The Performing Arts Project’s Upstage Left is an online community designed to support those pursuing a career in the arts. We believe that authentic storytelling and open-hearted exchange cultivates compassion and bravery.

Upcoming Upstage Left events will be listed on this page as they are scheduled.

 

About the Upstage Left Art-Making Jamboree

Wednesday, October 28th, from 7:30pm-8:45pm Eastern, Tony-winner Kelli O'Hara (The King and I) will join TPAP Artistic Director Jonathan Bernstein (Chicago) live online on Upstage Left. Scroll down to sign up.

Every Upstage Left is different, but typically consists of a roundtable discussion, an opportunity to ask questions, and an optional artistic challenge. All those who sign up are invited to create a piece of art inspired by the event within 72 hours. The artwork will then be shared on TPAP’s social media (@perfartsproj).

Past guests on Upstage Left have included Laura Benanti, Susan Blackwell, Alex Brightman, Nick Blaemire, Laura Camien, Mary Cavett, Gavin Creel, Montego Glover, Joe Iconis, Lauren Marcus, Isaac Powell, Krysta Rodriguez, Devere Rogers, Emily Skeggs, and Elizabeth Stanley.

Upstage Left is a donate-if/what-you-can event as The Performing Arts Project is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. TPAP is dedicated to providing vibrant theatrical training to a generation of young performers through our dynamic and constantly evolving annual programming.

If you would like to take the class for FREE, choose $0.00 in the dropdown menu and then click "Donate" to complete your registration. We will then send you a Zoom link via email.

If you are able to make a donation, any amount is greatly appreciated! All donations are tax deductible. Simply choose an amount in the dropdown menu or enter your own amount. Click "Donate" to checkout securely with PayPal. You will be directed to PayPal's website to complete your transaction. You are also able to pay with a credit or debit card if you do not have a PayPal account. We will then send you a Zoom link via email.

Also, feel free to make your donation through Venmo. You can find us on Venmo at @perfartsproj. Our logo is a yellow circle.

Choose-a-palooza Day of Classes October 4th, 2020

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

What is Choose-a-palooza? A fun afternoon of one-of-a-kind classes you can choose from that are taught by our amazing faculty members and Broadway professionals Nick Blaemire (Glory Days), Ato Blankson-Wood (Slave Play), and Madeline Smith (Waitress).

Who Can Take the Classes: Classes are open to all students ages 14-114. Scholarships are available. You do not have to be an alum of our programming to participate.

How it Works: The Choose-a-palooza day will consist of two back-to-back classes of your choice and one panel discussion, all on Zoom. The same faculty members will be teaching in both class blocks.

Sunday, October 4th Schedule of Events (all times are Eastern):
1pm - 2:30pm Choose-a-palooza Class Block One
2:45pm - 4:15pm Choose-a-palooza Class Block Two
4:30pm - 5:30pm Panel Discussion

Tuition for the Entire Day: $50, with profits going towards BIPOC scholarships for future programming. Tuition includes two classes of your choice and a panel discussion with Ato, Madeline, and Nick led by TPAP Artistic Director Jonathan Bernstein.

How Do I Sign Up? On Wednesday, September 30th at 1pm Eastern, the signup link will be posted at the top of this page. The classes will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. After you sign up, you will be sent a link in order to pay and secure your spot. For more information, email Juliet Gray at juliet@performingartsproject.com.

Class Information

Class Title: Harmony
Instructor: Nick Blaemire (Disney’s Descendants)
Description: Take a deep dive into vocal arrangement for beginners, and how to train your ear to push out of the box and surprise people.

Class Title: ZOOMOLOGUES
Instructor: Ato Blankson-Wood (Slave Play)
Maximum Number of Students: 12
Description: Actors will present monologues and we will work each piece in order to become clear about the journey of the piece, mining for opportunities for the actor to bring all aspects of their humanity to the piece.

Class Title: “Bit by Bit, Putting it Together:” Freelancing 101
Instructor: Madeline Smith (Waitress)
Description: Freelancing is scary, especially if you’re surrounded by voices telling you to get a “real” job. But freelancing also invites us to be extra thoughtful about how we spend our time, money, and creativity. This workshop aims to demystify and reframe the artist’s lifestyle in terms of those three categories. We’ll talk time management, discerning work from play, managing parental expectations, making a budget, filing taxes, finding “your people,” how to get gigs, how to turn down gigs, email fatigue, those marble orb things from Inside Out, and more. Whether you’re a student, a working pro, or just needing a gentle nudge out of the lethargy of this year, you are warmly welcomed into this conversation!

CHOOSE-A-PALOOZA POP-UP-A-PALOOZA AUGUST 22ND, 2020

Click here to sign up for Choose-a-palooza this Saturday!

What is Choose-a-palooza? Short version: a fun afternoon of specialty classes you can choose from that are taught by our amazing faculty members. Long version: On a few special days during our Panorama summer theater intensive, students are given an array of unique specialty classes from which they can create their own itinerary. We call that day "Choose-a-palooza."

And now, we're offering our first-ever Pop-up-a-palooza on Saturday, August 22nd led by faculty members Gavin Creel, Deidre Goodwin, Lynzy Lab, and Traci Lee.

Who Can Take the Classes: Classes are open to all students ages 14-24. You do not have to be an alum of our programming to participate.

How it Works: The Choose-a-palooza Pop-up will consist of two back-to-back classes of your choice and one panel discussion, all on Zoom. The same faculty members will be teaching in both class blocks.

Saturday, August 22nd Schedule of Events (all times are Eastern):
1pm - 2:30pm Choose-a-palooza Class Block One
2:45pm - 4:15pm Choose-a-palooza Class Block Two
4:30pm - 5:30pm Panel Discussion

Tuition for the Entire Day: $50, with profits going towards BIPOC scholarships for future programming. Tuition includes two classes of your choice and a panel discussion led by faculty members Gavin Creel, Deidre Goodwin, Lynzy Lab, and Traci Lee.

How Do I Sign Up? On Wednesday, August 19th at 1pm Eastern, the signup link will be posted at the top of this page. The classes will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. After you sign up, you will be sent a link in order to pay and secure your spot.

Class Information

The same classes will be offered in each block, so you will choose two classes from the list below, one to take during the 1pm-2:30pm Eastern Class Block One and then the other to take during the 2:45pm - 4:15pm Eastern Class Block Two. All participants are invited to attend the panel discussion, which is included in the tuition.

Instructor: Gavin Creel
Class Title: POP-a-palooza!
Maximum Number of Students: 9
Description: We will take a close look at what makes our favorite POP / ROCK songs so great to listen to and so hard to perform. Bring your favorite mp3, and also have a pop/rock audition song ready to perform. Not everyone will be chosen, but everyone WILL jam.

Instructor: Deidre Goodwin
Class Title: Mic Drop. WAIT! Whatever you do, DON’T drop the mic (cuz that thing’s expensive!)
Maximum Number of Students: 8
Description: A glimpse at the possibilities in and how to pursue a career in the wide world of voiceovers.

Instructor: Lynzy Lab
Class Title: Going Beyond the Selfie: Art & Activism on Social Media
Maximum Number of Students: 25
Description: Not everything on Instagram has to be two-dimensional. If you are “followed” by ten people or more, you have a platform. As an artist who cares about social justice, you can combine your skills with that platform to create engaging and change-oriented messaging that matters. If you help one person find the bravery to take action, or validate one person who feels alone in their fight, you’ve made a positive difference in the world! In this 90-minute session we will identify tools, techniques, do’s, and don’ts for both crafting your message and turning it into art.

Instructor: Traci Lee
Class Title: Issa Hip-Hop Class!
Maximum Number of Students: 25
Description: Have you ever hip’d before? What about hop’d? COME DO BOTH WITH ME! Get out of your head and into your body and feel some viiiiiiiiiiiibez. DANCERS OF ALL LEVELS WELCOMED. We’re dancing for us today!

 

You are cordially invited to our Fourth Annual Ice Cream Social Extra-Extravaganza Bonanza:
This Time, It’s Virtual!

When: Wednesday, November 18th, 9pm Eastern
Where: In the comfort of your own home as we Zoom our ice cream dreams together
What: Jonathan's is Graeter's Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip, Juliet's is chocolate malt, and Kim's is Ben and Jerry's Phish Food. What's your favorite ice cream? If you are a TPAP alum, intern, or member of our board, faculty, or summer staff, we hope you'll grab your favorite frozen treat and join us at our annual ice cream social!