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The Neighborhood Playhouse Junior School

80+ Years of Excellence!

Welcome to the Neighborhood Playhouse Junior School!

At the Playhouse, we are proud of our long history of enriching the lives of young people. We offer dynamic classes in acting, creative drama, scene study, dance and singing on Saturdays from September through April.

We also offer three weeks of theatre camp every summer for young people ages 9 - 18. Each week is self-contained and ends with a presentation showcasing the abilities of our talented students!

New students should meet with us for a site visit and interview.

Please click the 'Contact Us' button to the left to schedule

an appointment with Junior School Director, Kat Drinane Davis.

Have you checked out the handbook yet?

Just click on the bar to the left to get up to date!

About Us

ABOUT US

The Neighborhood Playhouse Junior School has been active for about 80 years. We have a long history of working with children and young adults - some of our students are grandchildren of graduates! You can trust us with your child.We are non-competitive. There is no audition to get in to our Saturday program. Within class, there are no leads or chorus. Everyone spends roughly equal time building their potential.Students are expected to attend all three of their classes each Saturday - singing, dance and acting. Students may not arrive late or leave early consistently to avoid a certain class. We build our voices and bodies in order to be stronger actors! Some students will be better at some skills than others - and that is ok. Students need only a good attitude; no prior experience is required.
Faculty

Cate Bottiglione
Ted Dalbotten
Kathleen Drinane Davis
Quincy Ellis
Jaime Gong
Darleen Jaeger Hickok
Mark Katsaounis
Lee Lobenhofer
Heather LoSchiavo
David Madore
Nicole Riche
Steven Silverstein

Cate Bottiglione

Cate Bottiglione Acting Faculty

Cate holds a degree in Theatre and Performance, with a Minor in Communications from Catholic University- training under such professors as: Dr. Gitta Honegger from Yale School of Drama and Mr. Andrei Malaev Babel of the Moscow Vakhtangov Theater. She also has a certificate from the British American Drama Academy, Oxford, England, and trained for 3 years with The Actor's Institute in NYC. Cate is also a founding member of the Hive Theatre Company. www.thehivetheatre.com. As a member of the Screen Actor's Guild, she can been seen in the fore and background of many feature films, as well as being the spokesperson for national products in various commercials. Cate has been faculty at the Playhouse Junior School since 1998 an is a member of the board of Collective:Unconsicous Theatre in Tribeca. She continues the teaching tradition that Kat Drinane Davis taught to her, as "Miss D" was Cate's Drama Director in high school. The fundamentals still remain after all these years!

Ted Dalbotten

Ted (Charles) Dalbotten Dance Accompanist (Piano)

Ted Dalbotten was born in Fresno, California in 1922 and spent his youth on a farm there.  He is the graduate of UC Berkeley in music (1946), The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre (1948), and earned a MA degree in Dance Education at Columbia Teachers College (1972) where he thought for many years as well as at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance.  TED has been employed as both vocal and dance accompanist. Over the years he has danced in the work of a number of choreographers, and during the last few has occasionally acted with the Instant Shakespeare Company.

Kathleen Drinane Davis

Kathleen Drinane Davis Junior School Director

B.A., College of the Holy Cross, English M.A., Hunter College, Theatre – Creative and Developmental Drama Kat is an experienced theatre teacher who has been providing a strong foundation for young actors for 20 years. Her extensive background, versatility and patience give her the tools to reach a wide range of children and young adults. Kat is the director of the Neighborhood Playhouse Junior School in New York City. Kat’s work has one goal: to build life and performance skills simultaneously. Students who understand performing arts build an intuitive sense of the world, which enables them to become strong performers and even stronger adults.

Quincy Ellis

Quincy Ellis Acting/Movement Faculty

Quincy is an actor/dancer from Maine. He received his BFA Acting degree from Emerson College, and has been active in theatre since his move to New York in 2008. Quincy has been trained at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA., The American Theatre Wing's Springboard Program and The Linklater Center in NYC, as well as with The Movement Workshop Group, a dance/theatre company of which he is a member. In addition to acting, he also produces his own work with Kill Mike, a theatre company devoted to small productions that focus on the importance of the spoken word and the relationship between performer and audience member.

Jaime Gong

Jaime Gong Dance Faculty

Jaime Gong was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College, with a concentration in K-12 Dance Education. She has trained under, and worked with, some of the finest artists in the dance field for over 26 years, concentrating her studies on jazz, ballet, tap, modern, ballroom dance, and acrobatics. Early in her career, extensive work as an intern/assistant to master teachers at New York City's Harkness Dance Center and STEPS on Broadway helped to strengthen Jaime's knowledge of effective teaching techniques. Now a seasoned dance educator, Jaime has taught classes and led workshops in private studios, theaters, public institutions, public schools and private educational facilities throughout New York and New Jersey for more than a decade. As a performer, Jaime was privileged to dance in works staged by Cassandra Pfeiffer, Merle Holloman, Joao Carvalho and Roberta Mathes, among others. She was an original cast member and principal dancer in Katonga: Tales from the Heart of the Jungle, a musical theater production choreographed by Abdel Salaam (Founder and Artistic Director, Forces of Nature Dance Theatre), directed by Chase Senge (Senior Show Director, Walt Disney, Co.) and produced by Don Frantz (Associate Producer, The Lion King). She also appeared as a featured dancer in productions of Pippin and How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying directed by Robert Ellman at the Joseph Anzalone Theatre in Brooklyn, NY; the Citrus Bowl Halftime Show in Gainesville, FL; and Nickelodeon Weinerville Live! at the Westbury Music Fair in Purchase, NY.As an educator, she has taught dance for the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE); Broadway Bound Dance Center in Valley Stream, NY; Beyond Dance at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, NJ; and Enrich and Grow Academy at the School of St. Elizabeth in Bernardsville, NJ. In addition to her classes at The Neighborhood Playhouse Junior School, she is currently on the teaching staff at Accents on Dance in Kenvil, NJ; SHOWTIME Dance Company at Hoboken Catholic Academy in Hoboken, NJ, Holy Cross Lutheran Nursery School in Mahwah, NJ and Apple Montessori Schools in the New Jersey townships of Kinnellon and Oakland. Noteworthy accomplishments include piloting a school-wide dance program at Public School 251 in Brooklyn, NY and facilitating a community dance program for the Mill Basin Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. Other credits include appearing as a guest artist for a series of 'Introduction to Dance' workshops for the NYCDOE and 'Dancing for Physical Fitness' workshops for the New Jersey Department of Education.Jaime transitioned into the field of arts administration as Education Assistant at New York City Center (NYCC). She remained in the Education Department at NYCC for three years, where she participated in the coordination of dance and musical theatre programming inspired by mainstage performances, reaching thousands of New York City public school students each season. She also held the position of Merchandising Director for the United States Tournament of Dance Inc., later acquiring the position of Account Manager for SHOWTIME Dance Company, a leading dance enrichment provider in the states of California and New Jersey. Jaime recently enjoyed her first season as director of the Summer Program at The Playhouse!

Darleen Jaeger Hickok

Darleen Jaeger Hickok Acting Faculty

Darleen Jaeger is a director and acting instructor. She has been on the faculty for 10 years. She has taught and directed productions at The Browning School, Masters School, CCSU, Bard College, as well as many schools in the Southern California Area. For the past three summers she has been the Summer Director for Broadway Training Center. She has directed many plays at Stagedoor Manor including The Crucible and Once On This Island. She also created drama programs at Dorset Theatre Festival and Barrington Stage. At Barrington Stage she directed GREASE & THE ISLAND OF ANYPLACE and at Dorest Theatre Festival she directed ANANSI THE SPIDER & THE UNEXPECTED KNIGHT. She is the co-collaborator & co-director of Dreams on Stage which played in New York for the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the Children’s Aid Society. Her recent directing credits include: TROJAN WOMEN at Collective: Unconscious, THE CHOSEN WIFE at THE LOCAL at The Workshop, R.S.V.P. at the Westbank Café and The Workshop. She has worked with John Hickok on many projects including the Off-Broadway production of BURNING BLUE at the Samuel Beckett Theatre, BURNING BLUE at the Court Theatre in Los Angeles and RING A RING OF ROSY for the Harold Prince Musical Theatre Workshop. Additional directing credits include: INTO THE WOODS, WILD THING , PRELUDE & LEIBESTOD (Gallery Players), 7 URBAN SIGHTINGS (The Westbank Café), INFERNO the Opera (Manhattan School of Music), HISTORY OF WOMEN IN THEATRE (A.S.K. Common Ground Festival). She adapted and directed ANGEL AT THE GRAVE for The Directors Company. In television, she has worked extensively with Lily Tomlin, was the associate producer for the television pilot CRUSH for Film Roman Prods. She is on the governing council of the National Musical Theater Network. In life, one of her dreams is to help fight racism, sexism and discrimination everywhere.

Mark Katsaounis

Mark Katsaounis Dance Accompanist (Percussion)

Percussionist Mark Katsaounis has played in symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, steel bands, African drumming and dance groups, theatrical productions, and World Music Fusion groups. His diverse musical background has made him an in demand musician in New York City. Mark has performed with ensembles and musicians such as percussionist Glen Velez, Sheba Ensemble, Percussion Group/Cincinnati, Ethos Percussion Group, Orchestra of St. Lukes, Rhythm Vocalist Lori Cotler, Indian Dancer/Storyteller Rajika Puri, and Galeet Dardashti’s The Naming Project. His most recent collaboration is the percussion duo Limbs (http://limbsmusic.bandcamp.com/). Additionally, he has been heard on live television and radio broadcasts in the U.S and Mexico. An active modern dance accompanist, Mark can be heard creating music for dance at Marymount Manhattan College, The Ailey School, and American Ballet Theatre.Mark earned his BM in percussion from The Hartt School of Music and his MM in percussion from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Mark’s unique style fuses rhythmic traditions from Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Please visit Mark online at http://www.youtube.com/mkatsaounis.

Lee Lobenhofer

Lee Lobenhofer Acting Faculty

On Broadway- Cats- Growltiger, Grand Hotel- The Baron, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum- Miles Gloriosus, Shogun/ The Musical- Capt. Gen. Ferriera, I Married An Angel- PeterNational Tours-Cats- Growltiger, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (With Donny Osmond)-Ruben, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Music of the Night- Lead soloistOther Theaters- The Guthrie Theater, The Old Globe Theater, Williamsburg Theater Festival, Goodspeed Opera, Burt Reynold's Jupiter Theater and many others including many Off-Broadway and Off Off Broadway shows.A variety of Movies and TV including 3 Saturday Night Lives, many commercials and Sydney Lumet's PowerTeaching-Lee has been teaching acting for 12 years at LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts. He has also taught acting at The University of Illinois, Penn State University and The Guthrie Theater. He taught and directed at The Creative Arts summer program in NYC for 7 years.As a performance coach he has coached performances in the Broadway shows- Joe Egg, Pillow Man and August Osage County as well as countless auditions.Directing-For LaGuardia H.S. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest-2011 Noises Off- 2010Orpheus Descending- 2009Dracula- 2008The Song of Bernadette- 2006The Laramie Project- 2005Godspell- 2002Rising Stars- A yearly all school original variety show A Kharmic Footprint....2011, Silver Linings…2010, Inspired By…-2009, The Creation of Hope- 2008, I Am New York-2007, To A Different Drummer- 2006, All The World’s A Stage- 2005, A Tribute to 9/11- 2001Studio- Bury The Dead, Alice in Wonderland, Flowers for Algernon, For Whom the Southern Bell Tolls, Death Takes a Holiday, The Miss Firecracker Contest, Short Eyes, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Suddenly Last Summer, Uncommon Women and Other Strangers, The Killing of Sister George, Young Frankenstein, In the Boom Boom Room and many others. For Creative Arts Summer Program N.Y.C.- The Wiz-2009 Seussical- 2008 Little Shop of Horrors-2007 School House Rock-2006 Joseph/ Dreamcoat-2005 Honk-2004 Once On This Island-2003Professional-Don Quixote- 2005 -La Hora del Cuento en Queens

Heather LoSchiavo

Heather LoSchiavo Acting/Movement Faculty Teen Conservatory Director

Heather LoSchiavo is an accomplished producer, director, choreographer, master teacher and performer in NYC, LA and abroad. Currently, Heather is the Director of the Musical Theatre and Teen Acting Conservatory Programs atThe Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre in NYC and the Managing Director at The Broadway Training Center of Westchester. Both Non-for-Profit organizations dedicated to the enrichment and education of young people.Her experience in the professional world of entertainment has informed her teaching style, blending philosophies and technique to form an organic and impulsive way to train performers. Heather is also on faculty at PPAS (Professional Performing Arts School) and The Caymichael Patten Studio for adult professionals. Her professional students of all ages have been seen on Broadway, listened to on the Radio, featured on numerous TV shows, films andcommercials.Performed: The Clark Studio Space/Lincoln Center, Dixon Place, The 92nd Street Y, BAM, Walt Whitman Theatre/Brooklyn College, ATA, The Gene Frankel Theatre, The Trilogy, Producers Club, NADA, Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, Carnegie Hall, Caramoor Center for Music and Arts, and The Cathedral of Saint John The Divine. Company work: Walk The Plank, I Guillari di Piazza, Contemporary Dance Theatre of NY, The Bouncing Gingers, and Jonathan NYC.Choreography: In The Mirror (Uglyproductions/film), Mazur Children’s Rep., BTC, French Woods Festival, and MTV. Produced: Straight ForWard (film/Saige Belle productions), The American Theatre, Classic Stage (CSC), and Chicago City Limits. Recent Film credits: Sheltered (featured on the Chiller network 2010), Echo’s (Independent film award winner), The Session, Reverse, and You Fit The Description. Television: ABC, NBC, HBO. Voice Over/Scratch: Pampers, Jello, Playtex, and US magazine. Worked: The Public Theater & The New Victory Theater, NYC.Professional Theatre Training: Caymichael Patten, Richard Niles, Rod McLucus, Susan Riskin, Pat Hoag-Simon, Jim Seymour, Lisa Norman, Bob Vorlicky, Gordon Farrell, and Irma Nevero. She has additionally trained with educator’s who have affiliations with such theatres as: The Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Signature Theatre Company, The Women's Project, The Second Stage Theatre, Jean Cocteau Repertory Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, Circle Repertory Company, Playwright's Horizons, American Place Theatre, and The Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Heather holds a BFA in Acting from Marymount Manhattan College (MMC) and is also a proud graduate and alumni-member of The Neighborhood Playhouse JR School.Professional Movement Training: Dance Educators of America, Dance Masters of America, Luigi, Frank Hatchett, Phil Black, Joe Lanteri, Gus Giordano, Suzi Taylor (Jazz Studies) Finis Jung, David Howard, Katie Lagan (Classical Ballet), Lisa Hopkins of Tap Kids (Tap), Maher Benham of Coyote Dancers and the Graham School (Graham Technique), Diane McCarthy (Simonson Technique), Rebecca Vernooy (Authentic Movement), Bachelor of Arts (BA) 4-year danceprogram participant MMC.She is a founding member of Focal Point Aid, a non-for profit organization, helping education systems in crisis. Currently working on projects in Perquien, El Salvador and Coffee Bay, South Africa.
HLO Teacher shot.jpg

David Madore

David John Madore Musical Director

THIS PAGE IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED. CHECK BACK SOON!

Nicole Riche

Nicole Riche Dance Faculty

THIS PAGE IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED.CHECK BACK SOON!

Steven Silverstein

Steve Silverstein Musical Director

Steven has worked as a music director, pianist, vocal coach, composer in the U.S. and Europe.Steven works regularly with Broadway veterans including John Treacy Egan and Neva Small; TV celebrities such as Martha Stewart, John Stamos, Dark Shadows’ Nancy Barrett and the cast of Will and Grace’s (Debra Messing, Sean Hayes, Eric McCormack, Megan Mullally and Harry Connick, Jr.). He acted as pianist and/or music director/arranger/copyist for composers Charles Strouse (Annie) and Jerry Herman (Mame).Steven has played keyboards in the pits of such Broadway shows as Blood Brothers, Swinging on a Star, and most recently, Promises Promises and played rehearsal piano for Broadway’s All Shook Up. Steven was the onstage pianist for the TV show Gossip Girl. Off Broadway he has been involved with such shows as MTC’s The Green Heart, When Pigs Fly, A Child’s Garden, St. Barts’ How To Succeed In Business…, That’s Life and Eating Raoul.Steven has been the pianist for the annual Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention for Will and Anthony Nunziata. Steven received a MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs) nomination for the songs The Path You Choose and A Strong Wind written with actress Ruth Williamson and sung by Bistro Award winner Gretchen Reinhagen. Most recently, Steven served as music director for Mamma Mia’s Annie Edgerton at the Duplex. He has played piano for the infamous After Party hosted by Brandon Cutrell. Steven has also played piano for ballet classes at Broadway Dance Center for Broadway performer (West Side Story) Liane Plane.Steven’s music is featured on the CD’s Quel Fromage, Count The Stars and On Christmas Morning. Steven is the composer of the musical The Human Heart, (with lyricist Michael Colby) which debuted at Marymount Manhattan College and received a grant from The Billy Rose Foundation. His musical, (with book writer/lyricist Blake Hackler) The Boss In the Satin Kimono, was presented as part of the 2009 Fringe Festival. In 2010, Steven contributed Capture A Queen, with lyrics by Blake Hackler to the Midtown International Theater Festival and won an award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics. Steven has written songs for Diary of A Dancer by Wade Dooley, which has been presented at the Bridge Theater in NYC.Steven is the published composer of two holiday shows for children (One Magic Christmas and The Adventures of the First Easter Bunny), available through Encore Performance Publishing, with original orchestrations.Steven’s songs have been sung by Broadway performers PJ Benjamin (Wicked), Carolee Carmello (Mamma Mia), and Ruth Williamson (White Christmas) among others. His songs have debuted and presented as part of the Songbook Series – Arts and Artists at Lincoln Center hosted by John Znidarsic.Steven is the creator of “Fearless Audition”, an audition master class which he has presented in Washington, Arizona, The Hamptons and Florida. Steven is featured in Voice Teachers and Vocal Coaches of New York: The One and Only Guide. Steven is currently on the faculty of the Neighborhood Playhouse Junior School, as well as AMDA. He holds an MA in Music Education from NYU and BA in Theater and BS in Finance from The University of Bridgeport.

Saturday Program

We offer classes in Singing, Dancing and Acting

for children and young adults in grades 1 through 12.

All classes are held on Saturday mornings from September to April.

First semester is always September - January.

Second semster is always January - April.

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Students take three classes

(Acting or Creative Drama, Singing and Dance) each Saturday.

Grades 1 - 2 take 60 minutes of creative drama, 45 minutes of dance

and 30 minutes of singing.

Grades 3 and 4 take 60 minutes of creative drama, 60 minutes of dance

and 45 minutes of singing.

Grades 5- 8 take 90 minutes of acting, 60 minutes of dance,

and 50 minutes of singing.

Grades 9-12 (Teen Conservatory) take 2 hours of acting, 60 minutes of dance OR

movement for the actor and 60 minutes of singing OR voice and diction.

Summer Program

SUMMER AT THE PLAYHOUSE!

Emerging Artists Teen Conservatory in Acting or Musical Theatre

Age 8 to 13 Ages 14 and up

Professional group classes

Acting, Dance and Voice

Workshops by theatre professionals

Teachers are mature adults who know the business of theatre and how to teach kids in a positive, supportive environment

Diverse group of students

Explore basic techniques & terminology

Have a fun summer in NYC!

Make new friends!

WEEK 1

July 16th - July 20th

Emerging Artists

Teen Acting Intensive

WEEK 2

July 23rd - July 27th

Emerging Artists

Teen Acting Intensive

WEEK 3

July 30th - August 3rd

Emerging Artists

Teen Acting Intensive

Teen Musical Theatre

CONTACT

PLAYHOUSEJUNIORS_GMAIL.COM

for Registration and Tuition Information

Registration and Tuition

REGISTRATION

An interview is required for all prospective students. Please be aware that placement depends largely on availability and spots fill quickly. You may click on the 'Contact Us' button to the left to arrange a meeting with the Director .

TUITION

Grades 2 - 4.. $325/semester of 13 classes

Grades 5 - 8...$325/semester of 13 classes

Grades 9 - 12...$399/semester of 13 classes

There is a one-time $30 supplies fee

2011-2012 Calendar SEPTEMBERSeptember 17: Regular Classes and Scene Study BeginOCTOBEROctober 8: Yom Kippur- No ClassesOctober 29: VISITING DAY- Class Observation PermittedNOVEMBERNovember 26: Thanksgiving Recess- No ClassesDECEMBERDecember 17: HOLIDAY SHARING – special schedule andscene study presentationsDecember 24: Christmas Eve- No ClassesDecember 31: New Year’s Eve- No ClassesJANUARYJanuary 7: Last Day of Fall SemesterJanuary 14: First Day of the Spring SemesterFEBRUARYFebruary 11: VISITING DAY- Class Observation PermittedFebruary 18: President’s Weekend- No ClassesMARCHMarch 10: Early Bird Registration Deadline for Summer Camp!March 17: St. Patrick’s Day- No ClassesAPRILApril 7: Easter Weekend- No ClassesApril 21: Deposit of $100 due for Fall 2011 semesterApril 28: Last Day of Spring Semester- VISITING DAYMAY - JUNELook for Fall 2012 registration form online!JULY- AUGUSTJuly 1: Registration Forms and balances due from returningstudents. After this date, returning students may register on aspace-available basis.SUMMER CAMP
Map and Directions

We are located at:

340 East 54th StreetNew York, NY 10022Tel: + 1 212 688 3770Email: playhousejuniors_gmail.com
Contact Us

Please fill out the form below to send an inquiry to Junior School Director, Kat Drinane Davis:

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