China Daily Global Edition (USA)
‘BroadwayClassroom’ gives regardtoChina Shanghai Disney expands talent pool
hail visitors.
The Broadway Classroom program, in which Broadway performers and American musical theater arts professionals provide training to youngsters, is making its international debut in China.
Partnering with China’s musicThe education-ShanghaiconsultingDisney Resort,firm,MotifwhichMusic,runsthe WaltJohn DisneyGoreOrganization’sCo’slatestongoingtheme park,BroadwayisexpandingClassroomitstalentprogram poolprogramby partneringisvisitingwithsevenlocal educationalschoolsandinstitutions.twoorganizations, Housewith ofthethegoalMouseof willinstructingenterintomoreagreementsthan1,000 withChinese10 studentsuniversities,inShanghaicolleges andand vocationalWuhanoverschoolsan in11-day2017period.bylaunching the “Shanghai“WeareDisneythrilledResortwithTalent BroadwayClass”, Classroom’sthecompanydebutsaid onin ChinaFriday. in the New Year,” saidTheJohnmoveGore,reflectsownerDisney’sand largerCEOofgoalthe organizationofhiringoverthat98 percentbearshisofname.itsstaffBroadwaylocally, accordingClassroom tois PhilippeakeyeducationGas, generaleducation-engagementmanagerof Shanghaiinitiative Disneyoftheorganization.Resort.
““WithTheessentialtherapidelementriseofChinesein guestofChinese satisfactiontourists isattendingtheinteractionstaff Broadwaythatshowsour10,000inNYC and membersacrossthehaveUS, wewithwantedvisitors,”to GasbringsaidBroadwayinanews conferencetoyoung inChineseShanghai.artists by partnering sethe upsaid.joint classes with partnerMotifschoolsMusicbyteachingisaprivateDisney’s musicbesteducationpracticescompanyinservicein excellence.Shanghai that consults for severalInternshipschoolopportunitiesdistricts where in implementingareupfor grabs,instrumental studentsandtheatertakemusicon programsdifferent rolesintotheirincludingschools.animation designers,“Wefirst makeupengaged ourartists,students accountantsstudentswithBroadwayandmechanicalClassroom technicians.ClassroominJuly 2016, since they wantedAtypicalto classseeandwill learnhost 30moreto about50people.Broadway,Outstandingcanapply performparticipantstheaterand use this tocreativeintern at experiencetheWaltDisneyto WorldimproveResorttheirinEnglish,”Floridainsaidthe UnitedWei-PinStates,Shen,traininggeneralalongside managerAmericanofMotifMusic.peers.
Shanghai“Wewant toPolytechnicexposeChinese students and music educators to the pursuit of excellence at the highest levels and are confident that the bestway for us to do that is to partner with Broadway.com in this exciting debut in China,” Shen said.
Stephanie Lee, president of Group Sales Box Office, which runs the program, introduced the seven schools, including marching bands and musical theater programs, that Motif Music will teach. The schools include Shanghai No 3 Girls’ High School, Hongqiao International School, Wusi Middle School and others. The events in Wuhan are held in a local bookstore and
We want to expose Chinese students ... to the pursuit of excellence at the highest levels.”
University, Shanghai Sanda University, and the Tourism College of Zhejiang are among the first batch of schools to ink the deal.
This year the Shanghai resort plans to recruit 2,000 full-time and part-time publicemployees,library.with vacancies tailoredLeesaidtothetheredisabledalreadypopulation,vicepresident is significantsaid LaraandTiam,growing interest fromofhumanschoolsresourcesoutside ofat thetheresort.districts and as far away as Taiwan, “which we hope to be able to include in future programs”.
Musical theater arts professionals participating include its program director Vicki Plummer and Stephen Carrasco ( Fiddler on the Roof, KinkyBoots). There are 10 events for students in the schools and two local organizations,Long includingbeforeitsrehearsals,grandopeningmasterinJuneclasses2016,Disneyand performances.devotedeveryeffort to attract and“Eachretaineventskilledwillpeoplebe ina 90-China,minutefrompresentationjobfairs andand workshop,campusroadshows.includingOverseas30minutes Broadwaybeenoffered tomusicals1,200Chineseand BroadwaystudentssinceClassroom,2014. 30 15 minutesItalsooftargetsdanceyoungandmovementChinesethestudyingworkshop,intheandUS10into minutestalentpipeline,ofprofessionaltrainingthemperformance themthe Broadwaybacktoa Disneylandteaching artist,closer Stephentohome.Carrasco,” Lee said. There’sBut,Disneyanshouldinterpreterbeprepared turnoverthroughout,rate,andespeciallysometheaterintheservicegames with theforprogramahigh andand dancehospitalityweresectorchoseninChina. specificallyAccordingtoavoidtothethecountry’s website languagemajorbarrier.recruiting 51job.“Bothcom,activitiesaverageareturnovermostly physical,inthatsectorsowestoodcanatdemonstratearound20percentandhavein2015.the students then follow along without anything getting ‘lost in translation’,” she added.
One of the purposes of the program is to promote perfecting English skills through singing and music.
“So this is something we look forward to helping with the students,” Lee said.
The objective is to promote music education and to let as many students as possible learn to love music.
The events do not require any music training and are free for the schools and students. Students ages 8 to 18 can apply for the program, and then each school selects 10 to 15 of the applicants to participate.
Wei-Pin Shen,
general manager of Motif Music number of full-time and parttime employees the Shanghai Disney Resort plans to recruit this year