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'Broadway' training in Jakarta offers shortcut to fame
Dozens of young Indonesians are getting intensive training in Jakarta with the ultimate goal of making it on Broadway.
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Choreography consultant Stephen Brotebeck trains participants of 'Indonesia menuju Broadway', a course held at Balai Resital Kertanegara in South Jakarta until Feb. 24. (Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation /File)
S
eventy young Indonesian performers have been selected to receive intensive training by experts from a United States-based musical theater program, Passport to Broadway, at the Balai Resital Kertanegara in South Jakarta.
The Indonesia menuju Broadway (Indonesia for Broadway) training course, which runs until Sunday, is an effort of collaboration between the Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation’s Ruang Kreatif (creative room) and Passport to Broadway.
StudentsLive – Passport to Broadway is located in New York and provides opportunities for people to experience training as professional Broadway artists by theater specialists. One of its aims is to provide access for participants to acclaimed theaters in the area.
“Indonesia menuju Broadway gives Indonesian actors of performing arts a chance to experience training and get an audition in New York to become Broadway performers that will make Indonesia proud,” said Renitasari Adrian, program director of the Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation, in an official statement.
During the training course in Jakarta, participants are given the chance to collaborate with the experts, including StudentsLive founder and artistic director of Passport to Broadway International Amy Weinstein, music director Seth Weinstein and choreography consultant Stephen Brotebeck, who was the assistant director of Ghost: The Musical.
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Ten of the 70 participants will be chosen to fly to New York to get five days of training from musical theater specialists in July. They will also be taken to see live Broadway performances, join a backstage tour and get to meet Broadway artists.
Indonesia menuju Broadway’s online recruitment started in January with a total of 672 participants, 243 of whom were selected for the audition phase assessed by a panel of renowned judges: choreographer Ari Tulang, director Garin Nugroho, singer Andrea Miranda and dancer Ufa Sofura. Participants came from different walks of life, such as students, artists, singing competition alumni, dancers, and award-winning movie stars.
After the audition phase, 70 people were chosen to join the intensive training in South Jakarta.
“This collaborative project will certainly give young artists a new perspective in performing arts,” said Garin. “This program will be a challenging one and can hopefully encourage participants to give their best.” (wir/wng)
