of Music & Drama, The Guildford School of Acting and The Musical Theatre School, Somerset. She regularly runs national and international musical theatre workshops, and is a Fellow of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.

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  Application Form

BA Hons (BAPP)

Students have the opportunity to convert their 3 Year National Diploma into a (Level 6) BA Hons in Professional Practice with Middlesex University.

The BA Hons Professional Practice (BAPP) is a 15 month long extension program for practitioners from across the creative and cultural industries who hold professional diplomas, certificates, foundation degrees or HND’s. The course is designed for new practitioners in performing arts. The course is also appropriate for students who wish to achieve a BA honours award as entry requirement for requirement for postgraduate study leading to Qualified Teacher Status. The course also includes an 'experienced practitioners' route for applicants with qualifications achieved more than five years ago or who have significant professional experience.

The course can be deferred after each module and requires 3 visits per module to the University. The conversion is an affordable way of gaining a BA Hons whilst not jeopardising the vocational aspect of the training.

For more information please visit www.mdx.ac.uk/bapp