ABOUT COLLEGE AUDITION COACH

"Expert, Mary Anna Dennard, believes strongly in the advantages of a college education in theater."- New York Times

A little history: Mary Anna Dennard founded College Audition Coach in 2000.  It is an innovative, comprehensive package of complete support for the college audition process. President, Mark Christine, joined College Audition Coach in 2005 using his expertise to focus on song rep and acting the song. At its core is the online Senior Prep Program, launched in 2011 and the first of its kind for performing arts applicants. In addition, College Audition Coach offers consulting, coaching, master classes and unlimited resources for students, families and independent college advisors.

"College Audition Coach taught me almost everything I know about the college audition process - from monologue selection to picking my schools. They helped me feel confident and successful, and helped me get into the school of my dreams!"

Riley, University of Michigan, Musical Theatre

MARK CHRISTINE

PRESIDENT

Mark Christine is a New York-based music director, actor, and nationally recognized college audition coach. He has worked with College Audition Coach since 2005 helping high school students prepare for their college theatre and musical theatre program auditions. Additionally, Mark has developed a successful professional coaching studio in New York with clients appearing on Broadway, in National Tours, in regional productions and on television.

As a performer he made his Broadway debut in Waitress, and appeared in the 1st National Tour of Waitress as both a musician and cast member. Additional credits as a pianist/keyboardist, arranger, musical director, and orchestrator: Guthrie, Arena Stage, McCarter Theatre Center, The Jungle, Signature Theatre DC, La Jolla Playhouse, and others. As an actor: Mark Taper Forum, Denver Center, Guthrie, A.C.T., La Jolla Playhouse, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and the acclaimed US National Tour of Peter Brook's, The Suit.

Mark has been on faculty and taught guest workshops at numerous acting and musical theatre programs including: Pace, Arizona, Guthrie/Minnesota, Michigan, UC San Diego, Stella Adler Conservatory, and New York Film Academy.

He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre with a focus on music direction from the University of Michigan (Summa Cum Laude) and an MFA in Acting from UC San Diego / La Jolla Playhouse.

MARY ANNA DENNARD

FOUNDER

Mary Anna Dennard is a nationally recognized college audition coach and author of two popular guide books: I GOT IN! The Ultimate College Audition Guide For Acting And Musical Theatre, and Before I GOT IN! The Young Teen's College Audition Guide For Acting And Musical Theatre. You might recognize her writings for the New York Times Theatre Section, The Huffington Post, Backstage, and Getacceptd.  

She has served as a master teacher throughout the country and guest instructor for the Broadway Dreams Foundation, Broadway Teachers Workshop, Broadway Dallas (formerly the Dallas Summer Musicals), Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute (SSTI), Cleveland Musical Theatre, RISPA, College Audition Prep Weekend (CAPW) and The Performing Arts Project (TPAP).

She received her training on a talent scholarship at The American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco and in 1980, began working as a casting director in Los Angeles.  Her fifteen years of casting credits have garnered Clios, Emmys, a Peabody Award, and Academy Awards.

HUNTER HERDLICKA

COACHING ASSOCIATE

Hunter Ryan Herdlicka is an award-winning Broadway actor best known for his nearly two years starring on Broadway as Henrik in the Tony Award-winning revival of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters, and Elaine Stritch. 

Hunter began his association with College Audition Coach in 2001 when he was a student in the Dallas Summer Musicals academy. When he applied to colleges five years later, he became a private student and was coached by CAC. He graduated with a BFA in Acting/Musical Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University on full scholarship, and has remained a close colleagues ever since.

Hunter is proud of his post as professor of acting at the Texas State University’s summer Nexus musical theatre program. The nation’s most popular college programs continue to engage him to teach as a guest artist in musical theatre and acting including: Baylor, New York University, Carnegie Mellon University, Texas State University, Webster University, Southern Methodist University, Oakland University, University of Arizona, University of Alabama, Viterbo, Shenandoah Conversatory and Texas Tech.

In recognition of his impressive list of accomplishments, the Dallas Summer Musicals chose to honor him with the prestigious Fullinwider Award for his contribution to the arts. Previous recipients include Tony Award-winner Victoria Clark and Tony Nominee Stark Sands.

MARK MADAMA

MASTER TEACHER, University of Michigan

Mark Madama - Professor Emeritus of Musical Theatre, University of Michigan

As a professor at the University of Michigan, Mark taught classes in acting through the song, and musical theatre history. He also directed over twenty musicals, senior showcases, and special events. Mark has taught and directed many professionals who have been Academy, Grammy, Emmy, Tony Award winners and nominees, such as Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Lorna Courtney, Taylor Lauderman, Ashley Park, James Monroe Iglehart, Roger Bart, Paul Nolan, Stephanie Block, Montego Glover, Brad Oscar, Kelli O’Hara and Kristin Chenoweth. Before starting his tenure at Michigan, he worked as an international award winning director, writer, and actor. He has been one of the resident directors at Music Theatre Wichita for over twenty years. His Tintypes had the honor of representing the United States as the first American theatrical production to be presented in the Eastern block countries of Czechoslovakia and Poland after the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Madama co-authored a new version of the 1927 musical Good News!which has now been performed in over three hundred theaters in the United States, plus numerous international productions. He also wrote the book for the musical White Cliffs of Dover, which toured the U.S. for over two years.

Mark has had the opportunity to teach master classes for fifteen years in many of the top performing arts studios, high schools, and universities throughout the country, and continues to coach many aspiring students with their college and professional auditions.

 

KAITLIN HOPKINS

MASTER TEACHER, Texas State University

Kaitlin Hopkins - Founder of the Musical Theatre program, Texas State University

Kaitlin Hopkins is an award-winning actress, director, producer, and educator. She originated roles on and off Broadway, on national and international tours; can be heard on four original cast albums and appeared in over 50 television shows and films.

In 2009, she created the BFA Musical Theatre degree at Texas State University, running the program for 14 years, and currently serves as Founder. She is also the proud creator and CEO of Fontus Dry Mouth Lozenges. She works as an arts consultant creating curriculum, programming, and professional development for organizations worldwide, specializing in institutional wellness. She currently serves as the External Examiner for Sharjah Performing Arts Academy, the first training program of its kind in the Middle East; Artistic Advisory Board for North Texas Performing Arts; Artistic Director for the Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriting Intensive and the Musical Theatre Initiative at Snow Pond Center for the Arts. 

An an educator, she received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Denise Trauth Outstanding Leadership Award from Texas State University. In addition, she was recognized by the Broadway Dreams Foundation as an innovative voice in education and one of the Top 6 women educators in the performing arts. Fore more information, click here to view her website.

 

 

THE TEAM

MEET THE REST OF THE COLLEGE AUDITION COACH TEAM 

MATTHEW FAIRLEE

Administrative Assistant

NANCY MARSTON

Moonifieds Coordinator

PRAISE

WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT COLLEGE AUDITION COACH
"Choosing College Audition Coach was a game-changer for me. The coaches are not only skilled but also incredibly encouraging; it truly is a family here. They helped me showcase my best self in auditions and I got accepted into my dream college!"

Montana, NYU, Musical Theatre

"College Audition Coach was an amazing help during the audition process. Attending Moonifieds and having their support helped me get some great auditions under my belt early which built my confidence and helped me have a successful audition experience. I couldn’t have done it without them!”

Corbin,Carnegie Mellon University,
School of Drama and Music Theatre

"College Audition Coach helped me navigate the challenging process of applying and auditioning as an international student living in Shanghai. I would not have been able to do it without them."

Kayla,Baldwin Wallace Musical Theatre