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A group of students in musical theater early 20th century-style costumes singing together.

Train with experts in preparation for your performing arts career

The UCLA Musical Theater Summer Institute is a three-week intensive, conservatory-style program for high school musical theater students encompassing acting, singing, dancing, and guest workshops which culminates in a final showcase. Students will also be introduced to the technical aspects of theater through master classes as it is an essential component of the learning process.

The program is designed for high school students completing grades 9 through 12 who have a serious interest in musical theater and who seek the discipline and training required for participation in a university theater program and a career in the performing arts.

Fees and Payment Info

The program fee includes the unit fees for the UCLA coursework offered as part of the program and thus varies by UC student status. In addition to the program fee, students are assessed other campus and administrative fees during the summer. This is a summary of fees that commonly apply to the selected student type.

Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California. Visit the fees, payment, and financial aid section for important disclaimer, as well as more details on fees, payment instructions, and information on delinquency, refunds, and financial aid.

 

Program Fee $6,475
Registration Fee $350
IEI Fee $61
Document Fee (for first-time Summer Sessions students) $50

Meet your instructors

Jeff Maynard

Professor

Jeff Maynard (Director) has been an active member of the Los Angeles theatre community for over 20 years. Recent directing work includes – LA Times Critic’s Choice Good People at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and Musical Theatre West’s The Music Man, starring Davis Gaines at The Carpenter Center in Long Beach. Other shows of his include Broadway Bound, Boeing Boeing, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife starring Marilu Henner, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – all at La Mirada, Tales of Tinseltown– at the Actor’s Co-op, and Dave Rossmer & Dan Lipton’s new musical Shoot! Cut! Print! Kill! Die!. He collaborated with Jason Robert Brown on a new, revised version of 13, and directed a musical half-hour pilot presentation for ABC television’s “Rated P for Parenthood.”

As a professor, Maynard previously taught musical theater at USC and directed their “Spring at the Bing” musical – Grease. He is most proud to be a founding member of UCLA Alumni’s Buffalo Nights Theatre Company, having directed, acted, or produced over 15 productions. He won a Drama-Logue Award for The Firebugs, a Backstage West award for The Apollo of Bellac and LA Weekly’s Revival Production of the Year award for Modigliani. As an actor, Maynard appeared in the First National Tour of Lost In Yonkers and TV appearances on “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”, “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and “Diagnosis Murder.” He runs the theatre program at the Mirman School, holds a BA in Theatre from UCLA, and teaches private acting classes throughout Los Angeles.

Dana Solimando

Choreographer

DANA SOLIMANDO (Choreographer) Is thrilled to be working at UCLA again after recently choreographing the world premier of REBEL GENIUS! Other credits include: CABARET for McCoyRigby Entertainment (2019 Ovation and LA Drama Critics Circle nominations- Best Choreography), AMERICAN IDIOT (2016 Ovation Nom), Disney’s THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, RENT, THE ADDAM’S FAMILY (starring Rachael York and Bronson Pinchot), BILLY ELLIOT (2015 LA Drama Critics Circle Award nomination), RAGTIME (2015 Ovation Award Nom), PARADE (2103 Ovation Award Nom), DAMN YANKEES (2014 Ovation Award Nom), HAIRSPRAY, ALL SHOOK UP, SWING! (2004 and 2006 L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Awards- Best Choreography). MISS SAIGON at the Macau International Arts Festival/ McCoy Rigby Entertainment (2012 Ovation nomination- Best Choreography), JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR national tour (NAACP Theatre Award nomination). Other Favorites: LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, HAIR, and THE WIZARD OF OZ (Sacramento Music Circus), LITTLE MISS SCROOGE (world premiere), SPRING AWAKENING, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, OLIVER!, BUDDY. Dana also serves as Director / Choreographer (and helped bring from screen to stage) the beloved American classic
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER-THE MUSICAL. The show touts ten National Tours as well as successful runs at Madison Square Garden and The Grand Ole Opry. She is also the co-writer/director/choreographer for MAESTRO and ROUTE 66 on Crystal Cruise Lines. Broadway performing Credits include Peter Pan (Tiger Lilyalso filmed for A&E), Cats (Rumpleteazer), and Swing! (West Coast and Country featured dancer). www.danasolimando.com

Paul Kay

Musical Director

Paul Kay earned his B.M. in Instrumental and Choral Education from Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University in Chicago and continued his education at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, Cal State University in Los Angeles, and the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Paul resides in Palm Springs, CA and is currently the music director at Palm Valley School in Rancho Mirage. As former head of the Mirman School Music Department, Paul developed and implemented creative music and arts programs for highly gifted students. He has been an active music educator for over 20 years. He taught general music classes, choral groups, instrumental ensembles, and musical directed over 20 fully staged musicals which included Grease, The Boyfriend, Annie, Once Upon a Mattress, Alice in Wonderland, Seussical, The Drowsy Chaperone, My Fair Lady, Oliver, Damn Yankees, Little Shop of Horrors, Kiss Me Kate, Hello Dolly, Fiddler on the Roof, The Music Man, Beauty and the Beast, to name a few.

As a well-recognized choral director, music educator and musical director, Paul attended the Orff Schulwerk International Symposium on Music in Salzburg, Austria, participated in the American Orff Schulwerk Association and American Choral Directors Association regional and national conferences, and prepared choral groups for the California Association for Gifted Conferences. He travelled to South Africa to teach music and dance for the Global Buddies program in the township of Mfuleni near Cape Town. The program was sponsored by Women for Peace – an organization helping South African women build better lives for themselves and their children. Paul has prepared vocal ensembles and musical groups for special engagements including: To Life! America Celebrates Israel’s 50th – a variety special honoring the State of Israel’s 50th Anniversary with a special recognition from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Vice-President Al Gore, and the Conservation International 10th Annual Fundraiser – an event hosted by Discovery Channel Animal Planet, Jeff Corwin. Paul has also prepared vocal groups to sing the national anthem for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Lakers. Paul was a quarterfinalist for the 2018 Grammy Music Educator Award.

In addition to his many years of teaching, Paul has enjoyed being a working musician and performer. Paul began singing, dancing, playing flute and piano at a young age. Professional highlights include performances in regional and summer stock theatre at Seaside Music Theatre, Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki Japan, Michigan Opera Theatre, and the Canadian Opera Company. He has also sung with the Angeles Chorale, Chanticleer and the Sonoma Choral Workshop, and the Detroit Symphony Chorus. Paul played flute in West Coast Duo, Colburn Flute Choir, Pacific Palisades Symphony and made his Detroit Orchestra Hall debut prior to touring England and Wales as guest flute soloist with the Wayne State University Chamber Singers. Paul has worked with James Galway, Vittorio Grigolo, Joan Sutherland, Cleo Layne, Judy Kaye, Rebecca Luker, and even Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Paul is also focusing on his cabaret act. He has performed in New York at The Metropolitan Room and the Mark Janas Salon. In Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley, Paul’s cabaret act has taken him to such fun places as the Gardenia Club, Melvyn’s Ingleside Inn, AJ’s on the Green, Tropicale Supper Club, PS Underground, and the Arthur Newman Theatre. In Paul’s spare time, he plays piano as a music therapist for patients at the Palm Springs Desert Regional Medical Center and Rancho Mirage Eisenhower Memory Care Facility. This is Paul’s second year as Musical Director at UCLA’s Musical Theater Summer Institute. He looks forward to working with the talented high school students this summer.