Triple Threat Finale—Musical Theatre with Ron De Jesús, Linda Goodrich and Catherine A.WalkerThe Academy’s Summer Finale is a Triple Threat Intensive with three outstanding faculty from the Department of Musical Theater at the University of Michigan—recently ranked as one of the top five university programs in the United States. Chicago native Ron De Jesús comes “home” to the Academy and brings vocal and acting coaches Catherine A. Walker and Linda Goodrich. During the four day intensive, students will work in three different age groups learning to access their abilities to express themselves with an integrated approach that helps them to communicate through dance, movement, acting and voice. This faculty brings a wealth of experience to the students incorporating challenging dance skills, physical character study, theatre games (Viola Spolin techniques), mask work, voice, and Estill Voice Model, Feldenkrais Somatic Education and Alexander Technique. Students have sessions for ensemble singing, acting and dancing daily. There will be an informal showing late in the afternoon on Thursday.

ron de jesÚs, who is the founder and director of Ron De Jesús Dance, the artistic ambassador of Northeastern Illinois University and artistic associate for StagePlays Theater Company in New York. He has received many awards including the New York Musical

Theater Festival Award for Excellence for Best Choreography and the Chicago Music & Dance Alliance Award for Best Choreographer. A Chicago native, he has danced with Ensemble Español

Spanish Dance Theater, Joseph Holmes Dance Theater, Chicago Repertory Dance Ensemble and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago where he was a leading dancer for 17 seasons. He was in the original cast of the Twyla Tharp/Billy Joel musical Movin’Out, was part of the creative team of Tharp’s Come Fly Away and is a repetiteur for Twyla Tharp Productions. De Jesús has created works for film, theatre, television commercials, festivals, special events and dance companies including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, HS2, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Luna Negra Dance Theatre, Sacramento Ballet, Momenta, and Thodos Dance Chicago. De Jesús has served as a guest teacher and choreographer at numerous major universities including Harvard, the State University of New York at Purchase, Point Park, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison,

and Pepperdine University.

linda goodrich’s Directorial/Choreographic credits include Bat Boy and Smokey Joe’s Cafe at THEATREWORKS (awards for Excellence in direction and choreography); Seussical! —Music Theatre of Wichita; Jesus Christ Superstar, Side Show, Oklahoma, and Cabaret —Univ. of Mich. Choreographic credits include world premieres of Henry Krieger’s and Bill Russell’s Everything’s Ducky, and the revised Good News! Tours: Cabaret — Europe, Singin’ in the Rain — U.S. and Japan, Blue’s Clues Live, and Dora the Explorer — U.S., including Radio City Music Hall. Regional Theatre: Company with Carol Burnett — Long Beach Strike up the Band —

Goodspeed Opera House.

catherine a. walker has a bachelor of music education from Capital University Conservatory of Music, and a master of music in choral conducting from Western Michigan

University School of Music. Adams has worked extensively as a musical director, most recently on productions of Next To Normal, The Great

American Trailer Park Musical, Parade, Blood Brothers, Urinetown and The Light in the Piazza. Adams teaches the Estill Voice Training System. She has served as a clinician and judge for The Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook High School Vocal Competition. Adams’s work as a choral conductor has been recognized by the Michigan School Vocal Music Association (MSVMA) and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). Conducting honors include: MSVMA State Honors Choir, MSVMA Midwest Conference, ACDA Michigan Convention and Michigan Youth Arts Festival. In addition, her choirs have performed at Carnegie Hall and in Washington DC, as well as tours in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Italy.

july 27 through 30

monday - thursday, 1:00 to 5:00 pm

for academy levels 6 through 11, or ages 11 and up. performing experience—dance, singing or acting is a plus!

taught by ron de jesÚs, catherine a. walker, and linda goodrich

$350 / $325 if by april 11 maximum enrollment: 30 minimum: 15

REGISTER in person at Academy of Movement and Music, 605 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 or email: academyofmovementandmusic@gmail.com or phone 708.848.2329