Arts

Theater

AWARD-WINNING THEATER PROGRAM

THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE

In the spring of 2020, the Kingswood Oxford cast and crew continued to raise the bar, giving a jaw-dropping performance of Thoroughly Modern Millie that ended with a standing ovation from the audience. Not to mention, being voted Best High School Musical in the entire state!

CHICAGO

In the spring of 2019, the Kingswood Oxford theater department delivered a show-stopping performance of the Broadway classic CHICAGO. The production took home several HALO awards and earned the performers top recognition in the state and beyond. 

Broadway@KO

Broadway@KO is a signature program that creates the opportunity for our students to learn from the best Broadway Professionals of our time. Each year, Broadway@KO brings three broadway stars to our campus. Our students have the opportunity to sing for their critique, learn famous broadway choreography, and perfect their acting alongside industry professionals. This signature program is truly one of a kind for independent schools." 

List of 1 frequently asked questions.

  • Jessica Lee Goldyn

    Jessica Lee Goldyn (A CHORUS LINE, TUCK EVERLASTING, FINDING NEVERLAND, and more!) held a Broadway Masterclass in New York City with KO students focusing on dance audition training combined with a physical technique workshop. She taught a rigorous physical warm-up, audition combinations, and finessed technique all while providing individual feedback to each student!

List of 1 frequently asked questions.

  • Ben Fankhauser

    In May of 2019, Ben Fankhauser's came to KO to run a masterclass. His Broadway credits include (Newsies, Original Broadway Cast), National Tours: Spring Awakening, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical. Television/Film: The Deuce, Twenty Something, It Could Be Worse, and Submissions Only. Fankhauser originated the role of Davey in Newsies at Paper Mill Playhouse before bringing the show to Broadway.

List of 1 frequently asked questions.

  • Deidre Goodwin

    Appearing in 10 Broadway shows and with over 40 film and television credits, Broadway triple threat Deidre Goodwin came to KO in January and did a master class with theater students. Goodwin played Sheila Bryant in the 2006 revival of A Chorus Line, then followed that role with a star turn as Velma Kelly in Chicago in 2009.

List of 1 frequently asked questions.

  • Kate Marilley

    Kate's Broadway accolades include Flying Over Sunset, The Prom, My Fair Lady and Billy Elliot in addition to countless regional performances and film/TV appearances. 

    Kate attended and graduated from the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama with a BFA in acting and musical theatre. She also attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). 

    She is also passionate about teaching and has recently begun teaching master classes in dance, acting, and audition preparation at various schools and intensives.

List of 1 frequently asked questions.

  • Autumn Hurlbert

    Autumn Hurlbert's accolades include Broadway, national tours, regional theater, off Broadway and television including lead roles in Legally Blonde, Something Rotten, Little Women, Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables, Evita, Tomorrow Morning and The Sound of Music, Live! Hulbert ran a masterclass where she guided student performances through presentation, nuances of character, and presence.

List of 1 frequently asked questions.

  • Janelle Robinson

    Janelle Robinson has performed on Broadway as the original Mrs. Corry in Mary Poppins, as well as Oklahoma! and the revival of Show Boat. Her numerous regional credits include Papermill Playhouse, North Shore Music Theatre, and Maine State Music Theatre. This past season, she made her Playhouse on Park debut as Mrs. Higgins in the world premiere of Higgins in Harlem.

Broadway Comes to KO (...Virtually!)

What do you do when Broadway shuts down? Well....find a way to bring Broadway to you of course.

This past spring, Kingswood Oxford had the honor to bring the big stage to our community when some of the hottest names in showbiz presented masterclasses virtually to our students. 

Eva Noblezada

Kate Baldwin

Grasan Kingsberry

Taylor Louderman

Chris Fitzgerald

Lesli Margherita

Choreographer Showcase

Choreographer showcase connects our dancers to industry professionals throughout the country - this means: Broadway performers, ballet company dancers, athletic dancers, street fusion dancers, contemporary/modern professionals, and more. Each year our choreographers bring their knowledge, talent, and inspiration to young thespians, working with them for over two months in what culminates as an epic performance by both the choreographer teachers and their students.

2019 Choreographers: Mary Cadorette-Daly, Avery Casasanta, Rosie Karabetos, and Geo Mantilla

2020 Choreographers: JuS Hughes, Savana Jones and Lauren Horn 

Past Seasons

Director of Theater Kyle Reynolds

Kyle is an award-winning director with an accomplished career in theater education and directing. Under Kyle's instruction, his students have achieved successful careers in both Broadway and off-Broadway productions as well as national tours. At the college level, Kyle's students have also gained acceptance to elite musical theater universities: Baldwin Wallace, Shenandoah, Ithaca, Boston Conservatory, New York University Tisch, and the University of Michigan. Kyle, a performer himself, continues to be inspired by the creativity and hunger for musical theater training at KO. Kyle has transformed our theater program over the last three years into a triple threat curriculum and as a result, leading our program to become award-winning after winning "Best Musical" in the State of Connecticut for Kingswood Oxford's 2020 production of Thoroughly Modern Millie which was centered in the establishing our program as a vehicle to promote student awareness, cultural competency and courageous conversations in both an entertaining and educational manner. 

The Process

Students have the opportunity to register for several artistic electives to further their craft within a process-based learning environment. Students learn the following skills in the following classes

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

  • Public Speaking

    Students will engage in the art of public speaking within an effort to become more comfortable with their communication skills and presenting material to a group of people. We will study various aspects, techniques and strategies to assist in the utmost successful delivery possible. Skills learned, informative speaking, persuasive speaking, imagery, debate, eye contact, posture, diction, establishing credibility and research.

  • Introduction to Musical Theater

     This is a triple threat class that focuses on singing, dancing and acting within an introductory setting. Students are assigned condensed scene study projects, audition prep repertoire and choreography. Students begin with researching characters and researching repertoire material. This class heavily focuses on the importance of ensemble. 
     
     

  • Scene Study

    Students engage in a number of small ensemble numbers that build on the attributed combination of incorporating singing, acting and dancing into one piece. Students work on both contemporary and classical work to further their repertoire. 

  • Advanced Musical Theory

    After building your introductory skills, we move into a more advanced setting where students learn a variety of training/technical skills within an effort to build their theatrical craft. Students dive into full length monologues, songs and choreography pieces. Students participate in a number of full length scene study pieces along with several audition prep opportunities. By this point, students should have built a repertoire book should they be interested in applying to BFA Musical Theater Programs.

The Product

Kingswood offers several performance opportunities throughout the academic school year:

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

  • Fall Play

    Rabbit Hole, Arabian Nights, Almost Maine

  • Choreographer Showcase

    Kingswood Oxford is home to a ground-breaking choreographer showcase, which brings world-class choreographers to campus to work and collaborate with students. Names like Mary Cadorette-Daly, Avery Casasanta, Rosie Karabetos, and Geo Mantilla bring their knowledge, talent, and inspiration to young thespians, working with them for over two months in what culminates as an epic performance by both the choreographer teachers and their students.

    These choreographers are working actors, Broadway performers, dancers, musicians, photographers, arts advocates, athletic dancers, ballerina, and street dancers.

  • Winter Musical

    Chicago, Pippin, Hello Dolly, Grease, Annie

  • Spring Student Directed Plays

    One acts or cabaret

The Facilities

The 585-seat Roberts Theater
A malleable Black Box Theater
A Professional Dance Studio

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Contact

Located in West Hartford, CT just steps from Blue Back Square, Kingswood Oxford is a private school inspiring co-ed day students in grades 6-12 with a college preparatory curriculum. Empowered students become clear confident communicators, resourceful problem-solvers, and ethical leaders. KO: where unlimited potential meets endless opportunities.
Copyright 2018. Kingswood Oxford.