URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL Teen Workshop Set for STAGES Academy Through 8/3

This Summer the STAGES Performing Arts Academy expands by moving their teen performance workshop to the state-of-the-art Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Preparatory School. The three-week workshop began July 16 resulting in a final full-scale performance on August 3rd, which will feature professional teachers, directors, and guest artists from around the country, along with talented teens, making this hit musical comedy come to life.

URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL is described as "a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. A terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public bathrooms, regulated by one evil company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. A hero decides he's had enough, and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom. Wickedly funny and full of wit, URINETOWN will produce gales of unbridled laughter."

Peggy Taphorn, guest Director of this teen workshop, is currently the Producing Artistic Director of the Temple Theatre in Sanford, NC. An award-winning actress, director and choreographer, she is originally from Belleville Illinois, with a BFA from Webster University. Peggy spent 22 years based in NYC with 6 Broadway shows to her credit. Greg Schweizer, Musical Director, is currently the Visual and Performing Arts Director at Visitation Academy and has taught at STAGES Performing Arts Academy. Ellen Isom, Choreographer, happily returns to STAGES this year as choreographer for Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK and is remembered for her earlier choreographic work with STAGES Theatre for Young Audiences productions.

This performance workshop is the most comprehensive to date for STAGES Performing Arts Academy. Also new this year is a chance for teens interested in technical theatre to develop behind-the-scenes skills while training with professionals in a high-tech theatre facility. Technical Director and former Production Manager of STAGES, Joe Novak will work with students participating in this three week technical workshop. Students will create the set led by Sean Savoie, currently Lighting Designer and Production Manager for Washington University. Together, these two workshops will combine in the largest undertaking that the STAGES teen academy has ever seen.

The cost of the program is $595 for the three-week workshop for teens ages 13-18 which runs from July 16 – August 3. Over 25 students are registered to participate in the program. The final performance is open to the public and will be held at the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Preparatory School, 425 South Lindbergh Boulevard in St. Louis, MO on the evening of August 3, 2012. For more information, go to www.stagesstlouis.org or call 636.449.5775.