To kick off my June, I headed down to Atlanta to participate in one of the best week long performing programs I’ve ever been a part of: Broadway Dreams Foundation Summer Performing Arts Intensive.

Run by Atlanta-based founder and producer, Annette Tanner, this organization gives kids an amazing opportunity to prepare for careers in theater and to perform alongside Broadway artists. This year’s amazing faculty included Diana DeGarmo, Eden Espinosa, Billy Porter, Carlos Encinias, Kate Guyton, Matt Trent, Dave Barrus, and composer Jeremy Schonfeld. The added bonus of the week is that casting directors Craig Burns (Bernie Telsey) and Jamie Harris (Clear Talent) audition every student throughout the camp. Last week, 8 of our students were invited to audition for High School Musical 4! They asked me too… I just read a tad older on film... It’s pretty amazing to come to an intensive program like that, perform with Broadway actors, and audition for major New York casting directors.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation is a not-for-profit organization so the money raised goes directly back to the students. Over 60 kids participate on full or partial scholarships. The concert at the end of the week was an unbelievable show, but it’s also a fundraiser for scholarships and programming. We put together Tony packages, Grammy trips, and much more. I tried to throw dinner with me in the mix… not too many bidders.

Back to the concert. Let me just say SCREAM FEST ’09! Eden Espinosa is redic (side note: she’s had an Elphaba contract longer then anyone since Wicked opened) Billy Porter sang some fierce (I said it) moving pieces, Diana DeGarmo blew people away and was lovely to work with - we were very lucky to get her. Carlos rapped to In The Heights and rocked people’s world with his mad skills. Our friend Matt Trent danced beautifully with a few students to the fab vocal stylings of Dave Barrus and Jeremy Schonfeld. I performed a jazzy number from my saucy repertoire and danced a bit. The whole show would not have been nearly as spectacular without the students’ hard work and talent. They learned an entire show in 3 days, teched it in the theater and put it up on stage. Get it kids!

In addition to an amazing concert, all the faculty taught and inspired these young artists throughout the week with patience and interest. Everyone understood that we were there to encourage education and creativity through this program - and also have a blast with Broadway peeps! I loved the whole faculty and all the participants. Everyone worked so hard and I felt like I really got to know the gang and bond.

Sign up now for our week intensive at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia August 4th - 9th. Many of the same faculty will attend and much more. Register today at Mybroadwaydreams.com. Broadway Dreams is a HIT!!!!