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Led by Avery Jean Brennan (they/them), Stephan Dickson (he/him), and Jennifer Stewart (she/her)
With our inaugural Musical Theatre Slam happening this December, this U of T Spotlight workshop offers a hands-on experience for those interested in submitting, along with a professional Q&A session for those who aren't ready to step up to the mic just yet. Led by our Musical Theatre Slam judges Avery Jean Brennan (they/them) and Stephan Dickson (he/him), alongside special guest Jennifer Stewart (she/her), watch 10 participants try out their musical theatre piece and receive constructive feedback from the judges such as singing technique, audition filming set up tips, performance suggestions, and pointers on working with accompaniment. This hybrid workshop offers performance opportunities for those looking for feedback and observation seats for those who prefer to watch and learn. There are unlimited spaces to be an observer of the workshop but only 10 spaces are available for those looking to receive guidance on their performance.
Please note, those who wish to practice their audition during the workshop are encouraged to have an instrumental (ideally piano) accompaniment (you can find karaoke tracks on YouTube). Auditioning with accompaniment (both in the audition room and online) is an important skill to work on and we ask that those submitting for these 10 slots only do so if they will be singing with a track, no acapella please.
Learn by watching, learn by doing and learn from these working professionals on how to put your best Musical Theatre audition forward.
Please note: There is a waiting list option to perform in case someone is unavailable, or time allows for more than 10 mock auditions.
Facilitator
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Avery Jean Brennan
Avery Jean Brennan (They/Them) is a Transfeminine actor, director, musical director, playwright, and producer. Over the past five years, they have facilitated workshops on Trans Inclusive Practices in the Arts, which they have led for theatre and film production companies across Canada. Recently, they were nominated for the Bra d'Or Award from the Playwrights Guild of Canada for their advocacy work.
Avery Jean received their musical direction training through various Associate and Apprentice positions in theatres across Canada, including a residency through Neptune Theatre's RBC Chrysalis Project. They have studied writing under dramaturg Christopher Weddell, composer/lyricist Leslie Arden, and through The Musical Stage Company's NoteWorthy program. Avery Jean's first original musical, The Pansy Craze, was the recipient of Queer Theatre Toronto's inaugural LGBTQ Fringe Award for pushing boundaries in representation for Queer & Trans characters in musical theatre.
They are currently writing the book for multi-award winning songwriter Gabrielle Papillon's new musical, Mind the Light. Their most recent appearance as a performer was for a digital semi-staged presentation of their latest original work, No Country for They/Thems, which they produced through Eastern Front Theatre's Stages Festival.
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Stephan Dickson
Stephan is a professional choreographer from Mississauga, Canada.
As a performer, Stephan has worked on stage, film and TV. He toured across North America with The Doodlebops, has worked with theatre companies across Canada and on major cruise lines internationally. He appeared in several films including Mean Girls and worked as an actor and choreographer for the EMMY award winning Canadian television series Odd Squad.
After transitioning from performer to choreographer, Stephan began as an assistant choreographer, most notably working alongside Mark Kimelman (Jagged Little Pill, Broadway) and on The Musical Stage Company’s award winning production Once in this Island. He quickly moved into the role of choreographer, working with Equity theatres across Canada, most notably with writer/director Randy Johnson creating original choreography for Rumours & Dreams, A Look Back at Fleetwood Mac (world premiere). He also choreographed Equity productions of Rock Of Ages, My Fair Lady, and Mamma Mia.
Stephan spent four seasons at Canada’s prestigious Stratford Shakespeare Festival alongside the critically acclaimed director/choreographer Donna Feore as Associate Director/Choreographer for the 2022 production of Chicago, as Assistant Choreographer on The Music Man, The Rocky Horror Show, Little Shop of Horrors, and Billy Elliot, as well as a workshop of the new Canadian musical Here’s What It Takes, collaborating with renowned Canadian musician and Juno Award winner Steven Paige.
Stephan is currently the Associate Choreographer for a new musical The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation with Architect Theatrical which recently made it's world premier at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, WA where Stephan also stepped in as a swing for the final week of the show's performance. He is also the Creative Producer of Chris Mrs., a new Canadian Christmas musical that recently workshopped in Stratford.
Up next, Stephan will be doing the Time Warp once again as the choreographer for St. Lawrence College's production of The Rocky Horror Show this spring.
Stephan is very excited to be taking part in this year's Musical Theatre Slam!
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Jennifer Stewart
Jennifer Stewart (she/her) is a theatre actor, director and educator. She has spent nine seasons with the Stratford Festival as an actor (including Fiddler on the Roof, The Comedy of Errors, The Imaginary Invalid) and as an assistant director (Othello, Long Day’s Journey into Night and HMS Pinafore). She was also a participant of the Michael Langham Program for Classical Directing at the Stratford Festival. Most recently she directed the new musical Apothecary at St Lawrence College, One Song Glory for the Musical Stage Company and played Bessie in Mahagonny Songspiel for Talk Is Free Theatre.
Website
She directed the new Canadian musical Every Silver Lining at the Next Stage Festival (Factory Theatre) and a site-specific production of The Music Man as well as Bye Bye Birdie and a reading of The House of Bernarda Alba for Talk Is Free Theatre. She originated the role of Penny Pingleton in the Canadian Company of Hairspray and played Lisa in Mamma Mia! both for Mirvish Productions.
Jennifer is a graduate of the Music Theatre Program at Sheridan College and holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from East 15/University of Essex in London, UK. She has taught classes and workshops at U of T, Randolph College and St Lawrence College.