On December 22 and 23rd 2011 the Uptown Music Collective will join forces with the Community Theatre League to present 42^nd and Broadway: A Contemporary Broadway Review. The shows will be presented on the stage of the Community Theatre League at 100 West Third Street in Williamsport, at 7:30pm. The performance will feature Uptown Music Collective students taking the stage alongside young people who regularly participate in Community Theatre League and Act Up performances, to present this first collaboration between these two organizations.

“Teaming up with the Community Theatre League to present this performance is very exciting for me,” says Dave Brumbaugh, UMC Executive Director. “I have admired their work in the community for the past 25 plus years and feel privileged that they asked us to perform in their theatre. This is also a great opportunity for our students and staff to collaborate with Community Theatre League regulars, many of whom I have enjoyed in CTL and Act Up performances over the last few years!”

42^nd and Broadway: A Contemporary Broadway Review will feature performances of pieces from a wide variety of recent “rock based” Broadway Musicals. Some of the musicals featured include; Wicked, Next To Normal, Spring Awakening, Tick Tick Boom, Rent, Legally Blondeand Jersey Boys. The vocalists, a mix of UMC students and CTL regulars, will be accompanied by a band comprised of Uptown Music Collective students who will add the necessary rock edge to this contemporary performance.

In 2010, all four musicals nominated for Tony awards could easily be described as rock musicals, in essence sealing the deal on rock music’s takeover of Broadway. This gradual revolution started with the musical Hair in the late 60’s, growing slowly over time with Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell, Grease, The Wiz and Dream Girls adding fuel to the fire. In recent years the takeover was made complete through the popularity of shows such as Rent, Spring Awakening, Passing Strange, Next to Normal, Jersey Boys and recently American Idiot,ultimately leading New York Times theatre critic, Jon Pareles, to comment that “rock has been transformed from nemesis to novelty to mainstay.”

“There are many, many talented people in the Williamsport/Lycoming area and I can’t think of a better way than to collaborate with another community organization that puts their heart and soul into providing performance and learning opportunities for youth,” says Pam Wright, CTL Executive Director. “There are people who attend CTL events and others who attend UMC events but don’t overlap the two groups.  By collaborating with one other, some of these people will be exposed to something new…something I’m sure they will have wished they learned about long ago.  Personally, I truly look forward to this inaugural concert on the CTL stage and future collaborations with the UMC!” “We are so excited to work with Uptown on this,” adds Jacquie Engel, CTL’s Youth Program Coordinator.  “It’s a great way to introduce our audiences, both to the great contemporary musicals out there, and to the talented students at the Collective. “

42^nd and Broadway: A Contemporary Broadway Review is sponsored by 21^st Century Signs. Tickets for the performance are $15.00 for adults (2 for $25.00) and $8.00 for students with the proceeds benefiting the Uptown Music Collective (a 501 c3 Non-Profit School of Music) and the Community Theater League. Tickets are available at The Community Theater League Box Office (100 West Third St. Williamsport, Pa 17701.) For more information about, 42^nd and Broadway: A Contemporary Broadway Review, visit uptownmusic.org or ctlnet.org or call 570-329-0888

School of Musical Performance Announces

“WEE ROCK” for Preschoolers begins Dec. 7 at The Perfect 5th Musical Arts Center

(Mechanicsburg, PA December 2, 2011) – The Perfect 5^th Musical Arts Center (P5), located on the Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg, announces the start of Rock The Stage at P5, the area’s only school of musical performance for all ages, from preschool through high school and beyond.  The first program to be offered is the We Rock division for toddlers and preschoolers.  Classes begin December 7th and continue every Wednesday through February 25, 2012, except for 12/28. 

Parents can choose between either a morning (10:30am) or evening (6:15pm) session.  Each class will run for 45 minutes.  Using real microphones and rhythm instruments, children will begin to learn about tempo, rhythm and basic microphone technique from an experienced musician on a real music performance stage in an atmosphere that fosters cooperation, sharing and creativity. 

A very well-received pilot session for We Rock was held on Wed. (11/30).  Photos from that class are posted on Facebook at Facebook.com/ThePerfect5th.

Classes for Rock The Stage at P5 are held in a newly remodeled building on the grounds of The Perfect 5th Musical Arts Center.  Special thanks go out to Corey Eslinger of Eslinger Lighting for providing and installing professional lighting for the stage area.

The next division of Rock The Stage at P5 for ages 10-17 will begin in January.  Applications for this program are already being accepted.

The director of Rock The Stage at P5 is Kathy Welsh.  Interested parties can contact Kathy directly at kathy@theperfect5th.com or 888-752-3683 ext. 711, or go to ThePerfect5th.com and click on “We Rock” for more information, including tuition costs, and to sign up online.