Broadway in the Berkshires at Jacob's Pillow
BECKET, Mass. – The third annual A Jazz Happening, a popular Festival event that celebrates the energetic punch and enduring style of jazz and musical theatre dance with all-new choreography, guest Broadway stars, and stars-in-training, will take place in the Ted Shawn Theatre August 23. This one-night-only benefit for The School at Jacob’s Pillow features participants from the Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance Program singing and dancing alongside an exciting lineup of Broadway artists who have performed in shows such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Singin’ In The Rain, Company, A Chorus Line, Dreamgirls, The Producers, The Color Purple, and The Sound Of Music. Directed by Chet Walker, conceiver of the Tony Award-winning hit Fosse and director of the Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance Program, A Jazz Happening is the culmination of the students’ rigorous training in jazz dance, ballet, body conditioning, vocal coaching and rehearsing newly-developed work.
All proceeds from this event go to support The School at Jacob’s Pillow, one of the most prestigious professional dance training centers in the U.S.
This year’s show, which features works created during the three-week Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance program, is presented in honor of former Pillow alumnus and Pillow faculty member Jonathan Phelps, a resident of Becket, Mass. who passed away in January of 2009 at the age of 42. As a dancer and choreographer, Phelps spent many years touring with the acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and performing in numerous off-Broadway and regional theatre productions.
His relationship with Jacob’s Pillow spanned 20 years and most recently he served as rehearsal assistant and instructor for the Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance Program at The School. Contributions received in Phelps honor this year enabled Jacob’s Pillow to provide a full scholarship in his name to Chad Riter, now attending the 2009 Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance Program. A fund established by WALKDERDANCE, co-founded by Phelps, will make it possible for a dancer to annually attend the Pillow’s School on full scholarship.
For more information on the dancers of the Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance program and Jacob’s Pillow, visit www.jacobspillow.org.
