Synopsis:

What does it take to train a musical theatre performer in one of the most competitive programs in the world? Find out what it takes with Professor Jason DeBord from the Department of Musical Theatre at The University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance. You’ll learn about the unique curriculum that prepares actor-singer-dancers for the highly competitive industry of musicals in theatre, television and film, have an opportunity to understand the nuts and bolts of interpreting a golden age musical theatre song, and engage in a short Q and A.

Speaker Bio:

Jason DeBord has recently served as Music Director for Chess at the St. Louis MUNY. He was resident music supervisor for both the Broadway and World Tour productions of Once - The Musical. Broadway conducting credits include the original productions of Shrek, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Rock of Ages, Legally Blonde, All Shook Up, and Rent. Other New York credits include Bare – The Musical, Fat Camp, Bat Boy – The Musical, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, City Center Encores!, and countless developmental productions of new works. DeBord played and conducted the national tours of A Chorus Line, Rent, and Urinetown – The Musical. Regionally, he has worked at The MUNY, the Old Globe Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, A.C.T., the Alliance Theater, and the 5th Avenue Theater. DeBord is an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Michigan Department of Musical Theatre. He also served as Music Director for the musical theatre studio at the Trentino Music Festival in the Primiero Valley of Italy for four years. He is an avid traveler and amateur gastronome.