APO Arts Academy Open Day Today

 The APO Arts Academy in South Melbourne, Victoria, was established in 1987 and provides its students with industry focused, vocational training in the areas of Musical Theatre, Acting and Dance.

The APO Arts Academy in South Melbourne, Victoria, was established in 1987 and provides its students with industry focused, vocational training in the areas of Musical Theatre, Acting and Dance.
The Musical Theatre department offers a 2 year full-time and 1 year part-time course for students wishing to enter the professional Performing Arts Industry, or advance their current skills before pursuing tertiary studies.  The academy’s Open Day 2011 is on Saturday 19th November 2011, visitors have the opportunity to see the students in action and speak directly to department staff. APO Academy’s home is the Dance World Studios at 301 Bank Street, South Melbourne.   All courses offered by the academy have a strong practical curriculum, with an emphasis on the refinement of technique and performance skills. Students are afforded a number of public performance opportunities throughout their course of study, (including a Graduation Showcase for invited industry guests/agents), and receive hour-long private singing lessons with department singing teachers weekly. As well as rigorous studio-based training in Acting, Singing and Dance, students also study allied units including: History of Musical Theatre, Keyboard Skills, Music Theory, Movement for Actors, Stage Combat, Accent & Dialect and Voice. Regular masterclasses and industry lectures are conducted by guests including: Marina Prior (Mary Poppins)Caroline O’Connor (Chicago)Sharon Millerchip (Love Never Dies) Mitchel Butel (The Mikado)Verity Hunt-Ballard (Mary Poppins)Tamsin Carroll (Oliver, London/Aus.) Robyn Arthur (Beauty & the Beast) Stuart Maunder (Director, Opera Australia)Terence O’Connell (Director) John Bucchino (Composer, NYC) David Young (Musical Director, Wicked)Anne-Maree McDonald (Vocal Coach, Musical Director)Mark Gogoll (Agent) Lynne Ruthven (Casting Director)Kim Bishop (Costume Designer)Ben Osborne (Assoc. Choreographer, Miss Saigon)Yvette Lee (Res. Choreographer, Rock of Ages)Debbie Phyland (Speech Pathologist) Megan D’Arcy (TV/Film Casting Director) Annie Strauch (Physiotherapist, Performance Medicine Aus.). Graduates of the Musical Theatre department have gone on to higher education studies in Musical Theatre at institutions including WAAPA, or have worked, or are currently working professionally in: Wicked, High School Musical, Mary Poppins, Rock of Ages, Love Never Dies, Kismet,The King & I, The Ten Tenors, Cats, Guys & Dolls, Chicago, Anyone Can Whistle, Hello, Dolly!, Sugar and Hairspray. An Audition Tour to Australia’s major cities, as well as Auckland & Wellington NZ for all courses in 2012, commenced in November 2011. Visit apoartsacademy.com for more information