Summer Musical Theatre Program

For 4th through 2024 High School graduates

Develop your skills in acting, singing, and dancing in a supportive environment of highly skilled, award-winning professionals and college faculty.

EMU Theater will host two three-week musical theatre intensives, which will each culminate in multiple public performances of a major musical production. The junior program will perform a musical revue, and the senior program will perform a contemporary musical.

Junior Program

(for rising 4th through 8th graders)

Explore musical theatre in this three-week program culminating in multiple performances of a musical revue. No audition is required.

Schedule

Monday, June 24 - Saturday, July 13

The program will run Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM with final shows on Friday, July 12 and Saturday, July 13 at 7:00 PM

Cost

$1,000 includes three weeks of instruction and rehearsal and two public performances.

Senior Program

(for rising 9th through 2024 High school graduates)

Explore a performance track or a technical theatre track for three weeks culminating in the presentation of a major musical production on the main stage.

Performance Track - You will engage in all morning classes and rehearsals and will perform on stage.

Technical Theatre Track - You will engage in all morning classes. In the afternoon you will work with the costume designer, technical director, stage management team, and others to support the production in all technical areas.

Audition Dates

Auditions
When: Saturday, April 27 from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM
Where: EMU's Mainstage Theatre
(Please prepare 16-32 bars of a contemporary song with accompaniment material/s, score for the pianist, and a 30 second monologue. Dress for movement.)

Callbacks
When: Sunday, April 28 from 1:00-4:00 PM
Where: EMU Mainstage Theatre
(Dress for movement. There will be a fun, no stress dance call!)

Required Sing Through
There will be a required sing through of Seussical on Monday, April 29th from 6:00-8:30 PM. (This is a new requirement. Please reach out if you have any questions.)

Program Schedule

Monday, July 22 - Sunday, August 11

The program will run Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Featured show: Seussical the Musical
Friday, August 9, at 7:00 PM
Saturday, August 10 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Sunday, August 11 at 2:00 PM

Cost

$1,200 (includes full days of instruction and rehearsal as well as three public performances)

Scholarships

Applications are now closed.

There are need-based scholarships available for a limited number of students in the senior and junior programs. We will make decisions regarding scholarships by May 1st. Once we have determined financial aid, we will be in contact with recipients and send information on how to move forward with program registration. Senior Program participants will need to audition in order to be considered for a scholarship. Junior program participants do not need to audition to be eligible for a scholarship.

Questions?

Email summermusical@emu.edu with any questions.

About Us

Justin Poole, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Theatre and Theatre Program Director

EMU Summer Musical Theatre Co-Director and Theatre Director

Justin holds an MA in Theatre from Villanova University and a Ph.D. in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Maryland. Justin, along with his wife, Amanda, led a semester-long cross-cultural program to Europe, where Justin has spent significant time studying experimental performance and art. At EMU, he has directed The Spitfire Grill, The 39 Steps, Into the Woods, Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Shrek:The Musical. Justin co-created and directed an original rock musical using Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and the music of U2. He also adapted and directed Distant Witness: Social Media, the Arab Spring, and A Journalism Revolution. Justin co-created and performed Bonhoeffer: Cell 92, The Gospel Project, and Firebrand: The Life of Paul. As an actor, Justin has also appeared on national television shows and commercials. He is Artist-in-Residence at Asbury United Methodist Church, an oil painter, and a certified yoga teacher. He is a proud father to Vienna, Felicity, and London.

Ellie de Waal

EMU Theatre Resident Choreographer

EMU Summer Musical Theatre Co-Director and Choreographer

Ellie is a multifaceted dancer and choreographer of theater, jazz, modern, and ballet. Her choreography resume includes musicals, operas, plays and special events. Her works have been adjudicated by the Kennedy Center and selected for several festivals including the Richmond Dance Festival, Versatility Dance Festival, unKempt Dance Festival, garet&co. Film Festival, and Emerging Choreographers Showcase NYC. Her musical theatre repertoire includes Off-Broadway's Savage Force and productions of 42nd Street, Mamma Mia!, Shrek! The Musical, Beauty and the Beast, and Oliver Twist. Her skill set as a choreographer has been sought out by universities for both concert dance and musical productions. She has choreographed several operas including Noye's Fludde and a new opera song cycle Still More/More Still performed in Brooklyn, NY. She was a choreographer for concorDance Contemporary for two seasons and has presented choreography for many years with the Harrisonburg Dance Cooperative. She recently performed as a featured dancer and hot box girl swing in Guys and Dolls with the Charlottesville Opera and looks forward to debuting new works with her company EdW and Dancers at several festivals in showcases in NYC in 2024.

Jim Clemens EMU Summer Musical Theatre Music Director

In fifth grade, Jim performed as one of the gingerbread children in Hansel and Gretel at Goshen College in Indiana, the school where he later earned a degree in music. Throughout his school years and during the several decades since, he has been involved in dozens of shows as a rehearsal pianist, and performed on stage and in pit orchestras on various instruments. Jim also composes a variety of music, including songs and underscoring for musicals. At EMU, he wrote, arranged, and performed music for Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure, The 39 Steps, and Distant Witness. With Justin Poole, he co-created and performed in The Gospel Project and Firebrand: The Life of Paul. Jim has directed music for shows at EMU, James Madison University, and Eastern Mennonite School. He works as an accompanist and performer for shows, classes, and voice lessons at the School of Theatre and Dance at JMU.

Angie Clemmens

Co-Music Director

Angie Clemens is an elementary general music teacher in her 33th year of teaching, fulfilling the goal she has had since second grade. Angie has a BA in music education from Goshen (IN) College and MA in music education from James Madison University. She is certified in Orff, World Music Drumming, and Dalcroze. She began teaching in District 205 Elmhurst Illinois, teaching K-5 general music and directing both a choir and a choir chimes ensemble. Her school choir was the 2002 Oscar Myer Schoolhouse Jam Illinois winner. She also served as District 205 Elementary Music Coordinator. Since moving to Virginia in 2004, she has served in the Rockingham County Public Schools where she teaches general music PK - grade 5, adaptive music, and again directs a school choir. She is on the fine arts leadership team for her district and serves as president elect for the Virginia Elementary Music Teachers Association, is a Clinical Faculty mentor teacher, and holds a certificate from James Madison University in teacher leadership. She especially enjoys bringing new methods and technologies into her teaching.

She frequently plays piano for the musicals at Broadway High School and assists with musicals at Eastern Mennonite University. This is her third summer being involved with EMU’s Summer Musical Theatre program.

Shannon Dove

EMU Theatre Technical Director and Resident Designer

Shannon is a local grad of JMU and Broadway High School. He has been a scenic artist, master electrician, master carpenter, master painter, technical director, and overall crew chief at EMU since 2002. He has worked to produce theatre for various organizations at the college, community, and professional levels. In addition, he is currently scenic artist, co-technical director, and adjunct professor of theatre at Bridgewater College. Shannon is also an avid musician.

Robert Weaver

Tech Track Director and Lighting Designer

Robert is a recent EMU grad from Baltimore, MD. He majored in photography and minored in theater and business administration. Robert is a freelance theater artist in D.C. and Baltimore. Robert is currently a stagehand and lighting designer at the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University. He recently enjoyed working with Step Afrika! as an assistant master electrician for their touring production of The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence. Robert has most recently been the lighting designer for Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812, The Crucible, Noye’s Fludde, U2 Romeo & Juliet, Shrek: the Musical, Pride and Prejudice, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and Measure for Measure (Eastern Mennonite University), and assistant lighting designer for The Spitfire Grill.

Rachel E. Herrick
EMU Theatre Resident Costume Designer

Rachel is a JMU grad with a B.A. in theater and dance. While at EMU, Rachel designs costumes, manages the build of costumes, and does much of the costume construction. Her EMU design credits include Measure for Measure, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and Pride and Prejudice. Rachel spends her summers working with Charlottesville Opera, where she was wardrobe supervisor for The Tragedy of Carmen, and assistant wig supervisor for Camelot during the 2019 season. More information about Rachel’s credits can be found at www.racheleherrick.com.

Hannah Landis

EMU Theatre Production Manager
Hannah is a 2024 EMU Graduate with majors in Writing Studies and Spanish Language & Hispanic Studies and minors in Honors and Theatre from Sellersville, PA. At EMU, she assistant-directed The Crucible, an invited production at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region 2, 2023, as well as portrayed Reverend John Hale in the same show. Further roles at EMU include Natasha/Ensemble in Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Glory in Almost, Maine, and Scuttle/Chef Louis/Tentacle in The Little Mermaid. She has also worked as a Producer in EMU Theatre’s This and That in the fall of 2023, and as a Student Director in the 2022 and 2023 EMU Summer Theatre Program seasons.

Jacob Nissley

Student Director

Jacob has just completed his fourth year at EMU, yet he is a junior in his new major, music education. He loves to sing and aspires to become a choir director in the future. His collegiate theatre journey includes playing half of the male cast in Almost Maine, as well as appearing in Natasha Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Prince Bolkonsky and Andrey). He also has extensive experience working with elementary students at the Lighthouse summer day camp in Canton, Ohio. Jacob is excited for his continued stay at EMU, as long as it is over after two years.

Thaddeus Jackson

Student Director

Thaddeus is a Senior Voice and Guitar Double major. In 2022 he was SM and PM for Venus and Adonis at Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton. His most recent Theatre roles include Emmett Till (Anne and Emmett), Stage Manager (Our Town), Paris ( U2 Romeo and Juliet), Reverend Parris (The Crucible), and The King (King and I). Thaddeus enjoys directing the vocal octet Voxti and his favorite hobby is annoying Dr. Benjamin Bergey.

Vision

At EMU Summer Musical Theatre, we are dedicated to fostering growth and individual creativity in theatre, music, and dance. We aim to provide all students, including low-income and under-represented students, with professional training, techniques, and resources, and guide students’ love and passion for the arts into culminating productions that are shared with the community, showcasing the participants’ growth, talents, and hard work.

We believe that the transformative power of the arts develops skills and confidence not just in performance, but also in social and life skills that are unique to theatre and collaborative settings. EMU SMTP encourages students to challenge themselves and their understanding of performance as an art form. Through collaborative storytelling and the development of improv scenes, we offer participants unique opportunities for creative expression that are woven into the story and presented in the final show framework.

At its core, the SMTP is built on a commitment to nurturing individuals’ as their whole selves, empowering them to take risks in a supportive setting and build community with others. We strive to create a safe, inclusive environment where all students can thrive, connect, and find their voices through the shared love of the performing arts – join us in supporting the EMU Summer Musical Theatre Program, and help us inspire the next generation of artists and storytellers!