Ball State University Campus
Muncie, IN
All of the following are included in your purchase:
9-9:30a Program Overview and Q&A
9:30-11:30a Song Performance Master Class with Bill Jenkins, Johnna Tavianini, and Michael Rafter
Bring 32-bar cuts of TWO of your musical theatre college audition songs and we will choose one to work on. Bring sheet music for your cuts - a live accompanist will be provided. Bring a headshot and résumé and dress in nice casual, comfortable clothes.
11:30a-12:30p Campus Tour
12:30-1:30p Lunch
1:45-3:15p Dance Master Class with Anne Beck
Bring a headshot and resume and wear dance attire and jazz shoes or sneakers.
3:30-5:00p Current Student Meet-and-Greet
Bill Jenkins (he/him) is proud to be the Chair of Ball State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance where he serves as a Full Professor of musical theatre, directing, and acting. Since arriving at Ball State, he has directed numerous shows including 42nd Street, Stage Door, Damn Yankees, A Little Night Music, Into the Woods, The Laramie Project (which was selected as the national alternate for the KC/ACTF competition), Baby, Noises Off, A Flea in Her Ear, Cabaret, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Doubt, and The Drowsy Chaperone and Shrek (both co-directed with faculty member Sutton Foster). Mr. Jenkins also annually directs Ball State's New York Showcase with NY casting director Rachel Hoffman and co-teaches the Senior Cabaret class with colleagues Johnna Tavianini, Michael Rafter, Sutton Foster, and Broadway veteran Megan McGinnis.
Johnna Tavianini (she/her) is now an Associate Professor of Musical Theatre at Ball State University where she teaches studio voice, music directs, and co-teaches the Senior Cabaret class with colleagues Bill Jenkins, department chair; Emmy-Winning Broadway music director Michael Rafter; Two-Time Tony winner Sutton Foster; and Broadway veteran Megan McGinnis. The cabaret is featured annually at the nationally renowned Cabaret in downtown Indianapolis as well as the famed Joe’s Pub in New York City. Johnna is featured as a soloist on Ms. Foster’s album, Take Me to the World. She also served as chorus master and assistant to Mr. Rafter, producer and music director for the project. At Ball State, Johnna was the 2017 recipient of the College of Fine Arts Dean’s Creative Endeavor Award for outstanding professional work in her field. She also received the 2018 Student Government Association Outstanding Teacher Award, was a finalist for Ball State’s 2021-2022 Outstanding Faculty Award and the winner of the 2022 College of Fine Arts Dean’s Teaching Award. Her students can be seen on Broadway, National Broadway tours, cruise ships, and in major regional houses across the country.
Michael Rafter (Associate Professor of Musical Theatre) has served as music director/arranger for Sutton Foster for The New York Pops, Live From Lincoln Center, and over 100 concerts worldwide. Most recently, he was the music director/conductor of Funny Girl on Broadway. Music supervisor: Funny Girl (National Tour); associate music supervisor: Jersey Boys. Other music direction for Broadway: Violet, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Sound of Music, The King & I, Gypsy, The Most Happy Fella, Sweet Charity, Swing, Les Miserables, The Tap Dance Kid. Off Broadway: Merrily We Roll Along, Violet. Film and TV: Marriage Story, CODA, Annette, Music and Lyrics, Did You Hear About the Morgans?, The Tonight Show (Johnny Carson, Jimmy Fallon), Gypsy starring Bette Midler (Emmy for Music Direction), and Broadway’s Best on Bravo, with such artists as Trisha Yearwood, Kevin Bacon, Joan Osborne, Mandy Moore, Cyndi Lauper, Darius Rucker, and Shawn Colvin. Music supervisor: Everyday Rapture (Broadway); national tours of Buddy, Sunset Boulevard, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and The Sound of Music. Music director/ conductor: The American Songbook series at Alice Tully Hall. Conducted an evening of Jule Styne’s music: the Memphis Symphony, Tulsa Philharmonic. Music adaptation for The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Michael is a graduate of Dartmouth College. He is the very proud father of Siena Rafter.
Anne Beck has been a Broadway performer for 25 years living in New York City. Professional credits performing on Broadway, Off Broadway, Regionally, Nationally and Internationally. Teaching has extended from New York City to Italy and Mexico as well as being a guest Artist Nationally and 10 years already at Ball State University. Choreographed over 150 Musicals and several originally conceived concert dance works. Research: The success of audience/performer connection. In depth research on EYES of a performer as they translate real emotion and storytelling. Additionally, how dancers can prolong the dancers life via numerous wellness methods.
Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend all events
Participation fee is $450 per student (includes parents)
Enrollment is limited to the first 12 students
No refunds, and participation is nontransferable
$450.00