Returning to TUTS after more than 34 years has been a full circle experience for me. I began my career with the organization as part of the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre Staff (yes, that is me on the left in suspenders), and am incredibly thrilled to have returned as the Artistic Director. My time at TUTS provided a foundation for me that has lasted throughout my career, and I know the same can be said for many of HSMT’s former students.

I was fortunate enough to be part of HSMT during its formative years and I am in awe of how the program has evolved to become a world-class musical theatre academy. Each year HSMT is seeing more and more of its students auditioning for productions on stage, on TV and pursuing their dream of a musical theatre career. This is a testament to the quality teachers, classes and experiences this program offers. HSMT is truly creating the stars of tomorrow.

One of the objectives I had returning to TUTS as Artistic Director was to develop something new and exciting for musical theatre here in Houston. Thus, TUTS Underground was born. With TUTS Underground, we strive to utilize the talent that exists in Houston and within our own training facility. I have seen first-hand the incredibly talented individuals within HSMT. This past December, I directed Elf, The Musical at TUTS and had the unique experience of casting HSMT students and alum that spanned 10 generations! Full circle.

I would like to thank you for welcoming me home to Houston and to TUTS and for your support of musical theatre education. I am just one of thousands of students who have benefited from the life-changing education and experience musical theatre has brought me. HSMT would not be what it is without the support of our students, parents, alums and contributors. Thank you and I look forward to seeing you soon at TUTS!

Warm Regards.

Bruce Lumpkin

N o t e f r o m T U T S A r t i s t i c D i r e c t o r

H S M T A l u m T a k e C e n t e r S t a g e

R i v e r P e r f o r m a n c e T r o u p e a t t h e R i v e r C e l e b r a t i o n

HSMT Association’s “Bring It On!” Campaign

Each year, the Academy at The Humphreys School of Musical Theatre strives to bring

Houston's finest musical theatre talent ages 13-18 together to rehearse and present a fully

staged production. Past titles include Vote!, Legally Blonde, Xanadu, and this year’s

Bring It On! Students enhance their musical theatre training through their interactions

with TUTS Artist Team, directors, choreographers and musical directors.

Through the years, these high-caliber productions have increased in scope and production

value becoming sold-out productions. In the past 5 years alone, the School’s showcase

production costs have increased by 131%! This is where we need the help of the

HSMT Association.

TUTS would like to invite the HSMT Association to support the high energy, high impact

production of Bring It On! by becoming a sponsor. During the HSMT Association’s

“Bring It On!” Campaign, we invite alums, parents and supporters to make a contribution

that will not only cover production costs for this incredible show, but also put the HSMT

Association’s name in lights! The HSMT Association logo will be included on all printed

material, the website, and of course we will have our annual celebration prior to the dress

rehearsal and invite all donors and Association members to attend. Supporters of the

campaign will also be listed in the production Playbill. This is a great opportunity for the

Association to have a stake in bringing this wonderful opportunity to our students and the

Houston community.

Please be on the look-out for more information this month regarding giving

levels, benefits and how to give. In the meantime, if you have any questions about

the campaign, please do not hesitate to contact Ashly Alberto at 713-558-2656 or

ashly@tuts.com.

800 Bagby St, Suite 200

Houston, TX 77002

Tel: 713-558-2600

HSMT: 713-558-8801

Fax: 713-558-2650

E-mail: ashly@tuts.com

Like us on Facebook!

Questions or comments? E-mail us at ashly@tuts.com or call 713-558-2600.

H S M T A s s o c i a t i o n S t e e r i n g C o m m i t t e e

Julie Baumgarten Pradel, Chair

Jenee Bobbora

Jessica Boone

Paige Erwin

Austin Karkowsky

Laurie Karkowsky

Sarah Imle Knight

Bob Lawson

Bruce Lumpkin

Shay Rodgers

Sandy Swierc

If you are interested in joining the HSMT Association Steering Committee,

The Humphreys School of Musical Theatre staff, circa 1977, (from left to right) Bruce Lumpkin, Pamela Wilson, Ellen

Baker, Lou Ann Miles, Roy Speight, Kate Pogue, Arnold Ken-

H U M P H R E Y S S C H O O L F O R M U S I C A L T H E A T R E A S S O C I A T I O N

N E W S L E T T E R

March 2014

Bruce Norris (HSMT Alum), John Breckenridge (TUTS CEO), and Bruce Lumpkin (TUTS Artistic Director)

B r i n g I t O n !

G i v i n g L i b r a r y

W h e r e A r e T h e y N o w ?

Michael Tapley began his career in professional theater 40

years ago, with Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS), where he

has performed numerous roles over four decades, such as

Kismet starring Howard Keel, Chaplin starring Anthony

Newly, Oliver starring Davy Jones, The Pirates of

Penzance, The Sound of Music, and others.

Most recently he has been seen in TUTS productions of

Xanadu, Man of La Mancha, Guys and Dolls, White

Christmas, Annie, and The Best Little Whorehouse in

Texas. He went to New York, at the age of 19, where he

was cast in the first national tour of 42nd Street. He was

later cast by Debbie Reynolds herself, to tour in the new

stage version of The Unsinkable Molly Brown. He has

also performed in national tours of Mame (with Juliet

Prowse), Evita, and The Who’s Tommy. He went on to

play the title role in Tommy, on Broadway and in Germany.

Michael has directed and choreographed at TUTS, Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre, American

Musical Theatre of San Jose, Kansas City Starlight Theatre, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma,

North Carolina Theatre, and Galveston Outdoor Theater. Michael is also the Artistic

Director and Co-creator of the TUTS’ annual Tommy Tune Awards for excellence in high

school musical theatre.

TUTS is honored to have been selected by The John and Laura Arnold Foundation as a participant in the Giving Library. This unique program links philanthropists with worthy non-profit organizations, encouraging people to “Discover/Connect/Give.” We’re excited to say that our video is ready to share with you and can be found here. The focus of the video are TUTS’ innovative Education and Community Engagement programs, including the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre. Please take a moment to watch it. You might learn something you’ve never known about TUTS! Plus, by watching the video, you will be supporting TUTS! For every person who joins the Giving Library and shares TUTS’ video on their social media, TUTS will receive $5 from the Giving Library. That includes Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. TUTS is excited for the opportunity to be a featured organization on the Giving Library. It’s because of philanthropists like The Arnold Foundation and supporters like you, that we are in our 46th season of musical theatre. With your help, we’ll be here for many seasons more!

TUTS is thrilled to announce the casting of SEVEN HSMT alum in the upcoming

productions of TUTS Underground’s Hands On A Hard Body and the summer

production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at Miller Outdoor Theatre.

TUTS’ very own Bruce Lumpkin will direct both productions with TUTS’ Education

Manager and HSMT Alum, Shay Rodgers, serving as choreographer for The Best Little

Whorehouse in Texas. Alums Bettie Marie Muessig and Michael Tapley will perform in

both Hands On A Hard Body and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Roger Raby

and Charles Swan will both be part of The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, with Roger

serving as the Stage Manager. To round out the castings, Tyce Green will co-star in

Hands On A Hard Body as Chris.

Tyce credits his experience at HSMT for paving the way for

future success, "When I was younger, I auditioned for a little

TUTS show called Geppetto & Son, put on by the

Humphrey's school. I knew nothing about professional

theatre. Miraculously, they cast me, and I suddenly found

myself immersed in a training program that, though I didn't

realize it at the time, was preparing me for a career in

performing, while also teaching me invaluable life skills

along the way. Now I'm back 7 years later as a professional,

co-starring in Hands on a Hard Body, and I couldn't be

more grateful. TUTS is my home. It's where I learned how to be an actor, and the

Humphrey's School is the reason why I do what I love. Dreams come true like that."

TUTS Underground’s Hands On A Hard Body runs June 12 - 15 and 19 - 22. To

purchase your tickets, please click here.

TUTS’s free summer performance of The Best Little Whorehouse of Texas at Miller

Outdoor Theatre runs July 15 - 20.

Get your pom poms ready and dust off your spirit stick! TUTS' Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT) is thrilled to present Bring It On: The Musical live in Zilkha Hall at The Hobby Center, Sept. 12 and 13.

A high energy story of high flying characters, Bring It On: The Musical is a perfectly crafted adaptation based on the hit film that shares its name. Uniting some of the leading creative minds on Broadway, Bring It On: The Musical is inspired by the hit film Bring It On, and features an original story by Tony Award winner Jeff Whitty (AVENUE Q), music and lyrics by Tony Award winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights), music by Pulitzer and Tony Award winning composer Tom Kitt (NEXT TO NORMAL), lyrics by Broadway lyricist Amanda Green (High Fidelity) Bring It On: The Musical tells the story of the challenges and unexpected bonds formed through the thrill of extreme competition. With a colorful assortment of characters, an exciting fresh sound and intricate choreography, this hilarious, universal story is sure to be everything you hoped for and nothing like you expected.

Betty Marie Muessig is currently a Junior BFA Musical

Theatre Major at Texas State University. While at TSU,

Betty Marie has starred in a number of productions

including: Somebody Called (Nina Taplin), Anything

Goes (Chastity), Urinetown (Pennywise), Cat on a Hot

Tin Roof (Mae), Hair, and Oklahoma!

A graduate of HSPVA, Betty Marie attended HSMT from

2007 to 2011. During that time, she performed in the

Academy’s production of 13! (Lucy), Stephen Schwartz

Project, and Aladdin, as well as TUTS’ main stage

productions of Les Misérables and Cabaret.

Betty Marie can next be seen in TUTS Underground’s

Hands on A Hard Body and The Best Little Whore

House in Texas. TUTS is thrilled to welcome her home!

On February 21, dreams came true at the annual River

“Dream Out Loud” Celebration at the Junior League. A

special performance by TUTS’ very own River Performance

Troupe was the highlight of the evening and exemplified the

exceptional work of the River program and the Humphreys

School of Musical Theatre. The group performed a medley

of songs centering on the memories created by being a part

of a program like The River .

The River Performance Troupe consists of students

from The River and HSMT, who enjoy performing in the

community. Approximately 11 students each from The River

and HSMT, age 8-19, learn songs and dances and perform at

events throughout the year. Last year, the Troupe performed

at ten events before 1,000 audience members!

“The combination of River and Humphreys students in this performance troupe

celebrates children of all abilities, enriching the lives of each student that participates,”

shared Bob Lawson, TUTS Director of Education.

As added excitement for the performers, they Troupe received the opportunity for a

personal meet-and-greet with the evening’s Sammy Award Recipient, Lauren Potter.

Lauren plays the sassy cheerleader, Becky, on Glee and following the performance,

Lauren was just as star struck of our students as they were of her! It was truly a

celebration for all!

See the magical production of the

River Performance Troupe for yourself by clicking here!

HSMT Alum, Tyce Green