WAAPA to host International Music Theatre conference

To coincide with the 30th Anniversary of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)'s respected Music Theatre Course, Perth will host the 2015 Conference for the Musical Theatre Educators’ Alliance (MTEA).

Themed Australasian Overtures, this will be the first conference that MTEA will have ever held in the Southern Hemisphere.

While WAAPA’s Alumni include internationally celebrated artists such as Hugh Jackman, Tim Minchin, Lisa McCune, Eddie Perfect and Lucy Durack, graduates of its Music Theatre Department are employed in every major commercial musical throughout Australasia.

Commenting on WAAPA hosting the 2015 MTEA event, Jackman stated "having been fortunate enough to work in musical theatre all over the world, I know the value of learning from other performers/directors from different cultures, with different approaches. What a great idea to get Music Theatre students, professionals, and educators together in the one place at the one time."

The MTEA’s annual conference brings together musical theatre educators from all over the world to share ideas about curriculum, recruitment, production, and professional placement. 

It is also an opportunity to unite the Alliance with the key professional theatre artists in their respective fields with the Conference focusing on building bridges and broadening horizons for musical theatre across all languages and cultures, with a special focus on Asia. 

Australasian Overtures will offer presentations, workshops, discussions, and entertainment of interest to teachers of acting, singing, dance and voice, and will feature key Australian and International educators and artists.

Conference patron Ben Elton added “as a Writer and Director both in Australia and the UK I am always delighted when I see WAAPA graduates appear at auditions, they are invariably talented, enthusiastic and wonderfully trained. 

"Living in Fremantle ... I am fortunate that I get to see WAAPA student shows and never cease to be impressed by the high professional standards achieved by all departments. 

"Great theatre careers begin with great training which is why I believe it is highly appropriate that WAAPA is hosting this important conference and I am proud to be its patron.” 

The Conference will be held at Edith Cowan University's Mt Lawley Campus from 20th to 23rd June 2015.

Further information go to www.mteducators.org