Broadway North Youth Theatre
Private Lessons
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Broadway North's core teachers will continue to offer private voice, acting, piano and music theory lessons to those participants whose parents may wish for them to receive more intensive one-on-one instruction.
VOCAL, theory AND PIANO LESSONS
Broadway North's co-founder and musical director, Shoshana Friedman, is a classically trained soprano who studied in Toronto, New York and Italy. Shoshana was trained in the BEL CANTO school which emphasized purity of tone. In her private lessons, Shoshana believes that the most important thing all students must develop is their technique. As she was taught, she emphasizes clear and precise notes, developing and expanding each student's vocal range, ensuring that each student sings without strain and creating a larger, more projected voice which is always perfectly on pitch. Once students are on their way to developing a good technique through exercises which develop these facets of the voice, she introduces songs and incorporates what they have learned into singing this material. Here, as before, a clean, accurate tone is expected and the added elements of interpretation, diction and characterization are emphasized. Ms. Friedman also teaches piano and theory and holds an ARCT diploma in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
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As musical director of Broadway North, Shoshana helmed such youth productions as Guys and Dolls, Dear Edwina Jr., Hairspray, Grease, High School Musical, Aladdin, Into the Woods, Urinetown, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Camp Rock, Annie, Seussical, Bugsy Malone Jr, Footloose, Les Miserables, The Wizard of Oz, Mamma Mia, Oliver, Legally Blonde and Aladdin. She was also the musical director. co-producer and lead soprano in the stage show, Opera Luminata, which combined opera, musical theatre and contemporary favourites with pyrotechnics and other spectacular stage effects. ​
As a performer, Shoshana has appeared in film, opera and operetta and has concertized extensively. She has performed roles ranging from Nedda in I Pagliacci to Marion in The Music Man. She is most proud of having created the role of Anne Frank in the Canadian Premiere of Grigori Frid's one-woman opera, The Diary of Anne Frank. She received such critical acclaim for this performance that she was invited to reprise the role in Prague, the Czech Republic. Shoshana holds an ARCT Piano Performer's Diploma from the RCM in Toronto as well as a BA in English from York University. She has studied voice in Canada, New York and Italy and can sing in several foreign languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, German, Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian and Czech. Her CD, "Kiss Me Again", is a sultry compilation of romantic foreign love songs of the 40's and 50's.​
She is a huge animal lover and advocate and shares her home with 3 cats, 3 dogs, 2 birds and 1 very understanding husband.
Biography
To contact Shoshana, please sent an email to shoshy0306@gmail.com or call her at 416-347-4363
ACTING LESSONS
Broadway North's co-founder and artistic director, Laura Halley, is also an accomplished actress who runs a successful private teaching practice.
Laura teaches students ranging from those who want to understand the craft as a hobby to young, professional actors, represented by agents, preparing for regular castings and auditions for film, tv and theatre. Students learn the techniques involved in understanding the craft of acting, explore improvisation and performance skills and work on characterization, through developed acting exercizes. Audition and monologue preparation are also covered and lessons will focus on moving the student forward in their abilities and skill set.
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Laura began her career in the industry when she was bit by the acting bug while apprenticing at the Charlotte Reperatory Theatre in North Carolina. Upon returning to Canada, she worked as an actor and appeared in films, on television and in numerous theatre productions. Laura went on to study in both Canada and the United States, furthering her professional development and appearing in such productions as “Steel Magnolias”, “The Affections of May” and “Stepping Out”. Her on-screen credits include playing in Asimov's Probe with the ABC Television Network where she had the great fortune to work with Parker Stevenson. She lives with her brilliantly supportive husband, Kris, who makes every day a blessing.
Recently, Laura has ventured into the world of writing and is currently working on a book of monologues for young performers. Laura is the founder of KIDS, CAMERA, ACTING! She teaches private acting lessons and works extensively with young, professional actors in the industry on audition preparation and monologue development, as well as working as an on-set acting coach. Having taught and directed youth for many years, she is proud to be able to bring her exceptional skills to Broadway North, where she continues to share her knowledge with the talented youth in our region!