Musical Theater Intensive for Teens - August 3 to 7 - Summer 2026
A Week in the Life of a BFA Musical Theater Student
In this 5-day acting intensive, students will experience a BFA-level musical theater curriculum designed to build strong, versatile performers.
Each day will begin with consistent dance training, including ballet and musical theatre jazz. Students will then transition into "acting through song" and learn to integrate vocal and acting techniques to create cohesive, dynamic performances. (Pending sufficient enrollment, there will be live accompaniment.) In the afternoon, students will engage in scene study, analyzing and rehearsing material from contemporary plays and musical theatre works. The course will also include focused monologue work, where students will break down and perform extended pieces of text using core acting techniques.
Audition tips will be interwoven throughout the week. Students will also gain insight into the life of a BFA MT student before and after college through a guest panel of current students and graduates. On Friday afternoon, there will be a casual presentation for parents and a Q&A about the college audition process.
As with many BFA students, kids often feel they are weak in one (or even two!) of the three "threats"; don't be intimidated—this is a space for learning, growing, and finding joy in the arts. It's about developing passion, not perfection.
WHEN: August 3 to 7, 10 am to 3 pm
WHERE: Westport Academy of Dance
1200 Post Rd East, Building D,
Westport, CT
WITH: Jamie Mann
FOR: Teens
Jamie Mann
Jamie Mann, a Westport native, made his Broadway debut in spring 2025 in "Stranger Things: The First Shadow," playing Ted Wheeler and understudying James Hopper, Jr. Jamie began training with Cynthia Gibb at the age of 8, which is when a casting director scouted him and his professional acting journey began. A dancer since he could walk, Jamie trained with Alvin Ailey and the School of American Ballet in New York and danced with New York City Ballet (Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Harlequinade). After landing his dream role of Billy Elliot in Billy Elliot the Musical (Maltz Jupiter, Fulton, Palace), Jamie fell in love with musical theatre. In addition to being an active Staples Player in high school, he played “Dunlap” in Because of Winn Dixie at Goodspeed and put his singing and dancing skills to use in his series regular role as “Brody” on Netflix’s music themed show Country Comfort, starring Katharine McPhee. During college Jamie portrayed Tate on Days of Our Lives (Peacock). He earned his BFA in musical theatre from the University of Michigan in 2025. Go Blue! Jamie is represented by Innovative Artists and Jen Namoff.
jamiemartinmann.com