Utah can feel like a million miles away from New York — the center of the theater universe.
SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem is working to bridge that gap by hosting a musical theater workshop called "Take It From the Top," on July 6. It will be taught by Paul Canaan, co-founder of Take It From the Top and a Broadway performer.
The workshop is limited to the first 150 registrants, ages 8 to 22. It will be held at the SCERA Center for the Arts, 745 S. State, Orem, from 1-4:30 p.m. The workshop is $65 and the audition master class is $50 ($105 for both classes.) You may register at the theater or call 801-225-2787, ext. 1017.
"There is a huge need for arts education," Canaan said in a phone interview while walking his dog through Central Park. "These kids want to have a link to Broadway, and they want to be part of it somehow."
"Take It From the Top" is a workshop designed to teach the basics of musical theater: dancing, singing and acting — as well as the mastering the infamous audition.
Canaan was one of the judges on MTV's "Legally Blonde: The Search for the Next Elle Woods" and has worked on Broadway in "Legally Blonde," "Miss Saigon," "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "La Cage aux Folles," among others.
"I went to BYU, and my dad taught there," he said. "But I mostly grew up in San Francisco, and I only lived in Provo for a year and a half."
During his final semester, he auditioned for "Miss Saigon" when the Broadway company held auditions in Salt Lake City. "I got the show, and two weeks later I was off to New York. That was in 2000," he said, "and I've been doing eight shows a week ever since."
Ready for a change of pace, Canaan and Laura Bell Bundy, star of "Legally Blonde," created "Take It From the Top" as a way to reach out to kids. "Our first workshop, we had over 100 kids all there and screaming," he said, "it's been so great."
Bundy won't be joining Canaan in Orem as she's committed to a weeklong run of "Legally Blonde" in her home town of Nashville.
But he's not coming alone. He's bringing casting director Megan Larche, who cast the revival of "A Chorus Line," "The Lion King" and the film version of "Hairspray."
"She's going to be taking headshots and resumes; she'll be a great resource. And it's a great experience to be seen in front of a casting director," Canaan said.
"People always think that it's going to happen in New York," he added, "but it's a casting director's dream to pluck undiscovered talent and bring them to Broadway."
In addition to Larche and Canaan, the workshop will also feature actor and vocalist Dave Barrus, who was in "Les Miserables" and "Chess in Concert" with Josh Groban.
"Megan will do the acting coaching class, I'll be teaching dances from 'Legally Blonde' and maybe 'Millie,' " Canaan said, "and Dave will teach them to sing and listen to solos."
The trio will also host a question-and-answer session. "They can expect amazingness," Canaan said, laughing.
SCERA has already filled the slots for the audition master class, but there is currently a waiting list, and should there be enough interest, the three Broadway professionals will offer another class on July 7.
Canaan said participants should come prepared with a song, dance clothes and headshots and resumes, if possible.
"Mostly, they should just come ready to learn and have a good time. We'd love to build a bridge from Utah to Broadway."
E-mail: ehansen@desnews.com