Fort Mill, SC — High school theater students across the Fort Mill School District have a chance to sharpen their audition skills alongside working Broadway and regional theater professionals this month, thanks to a free workshop hosted by the Nation Ford Theater Club.
The Audition Workshop will take place Thursday, July 24, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Auxiliary Gym at Nation Ford High School, 1400 AO Jones Blvd, Fort Mill. The event is free and open to theater students from any high school in the district. Snacks and water will be provided, and students should plan to wear sneakers only, as the session will include a choreographed audition number.
The workshop will feature three distinguished panelists with deep credits in professional and educational theater:
Jessie Booth is a performer, director, and producer whose directing credits include Elf The Musical, Fiddler on the Roof, Shrek, Frozen, and Guys and Dolls, among others. She runs Jessie Booth Productions, staging Broadway-themed immersive events in Charlotte, and has worked in New York under Broadway producers behind Kinky Boots, The Color Purple, Pippin, and Disaster. As a performer, her credits include Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde and Fiona in Shrek, and she most recently appeared in Hello, Dolly! at Carnegie Hall.
Steve Kaliski is Executive Director of Davidson Community Players and a Charlotte native. Before returning to the region in 2018, he spent 11 years in New York as a producer, director, and playwright, including work on the directing team for the 2012 Broadway revival of Evita and as Resident Director of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2017. He co-founded the independent theater company Adjusted Realists and holds an MFA from Brooklyn College.
Mark Burrell brings more than 25 years of experience as a Broadway, television, film, and international performer, choreographer, director, and educator. His Broadway and national tour credits include Pippin, Fosse, CATS, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and he served as Associate Choreographer for Radio City Christmas Spectacular for 11 years. His film and television work includes The Producers, The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Dancing with the Stars, and So You Think You Can Dance.
During the three-hour session, students will learn the do’s and don’ts of auditioning, work through a choreographed audition number, and have the opportunity to ask the panelists questions directly.
Space is limited, and interested students are encouraged to sign up in advance at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4FA9AB23ABF49-64644039-audition
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
