Theater guest blog: rehearsals

Guest blog from Patel Conservatory Summer Theater production

by Aliya Burshan, cast member of PCYT's Seussical the Musical, Jr.

Students work on choreography.

Last week in Seussical, Jr. rehearsals, we began putting together the second act. It took a very long time connecting the pieces, because there were a lot of things to remember.

Every day we did a full run-through to a certain stopping point. All cast members had to be “off  book” (all lines memorized) by Thursday. Ms. Susan, our choreographer, had a challenging week teaching us our dance moves. She discovered not all cast members knew their right from their left. Every time someone used a wrong hand or foot, we’d have to start all over again. It was very aggravating! But in the end, we managed to put on a dazzling performance.  

During the busy week I still managed to find the time to sit down with some of the other cast members. Here’s an interview with Malaya Morris: 

Q: How is the experience so far?

A: FUN, but hard.

Q: How do you think you got the part?

A: By trying my hardest and rehearsing.

Q: What is some advice you would give to a person auditioning?

A: To definitely use your diaphragm to help you breath when you’re singing.

Q: How long have you been performing?

A: 2 years.

Q: What is your part in Seussical?

A: Sour Kangaroo.

Q: What is your favorite part in Seussical so far, and why?

A: The songs because they are fun to learn and they tell stories.

This week is our last week of rehearsals. Check back again to see how things are coming along for our big performances this Thursday and Friday evening!

Theater guest blog: Seussical gets a blissful standing ovation

Guest blog from Patel Conservatory Summer Theater production

by Aliya Burshan, cast member of PCYT's Seussical the Musical, Jr.

After three weeks of hard work and determination, it all paid off when we put on two amazing shows on Thursday, July 21^st and Friday July 22^nd.

For my friends and I, it was an amazing experience to learn about dance, music, and theater. At the end of each performance, it was bliss to my ears to hear the audience applause and give us a standing ovation. Of course, like every show, we had a few minor mistakes, but the good thing is, the cast are the only ones who know it.

When we left the theater after the last show, there were a lot of tears. It was sad that all of the great times we have had as a family were ending.

Here's a few pictures I took of some of the characters backstage!

Thanks so much to Aliya, our guest blogger. Seussical, Jr. was a fantastic show! We hope you all enjoy what's left of your summer, and we'll see you in the fall!

Patel Conservatory student productions rival professionals

Don’t you just love that feeling when you come out of a play or movie, or any live theater event, thinking, That was sooo good! ...And so much better than I expected!

It’s the feeling many parents get when they attend one of our Patel Conservatory productions for the first time. Whether it’s music, theater or dance, they walk in thinking, recital, and come out feeling dazzled, entertained and just blown away.

Tallulah Nouss in Seussical the Musical, Jr.

It’s what Debbie Nouss experienced at the Patel Conservatory Youth Theater’s recent production of Seussical the Musical, Jr.

“It was the most professional performance. It was Broadway quality,” said Nouss.

A veteran television actor herself, and a veteran audience member of her kids’ dance recitals, community theater performances and band concerts, she was deeply impressed by the level of professionalism garnered from a group of kids in second to fourth grade.

“The talent that Patel [Conservatory] was able to cultivate was amazing,” said Nouss. “Even if the kids weren’t professional actors and singers, the show was put together so that no one looked amateurish.”

Nouss’ daughter certainly had her part in surprising and dazzling the audience. Playing the role of Mayzie, Tallulah Nouss made a stunning Patel Conservatory debut.

“My character was very sassy, it was fun playing a character like that,” said Tallulah. “All the dances that I did were really fun, and I was able to use all my talents, singing, dancing and acting.”

Tallulah has been taking dance lessons since she was two years old. Now, at only nine years old, she competes with five dance teams at All American Dance Factory (tap, jazz, lyrical, acro and musical theater), taking classes five days a week. She also competes as a soloist and participates frequently in master classes and workshops, where she recently caught the attention of New York choreographer Andy Pellick who offered to choreograph a solo for her.

She’s auditioned for Billy Elliot in New York City, and recently won a scholarship for workshops from West Coast Dance.

In addition to dance, Tallulah participates in community theater and takes private voice lessons as her schedule permits. She’s well on her way to becoming what the entertainment industry calls a triple threat: someone who can dance, act and sing.

“When I saw Alice in Wonderland, Jr. I really wanted to be in a production [at the Patel Conservatory],” said Tallulah. “They looked like they were really all together.”

Tallulah wasn’t disappointed. With instructors who are professional artists in the industry, the Patel Conservatory is able to draw from a pool of talent for their productions. Seussical was choreographed by Susan Downey, a veteran Broadway dancer, and directed by Emilia Sargent, a local actor with extensive experience in the entertainment industry. Musica director was Deborah Lynch, an accomplished accompanist, vocal coach and performer.

Our students frequently get to work with top talent, from our own staff to guest instructors and visiting artists at the Straz. In addition, they get the advantage of performing on one our Straz stages with exceptional production staff, giving them professional stage experience.

“It was much better than being in a community theater play,” said Tallulah. “I’d love to come back for other plays.”

With her busy dance schedule, Tallulah will probably have to wait until next summer to join one of our youth theater productions, but her brother is interested in joining our Rock School program.

“I’d love for [Tallulah] to one day get into Tisch,” said Debbie. (Two of our alumni did! Click here to read more!) “It’s important for kids who want to do this to learn dancing, singing and acting, and you guys have it all there.”

With extensive classes in dance, music and theater, the Patel Conservatory is a premier training ground for the performing arts. Our alumni are being accepted in prestigious acting, dance and music programs nationally and internationally.

Fall classes start soon! For more information on classes and schedules, click here. 

Theater guest blog: ready for the show!

Guest blog from Patel Conservatory Summer Theater production

by Aliya Burshan, cast member of PCYT's Seussical the Musical, Jr.

Yesterday in Seussical Jr. rehearsals, we ran through the whole entire musical twice. The day started out very hectic with all of the technicians there. We were finally putting all the final pieces together. We do run-throughs for several days so that everyone gets comfortable performing. That way, students aren’t as nervous for the actual performances.

Then came the best time of the day…lunch!! Everybody rushes to the tables to save seats for their friends. My friends and I always sing Broadway songs and talk about what would be our dream part in any show. Mine would be to play Wednesday from the Addams Family!  All my friends have their favorite Broadway show, and it’s fun to talk about them. Many of us have seen live musicals.

After lunch, we did another run-through of the show, and we went back to the dressing rooms to see Mrs. Amy for costumes. She is so AMAZING at what she does. She makes one costume into another with just a stitch of her needle. Tomorrow we’ll be doing full run-throughs with costumes. Now the show is really coming together! I can’t wait for our opening night performance on Thursday!

You will have an awesome time in any of the PCYT Jr. shows. Just to let you know, an opportunity for you to perform in Ferguson Hall at the Straz Center is coming up soon. This school year, 5-8^th graders are performing Once Upon A Mattress and 2-4^th graders are performing The Bear Went Over The Mountain. Sign up now to be a part of our cast!!!

See you soon!

Theater guest blog: getting through auditions

Guest blog following our Patel Conservatory Summer Theater Jr. production
by Aliya Burshan, cast member of PCYT's Seussical the Musical, Jr.

Hello, my name is Aliya and I am 13-years-old. My whole life I knew someday I would be a performer. I’ve been coming to the Patel Conservatory since I was nine years old, and in those few years the staff has made me a part of their family.

The first time I did a show at the Patel Conservatory was in 2008 in PCYT’s summer production of Grease! The first day of camp, I was really nervous and did not know what to expect. But right when we started that first number, I knew with the staff, interns and the rest of the cast that it was going to be an amazing experience. If you need help singing or dancing, they will point it out right away. But don’t let that get you down or think it is personal, they just want everything to connect and go smoothly! THEY WILL NOT LET YOU FAIL!!!!!!! 

Before you get to join the musical and cast, you have to go through auditions!  What you mainly do in auditions is prepare a song to sing and a short monologue. You need to perform before the director, vocal instructor, and/or choreographer. Once that is done, you just have to wait till the start of the camp to see what part you have landed.


One thing I have learned when doing auditions is this: even if you look the part, act the part, sing the part, memorize the character’s lines and songs, and everyone in the cast thinks you were wonderful, does not mean you will land it. Trust me, it has happened to me two times already! So one piece of advice…don’t get your hopes up! You may not get the part that you had been dreaming of, but you’ll see that all of the parts are important.  

My experience at the Patel Conservatory has been a blast! You meet new people every time and most likely some of them will become your BFF’s. I hope you have the privilege to experience this once in a lifetime chance. See you soon, and be sure to check back to see my next blog about Who’s Who? in our summer production of Seussical Jr.!

Spotlight on: The Bear Went Over the Mountain actress Delaney O'Brien

Delaney, center, leads her Whovillians in the 2011 production of Seussical

Name: Delaney O’Brien

Age: 9

How long have you been a part of the Patel Conservatory family? 2 years

What is your role in The Bear Went Over The Mountain? Owl (Understudy) and Bunny 1

What is exciting to you about the show? Performing in front of a lot of people

What other courses have you taken at the Patel Conservatory? PCYT Jr. – Alice in Wonderland, Musical Theater and PCYT Jr. – Seussical

Why did you decide to study the performing arts? I love to sing and act

How has studying the performing arts been beneficial to you so far? It’s fun and hard at the same time

What do you think is interesting about yourself? I go out in the community and sing

Is there anything else you want to tell us about yourself? I also do cheerleading.


The Bear Went Over the Mountain continues this weekend, Thurs. - Sun., Mar. 8 - 10, 2012. Click here for tickets.

Spotlight on Caleb Quezon

Ever since Caleb Quezon saw Wicked on Broadway when he was six years old, he knew he wanted to perform.

The thirteen-year-old from South Tampa plays the debonair Lumière in this weekend’s PCYT production of Beauty and the Beast, Jr. at the Straz Center.

“This was probably one of the most difficult characters for me to play because he’s a ladies man and hits on all the girls, but it’s a fun character,” said Caleb.

As soon as Caleb began taking classes at the Patel Conservatory at the Straz shortly after he saw Wicked, he knew it was the place for him.

“The people here always accepted me and were always so nice,” said Caleb. “My first director was Miss Ami [Sallee] and she’s always fun to be around.”

Over the years, he’s been in several of our PCYT (Patel Conservatory Youth Theater) productions, from Music Man to last summer’s hit Seussical, the Musical, Jr. He even had the opportunity to perform in the 2008 Broadway tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the Morsani theater as an orphan.

“A hundred kids auditioned, and they only chose six,” said Caleb. “It was pretty difficult..we had three days to learn our lines and blocking and then it was the night of the show.”

Accustomed to putting a show together quickly, he and more than 50 cast members have been working for Beauty and the Beast, Jr. for nearly three weeks. In the first week, it was a crash course of lines and choreography, and they’ve been polishing and practicing ever since.

“Line learning has never been that much of a challenge for me, but choreography is hard for me,” he admits.

Today the group endured mic checks and sound checks as they went through technical rehearsal in Ferguson Hall. The incredible, professional sets and production team give the kids invaluable experience.

The long rehearsals and challenges are all part of the fun, says Caleb.

“It’s what I love doing. I want to be doing this my entire life,” he said. “Whenever I’m on stage...I’m what God made us to be, which is unique.”

Bring the kids out to see the wondrous Beauty and Beast, Jr. at 7 p.m. this Thurs., July 19 and Fri., July 20, 2012. Click here for tickets.

Kids of all ages will enjoy Alice in Wonderland, Jr.

Take your children on a magical adventure into Wonderland with Alice in Wonderland, Jr.

The Patel Conservatory Youth Theater production opens Thursday and plays this weekend and next weekend. It's a wonderful opportunity for parents to introduce little ones to live theater. It's also a great way for any child interested in acting/performing to check out our youth theater program.

With colorful costumes, choreography and all the classic songs like Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, kids of all ages will enjoy this fun adventure into the fantasy world of Wonderland.

Registration is now open for our summer youth theater classes. If you love Alice in Wonderland, Jr., come be a part of Seussical the Musical!

Spotlight on Alexa Lowrey

After three years at the Patel Conservatory, Alexa Lowrey was ready for a lead role.

As Winifred in PCYT’s upcoming production of Once Upon a Mattress, 10-year-old Alexa has really come into her own as an actress, says her mom Michele de Lucca-Lowrey.

“She feels like she’s actually Winifred,” said Michele. “The way [the instructors] choose the children for the roles, they fit the characters so well... I think this production is going to be one of the best we’ve had.”

A music teacher at Lockhart Elementary who’s been teaching for 30 years, Michele is impressed with the level of professionalism her daughter gets at the Patel Conservatory.

As a mom and volunteer for many PCYT shows, “I’ve been with several of [the kids] for a long time. You see the difference in their vocal development and acting skills and self confidence,” she said.

Music seems to run in Michele’s family. Her mother sang at the Cathedrals of England.

“Alexa sings really well, like my mom,” said Michele, who also sings, and plays trumpet.

A student at Lockhart, Alexa has been in many school plays and had roles in PCYT’s Annie, Cinderella and Seussical the Musical.

“The Patel Conservatory is a lot more serious, it makes the show a lot better,” said Alexa. “It’s serious, but it’s really fun.”

While the cast and instructors have been working hard to rehearse and develop the show and actors’ skills, the end product is a fun, light-hearted performance with lots of snappy dialogue and comic entrances.

On playing Winifred, Alexa says, “She’s a really fun character in a working kind of way. She’s a really weird character, she has melodramatic moments. Once you have it, it’s really fun.”

Theater camp offers an education in reading and writing!

Hey moms, are you looking for something fun and educational for your kids to do this summer? Check out our Page to Stage summer camp!

Kids in grades three to six will learn how to take a story book and turn it into a play. Working together as a team, students will focus on reading, writing and acting. They’ll write, cast, design and mount their own show, culminating in a final performance in front of an audience.

Page to stage is just one of many summer theater camps and classes at the Patel Conservatory in Tampa, including our youth theater productions of Seussical the Musical, and a playwriting and performance experience, LOL: the Musical.

There's still time to register! Page to Stage will be June 20 through July 1, 2011 and is open to anyone in grades three through six. 

Alice in Wonderland, Jr. cast makes special appearance

The cast of Alice in Wonderland, Jr. had a great time yesterday performing at the Children’s Museum.

The kids performed excerpts from the show for the museum’s monthly Target Free Tuesday.

Caileigh Potter, 12, of Hyde Park, plays Violet, and enjoys being part of the Patel Conservatory Youth Theater program.

“It gives people our age an idea of what it feels like to be in a big production,” said Potter. “I just love being [at the Patel Conservatory]. Whenever I leave, I can’t wait to come back.”

The kids in PCYT agree that the program allows kids the full experience of being in a professional show, from the beginning of the year when they begin their theatrical training to the choreography and sets of the stage production.

“It really gives me the chance to progress and enhance my skills,” said Lauren Lehner, 12, of Davis Island. Lehner plays Daisy, and has been involved with PCYT for a few years. She was in PCYT’s School House Rock and Annie. “I love the people. Working with these people every day, you become great friends.”

Marisa Pettet, 12, of Riverview, who plays Petunia, also enjoys being with people who have the same interests and goals.

“You meet a lot of friends who like to do the same thing,” said Pettet. This is Pettet’s first year with PCYT, Jr. She’s done many plays through school and other groups, but says she’s learned a lot at the Patel Conservatory.

“I learned a lot in the acting class, and in dance, too, now I want to take dance,” she said.

PCYT includes acting, dance and vocal training to prepare students for the world of musical theater. “It gets you ready for professional theater,” said Pettet.

During the year, the kids also got the opportunity to see shows at the Straz Center, and to work with cast members of Wonderland and Billy Elliott.

“I learned to keep trying,” said Lehner of having Broadway actors visit her class. “You can go to an audition, and not get the part and it may have nothing to do with you. You just have to keep trying.”

If you’re interested in being involved with youth theater, come check out Alice in Wonderland, Jr. playing April 14-16, and April 21-23.


Register now for PCYT's summer production of Seussical Jr.!

Emilia Sargent in Streetcar Named Desire

Want to see one of our instructors in action?

Patel Conservatory theater instructor Emilia Sargent appears this weekend as Blanche in Tampa Repertory Theatre’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire.

Sargent, who has been recognized as a Best of the Bay Critic's Choice Actress, directed the Patel Conservatory’s Seussical the Musical and Once Upon a Mattress.

She’ll soon be directing this summer’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr. as part of the Patel Conservatory Youth Theater program.

Don’t miss Sargent as Blanche DuBois in the Tennessee Williams classic. The production runs through June 24, 2012 at Studio Theatre on the Ybor City campus of Hillsborough Community College.

For more information, visit tamparep.org.

Patel Conservatory veterans perform at local benefit

Several Patel Conservatory veterans performed recently at a benefit concert for the Arts Council of Plant City.

“It was a fun, enlightening experience with such amazing talent,” said Ryan Caudill, former Patel Conservatory administrative assistant.

The concert, at the Red Rose Inn in Plant City, was part of the council’s annual banquet. The show was directed and produced by Cheryl Worsham, who saw The Wiz at the Patel Conservatory and got the idea to ask the students if they wanted to perform at the banquet.


Several past and present Patel Conservatory students performed, including Ian Burns (The Wiz), Gigi Burns (Adult Jazz Voice Ensemble), Luis Colon (T.A. for Seussical the Musical, Jr., choreographer for LOL: The Musical), and Ben Mercado (The Wiz, Adult Jazz Voice Ensemble, Fame).

“What made the rehearsals fun was the hands-on process of our meetings,” said Caudill. “As a team, we searched several song selections until we found the right ones for each individual artist.”


The group sang danced to a variety of songs including My Girl, You Should Be Dancing, Living La Vida Loca and Total Eclipse of the Heart. The pieces were choreographed by Luis Colon and Ben Mercado.

The venue was beautiful and the audience responded enthusiastically, said Caudill. “It reminded me why I love being a performer so much!”

Theater camps take the stage

by Ami Sallee Corley, theater department instructor

Great job to the students and instructors of last week’s Musical Theater, On-Camera and Page to Stage camps for an exceptional week of performances!

Musical Theater Camp, Summer, 2011

The magnitude of what can be accomplished with team teaching is amazing. In the past, the musical theater camps have been a max of 20 kids taught by the same faculty member all day long. This faculty member had some knowledge in all 3 areas but was usually a master of only one - usually theater. I know this format very well as I was that one faculty member for over 10 camps in the last 7 years.

This year we worked smarter to combine three age groups of 20 in one camp where they visited a music, theater and musical theater influenced dance faculty member in rotation throughout the day.

Susan Downey, Dee Lynch and Matt Belopavlovich have proved the system to be exponentially more productive as far as product, yes. But most importantly, I have seen the campers grasp important root concepts of the individual disciplines in a way they could not in the previous teaching model. Last week, the Musical Theater camp was packed, and our three stellar teachers really harnessed the groups’ talents.

Instructors Lani Wynskye and Audrey Siegler took their Page to Stage camp on a fantastical journey. The campers really got a sense of the whole process and you could see that they hung on the direction and wisdom coming from these two lovely co-creators of their magical journey. Some fun fairy-tale inspired stories and really hard work by the playwright/actor/campers came out of it.

In our On-Camera Acting camp, which should really be renamed "What it takes to make a movie,” the students did a remake of Shrek across our campus. Will Albritton and

Natalie Lopez produced some excellent work with everyone. And the students were a true ensemble when I saw them.

This Thursday and Friday, you can see our PCYT production of LOL: the Musical, in which the students have created an original production. And our PCYT Jr. camp wil perform in a full stage production of Seussical the Musical, Jr. next weekend. Please join us for either of these wonderful shows!

This is the fullest, smoothest summer I've experienced. Not only is everyone having a good time and making friends, but they are also going home with quality skills.

Spotlight on John Pfingsten

For years, John Pfingsten and his sister Abigale have studied classical piano.

Siblings John and Abigale Pfingsten
performed for the residents at
Brighton Gardens in April.

They’ve competed strongly with both the National Federation of Music Clubs, and for the National Piano Guild auditions, performing traditional classical pieces.

But John Pfingsten departed from his usual classical repertoire in favor of a jazz piece for the Patel Conservatory’s recent Tampa’s Got Talent competition. And the judges responded.

John’s rendition of the St. Louis Blues won him a scholarship for the Patel Conservatory’s jazz ensemble.

“It’s the only jazz piece I’ve played,” said John, 11, of Lutz. “I’m very excited I got the scholarship, and to do this ensemble. I’ve never actually done something like this before.”

“We’re all excited, I’m blessed!” said Melo Pfingsten, John’s mother. “John picked the song he wanted to play at Tampa’s Got Talent...It’s the only one he hadn’t played for judging.”

At a recent National Piano Guild audition, John had to stick with the Guild’s guidelines, and the jazz piece, which he learned for a school performance, didn’t qualify. So he was eager to play it for Tampa’s Got Talent.

“He practiced for two months,” said Melo.

The Pfingstens have been with the Patel Conservatory for two years. John and Abigale take private piano lessons with instructor John Hernandez. Abigale also takes ballet and musical theater classes. She recently performed in PCYT's Seussical the Musical, Jr., and competed in Tampa's Got Talent. Their younger brother Samuel took Piano Lab over the summer and hopes to start private lessons soon.

John and Abigale performed in the National Federation of Music Clubs state convention in May, in which John was awarded his first Gold Cup for achieving superior scores for three consecutive years.

The family stays busy with their lessons, practice and competitions.

“They sacrifice a lot of play time with their friends, but hard work brings greater success,” said Melo. “They realize it’s worth it.”

“I really enjoy it,” said John. “I think the most fun part is when I get a new song. I like starting to get into it, and getting better and better.”