Molloy College Manhattan Connection

Where Stars are BornMolloy College in Rockville Centre,

Long Island, has partnered with NewYork City’s CAP21 (Collaborative Arts

Project for the 21st century a.k.a.America’s Musical Theatre

Conservatory and Theatre Company) to expand their Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Theatre Arts.

Twenty-seven students enrolled in the new program which began in2014 attend classes at the Rockville Centre campus, less than an hourfrom the City, and at CAP21 on West 18th Street in Manhattan. As

they pursue their BFA, Molloy students will experience both campus life insuburbia and at CAP21 in New York City, the acknowledged world-hub ofthe entertainment industry and a stone’s throw from Broadway. This fall, 39 Molloy students will be enrolled in CAP21.

CAP21’s success stories include: Lady Gaga, Grammy Award winner;Anne Hathaway, 2013 Academy Award winner; Nikki M. James, 2011Tony Award winner and Matthew Morrison, Emmy Award nominee, among others. “One Singular Sensation”*

“This innovative partnership will serve as a model for theatre educationin the 21st century,” said Dr. Drew Bogner, President of Molloy College.“Students enrolling in this major will enjoy the benefits of Molloy’s strongacademic offerings and its suburban campus. Molloy is located in closeproximity to CAP21’s home in New York City, enabling students to receivethe best in training from an internationally recognized musical theatreconservatory.

“We have taken this exceptional program – which has an incredible trackrecord in preparing students for success on Broadway and beyond – and

STORY BY SALLY GILHOOLEY

Tony Danza, award-winning star of stage and screen, will host “An Eveningof Entertainment” at the Molloy College 2015 Gala, Friday, November 6, atMolloy’s Madison Theatre. Festivities begin with cocktails and dinner

from 6 to 7:30 PM, theatre at 8 PM, coffee and dessert from 9:30 to 11:00 PM.Danza, star of television’s Taxi and Who’s the Boss, for which he received an

Emmy Award nomination and four Golden Globe nominations, has received ravereviews for his recent performance in the Broadway musical, Honeymoon in Vegas,adapted from the 1992 film of the same name. In December, 2014, he wasinducted into the Ride of Fame, the double decker sightseeing bus, in recognitionof his Honeymoon in Vegas role. In 2016, Danza will join the Vegas cast for theNorth American tour of the popular musical.

Brooklyn born and raised on Long Island, Danza earned a bachelor’s degree inhistory at the University of Dubuque which he attended on a wrestlingscholarship. In college, he was a professional boxer. After graduation, a producerat a boxing gym discovered Danza which led to his role in Taxi. In 1975, as a prank, Danza’s friends entered him in the New York City Golden Gloves where he knocked out his first six opponents only to be knocked out himself in the finals.

His impressive boxing record (nine wins and three losses)is exceeded only by his luminous film and television

career spanning more than thirty-five years. Danza wasnominated for an Emmy Award for his guest-starring

role in the TV series The Practice and received criticalacclaim in 1999 for his performance in Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh.

Join Tony Danza for “An Evening ofEntertainment” at the Molloy College 2015 Gala,

Friday, November 6, at Molloy’s Madison Theatre.Get tickets now. Call The Madison Theatre at

516-323-4444 or visit madisontheatreny.org. Moreinformation at http://alumni.molloy.edu/2015gala.

Sponsorships are available. Contact Cynthia CostanzoMetzger, Director of Corporate Relations, MolloyCollege Office of Advancement. 516-323-4701. ■

TONY DANZA TO HOSTMOLLOY COLLEGE 2015 GALA

Frank VenturaCAP21’s Executive

Artistic Director

Angelo FraboniArtistic Director of

Molloy’s Madison Theatre

Dr. Drew BognerPresident of

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Bonnie Utter, Michael Maramann, Peggy Sue Johnson, Emily Tenebaum, Heather Sawyer,Hannah Mount. With the South Shore Symphony Orchestra singing “They’re Playing My

Song” from They’re Playing My Song. Conducted & Directed by Aaron Gandy. Musical Director Mark York.

Staging/Choreography Joanne Hunter.Photos Courtesy of Anthony Vela except Jianzi Colon; Photo Courtesy Jianzi Colon

have now linked it to all ofLong Island,” added Dr.Bogner. “This program wouldnot have been possible withoutMolloy’s new residence halls,which have enabled us toattract students from all overthe country.”

In the fall of 2011, Molloyopened its first residence hallcoinciding with the opening ofits 550-seat Madison Theatre.Called Fitzgerald Hall, thedormitory housing attractedstudents nation-wide toMolloy’s BFA program as wellas to other disciplines. The fall

2014 semester marked the opening of Molloy College's second residence hall:Maria Regina Hall adding even more opportunity for out of staters. CAP21students now come from all over including Arizona, California, Florida,Michigan, Ohio and Texas.

Angelo Fraboni, Artistic Director of Molloy’s Madison Theatre said, “I’vehad the opportunity to work with many of the CAP21 students during myprofessional season at the Madison Theatre. They come so well trained thatit has become a joy and a comfort knowing that I have such great talent hereat Molloy. By collaborating with the directors of the Molloy/CAP21program, we have been able to bring a new richness and quality to ourprogramming, while providing some wonderful experiences for thestudents.”

Heather Sawyer singing “Nothing”from A Chorus Line

Michael Maramann singing as part ofthe A Chorus Line finale

Jianzi Colon, second year student in CAP21

Joseph Minasi performing in The Wedding Singer

Hannah Mount singing “Sunshine,Lollipops and Rainbows”

“Molloy is located in close

proximity to CAP21’s home

in New York City, enabling

students to receive the best

in training from an

internationally recognized

musical theatre

conservatory.”— Dr. Drew Bogner

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CAP21 students performing The Wedding Singer

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“Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch…Again!”* During their first year, freshmen spend three days a week taking classes in

Rockville Centre and two days at CAP21 in Manhattan. Sophomore, junior andsenior year students take two days of classes in Rockville Centre and three atCAP21. Throughout their eight semesters BFA students learn from performing artsclasses that include: Acting, Voice (both ensemble and individual), Jazz and Ballet.Although first-year BFA students are not permitted to audition or participate inperformances, they will experience numerous opportunities beginning in theirsophomore year both in Manhattan and at Molloy's state-of-the-art performing artscenter, The Madison Theatre. In their final semester, BFA students may participate inindustry showcases in New York City designed to help them secure representationas they launch their careers.“I need this job, oh God, I need this show.”*

Jianzi Colon, of Kissimmee, Florida, a 2nd year student in the CAP21 program, inan interview with Networking® magazine, said the fact that Molloy had dormitoryhousing was a major part of her decision to enroll in their theater arts program.Colon said, “I did look into other schools and programs but you just can’t beat theNew York experience…It is really important to be in the City and be around theindustry and around people who have connections and can actually help yousucceed in this field when you leave school. It is really harder for people in anotherstate in this type of program because they don’t have those connections.”

Joseph (Jojo) Minasi of Rockville Centre, New York, a 2nd year BFA MusicalTheater major, learned about Molloy and CAP21 from friends already in theprogram. He told Networking®, “Molloy has given me many opportunities to performin some professional shows starring Broadway stars. I am also the director and onthe eBoard of the Molloy Performing Arts Club, a student run organization that putson 2-3 full scale musicals every year, many fundraisers, and a haunted house!

“I have been a part of and performed in many staged readings and workshopsproduced by Music Theater International (MTI) and iTheatrics throughout the years.Through these two companies, I have made many connections and been able to bepart of concerts, events, and choreograph DVD’s. After I graduate I would like toaudition for shows in the city while attempting to attend grad school to obtain aMaster’s in education so that I could possibly teach theater to high school kids,”Minasi added.“I can do that, I can do that.”*

Frank Ventura, CAP21’s Executive Artistic Director summed up saying, “This newpartnership enables the CAP21 Conservatory and Theatre Company and MolloyCollege to expand programming and share institutional infrastructure and facilitiesto deliver and develop new curriculum and productions. This combination ofresources opens the doors to a new system of collaborations in the training of theatreartists and the development of new theatrical works.”

For an overview of the Molloy College BFA Program contact Molloy Admissionsat 516-323-4000 or AdmissionsInfo@cap21.org. ■

*Subheads are by Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Klebon from A Chorus Line

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