The PLAYMAKERS PRESCHOOL DRAMA and the SUPERSTARS DRAMA PROGRAM were founded by the actress/singer/teaching artist Kimbirdlee. The programs are a fantastic way to provide students with the much needed outlet for creative, personal growth and community-building through the performing arts. The skills and talents learned through this drama program infuse young people with confidence and talents that can carry them far in life, no matter what field they go into. They will learn acting, singing, speech and dancing techniques during every session that will culminate in the opportunities to perform for live audiences. They will strengthen their voices, bodies and minds and find new discoveries every day. We cater to each students' needs and desires and make sure everyone is having fun and feeling safe, while also emphasizing the power of taking risks, believing in yourself and supporting others. Through this creative process, students learn that hard work pays off and gain a sense of accomplishment along with friendship bonds that last forever!
There are programs to fit every educational setting - from public after-school programs, in-school residencies, special event workshops, classes in performing arts institutions and theatre companies, and private one-on-one or group instruction. There is also an exciting option in which the students actually write and perform their own show.
PROGAM INFO:
PLAYMAKERS PRESCHOOL & PREK Drama Program
An innovative introductory class for young budding actors looking to play and create in a nourishing, confidence building environment. Building upon the natural born talent of play-acting, we teach them enriched story-telling through speech chracterization, singing. dance, puppetry, costumery and, of course, comedy. The actors engage in real plays, scenes and songs that they help create! (Class time 45 mins)
Playmakers even have their own theme song! THE PLAYMAKERS SONG
This class is currently offered on Roosevelt Island. For info: www.mstda.org
SUPERSTARS Drama Program with Kimbirdlee
These classes are custom designed for each age group (Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8). We continue our curriculum with acting, singing, speech, story-telling and dancing in the form of theatre games, shows, scenes, songs, and performances. For those more artistically minded, they will be encouraged to delve into the design aspects of theatre, such as costumes, set and prop design, and creating posters and programs. They will have opportunities for community out-reach, performances and staged shows.
(Class time from 1 - 3 hrs)
Class Focus Options:
1. An ongoing exploration and training in the theatre arts, with no specific performance. May have an informal showcase at the end of the session. [Examples are inviting family and friends to an open class, a kiddie cabaret, an informal performance, etc...]
2. Selecting a musical or play and rehearsing and performing it. [Examples are "Seussical the Musical", "Annie", "Shrek", "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown", Christmas Pageants, Holiday Programs, etc...]
3. Selecting a brand new musical or theatrical show that fits the group, rehearsing and performing it. Students have the unique experience of premiering a new work. [Examples are musicals written as commissions for our program by current composers and writers]
4. Engaging the students in the complete creative process of writing a show from scratch. The students come up with the story, the lyrics, the music, the style, etc. This culminates in a performance of something completely original! [Examples are original musicals by 5th Graders at PS217: "If I Were the President" & "Our World's Got Talent"]
Session Format Options:
A. Semester long, in-school residency (or shorter/longer)
B. Semester or Year long, after-school program
C. Semester long class (afternoons or weekends)
D. A Workshop (ex. PreK Special Event or a Performing Arts Center Event)
E. Private sessions for any amount of students
Classes, workshops, rehearsals and events are led by Kimbirdlee, along with her creative team of professional actors, musicians, composers, writers and teaching artists. The outstanding creative team has over 10 years of experience with drama, specifically musical theatre, education and production of performances.
Please contact us at kimbirdlee@gmail.com for costs and more information
for the program/s you are interested in. THANK YOU!!!
Kimbirdlee Fadner graduated with honors from Mills College in Music: Vocal Performance and Dance, where she founded of the Millismas Opera Club. She continued her training in acting, voice, musical theatre and dance at the American Conservatory Theatre (ACT-SF) in San Francisco. Kimbirdlee embraces the opportunity to develop and promote arts education and share her love for the arts with children and people of all ages. She worked for several years with Berkeley Playhouse as a professional actor and teaching artist. In 2014, she founded “Superstars”, a drama program for children, at Kon Gen International Preschool in which she created original music, stories, art and choreography. She now offers this program as the “PLAYMAKERS PRESCHOOL DRAMA PROGRAM” and the “SUPERSTARS DRAMA PROGRAM”. Kimbirdlee also serves as a director/music director/teaching artist throughout NYC, including Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance, Queens Theatre, American Dance & Drama, in the NYC Public School System, and through private lessons. It is her mission to encourage everyone to follow their dreams and she strives to instill her belief that everyone is an inspired creative being!
Kimbirdlee founded Common Man Musicals (CMM) with her husband, Jonathan Fadner. CMM’s mission is to promote new musical theatre. They are partnered with Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance and produce musicals and cabarets through the year. Stage credits include Made in China (59E59, NYC), Enjoy the Ride (National Asian Artists Project, NYC), Working (SF-ACT), The Tempest (Marin Shakes), Berkeley Playhouse (Main Stage actor & featured aerial dancer), and cabaret performances at 54-Below, Sardi’s, NYU & MSTDA. She’s also lead singer in the band DeLaMuse, as well as Artist-In-Residence for PECB who tours the midwest with a Pops-style concert series.
Kimbirdlee also specializes in a modern version of Chinese Brush Painting, depicting dynamic works that draw inspiration from Asian mythology, symbolism, spirituality and nature. She paints with watercolor on handmade rice paper. Her work has been shown nationwide.
Jonathan Fadneris a composer, arranger, music director, teacher, and rock'n'roller who grew up in Southern California. He is a teaching artist that specializes in helping groups of any size, both in the classroom and privately, write their own theater pieces and music. He has a music degree with honors from UC Berkeley, and a Masters of Fine Arts from NYU Tisch in Musical Theater Writing. His work has been produced by Barrington Stage Company, National Asian Artists Project (NYC), Main Street Theater and Dance Alliance, 23 Elephants, and many other companies. His songs have been heard in such venues as 54 below, Don't Tell Mamma's, Sardi's, The Duplex, and other cabaret spots in New York City. His new musicals "The Unspeakable Act" won 2016 Best of Fringe in SF. His new musical "Northanger Abbey" is currently being produced by Washington DC theatre company and Common Man Musicals. He has had his classical music performed at several colleges, choral groups, and choruses. Jonathan's arrangements and orchestrations have been heard at San Francisco Playhouse, Berkeley Playhouse, MSTDA, and several other venues. Jonathan also teaches piano, guitar, songwriting, composition, and is a freelance music director. Jonathan gives all the credit for everything he does to his loving wife Kim, whom he runs the theater company Common Man Musicals, and whom without, nothing could get done.
Ed Pierce is Director/Conductor/Vocalist from Fort Atkinson, WI with over 35 years experience in the musical field. He is the winner of the 2011 John Philip Sousa Foundation's Award and the 2014 Bandmaster of the Year Award. Here are Ed's off the cuff comments on Common Man Musicals and their recent production of "You Can Always Come Home", a cabaret of new musical theatre. Ed:First let me address your WONDERFUL cabaret: When I think of the audience that comes to a cabaret, they are looking for fresh, original material coupled with exciting talent: clearly this is the case with “You Can Always Come Home Cabaret”!
You have assembled a great ensemble coupled with Jonathan’s amazing talent for composition.
“Sandwich”, “Spiders”, and “Shut Up” are great fun coupled with contrasting social issues like “I Don’t Want”. And of course there's the heartfelt feelings of your title song “You Can Always Come Home". (see videos) Kudos go to you and Jonathan and the whole team at Common Man Musicals.
Ed: Question: does your performance team stay together? Are you always recruiting?
Kimbirdlee: We've had 2 productions so far and the cast for each production was about 10 actors. 3 of the actors from last summer’s “Four One Act Musicals” (Thomas Slater, Kaitlyn Abdul and Kimbirdlee Fadner) were also in "You Can Always Come Home". We invited a few of our professional friends/colleagues from the NYU-Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, and then we wanted to include more of the talent that has grown up on Roosevelt Island and is connected with Main St. Theatre & Dance Alliance. Our intention is to have a core group but to continue to recruit new talent all the time! Sometimes we hold auditions that are open to the public, and sometimes (mostly for the cabarets) we will invite folks to join us. Our challenge is widening our audience base beyond our own circles, but we can do that by consistently producing quality shows.
MSTDA and Common Man Musicals are launching a “You Can Always Come Home” Cabaret series that will take place every other month now. Our next one is Saturday, June 17th. We are also producing one annual full length musical, which is scheduled for the first weekend of August! We welcome any chance to get the word out about anything to do with new musical theatre!
Ed: Does Jonathan write for each performer?
Kimbirdlee: As the composer, Jonathan usually collaborates with a writer either to write a full show or single songs or short musicals, not usually with a specific actor in mind. That said, he has written many songs and roles that are in my range and I have the honor of workshopping them, recording demos, and performing them. I have a true love for developing new works and cherish every project!
He is developing a full length musical, "Northanger Abbey", that will be produced in August. He knows who will be singing a couple of those parts, so he will try to emphasize their particular strengths - which is so awesome for actors to have something made to fit them, rather than trying to mold themselves into something written for someone else!
Ed: Do you put music into place and THEN seek out the talent to pull it off?
Kimbirdlee: When we organized this cabaret, we had an idea of who we wanted, then put the song list together and fit actors to songs. We always have more actors than we could ever fit into a night, so that's not a problem. One thing that I loved about "You Can Always Come Home" is that even though there were 7 women, we each were unique and covered the spectrum of "types" and weren't competing but rather highlighting each other and supporting each other! I LOVE THAT!!! The Common Women have such a great time together! I'm all about individuality in artistry, which is hard in this business when auditions are often about trying to fit actors into a very specific type.
Ed: Allow me a comment: In my humble opinion, you and Jonathan are on the front lines of growing the arts with fresh material, not being afraid to experiment and push boundaries. The Cabaret format seems to be an ideal one to do so. I offer in contrast Disney: they are about to launch a new live action Beauty and the Beast, a move I applaud. But this comes at a price: the energies used are not being directed at exploring new, original and fresh material. The studio the once prized itself on its musical Renaissance with a new musical every year for ten years straight seems to have dried up. It already has been three years since their success in Frozen until Moana came out! They are sliding slowly back into the creative funk they were in after Walt died. You, Jonathan and the rest of your company have no such fears: you are not afraid to take risks and that makes your material shine! I don’t know how often you will be required to come up with different shows but speaking from the artistic point of view, you are in the right place to do the most good. Folks in the audience come out happy and eager for more.
Kimbirdlee:
THANK YOU for believing in me and us!
I have to tell you that all of the opportunities you've given me over the years have helped lead me to this point. I am ever grateful for our musical collaborations and our friendship. I know we will keep working together for a long long time!
To see the entire playlist of videos from "You Can Always Come Home" Cabaret, click below:
COMING UP: Common Man Musicals Events Saturday, June 17th "You Can Always Come Home" returns to MSTDA on Roosevelt Island Friday - Monday, August 4-7th "Northanger Abbey" (Jonathan Fadner & John Blaylock)
Kimbirdlee is the Artist-in-Residence Vocalist for Ed Pierce’s Wisconsin based band, PECB. They have an exciting 2017 Summer Pops Concerts Series lined up! This year’s musical highlights will include a premier of a Jonathan Fadner composition titled "Rushing Past the World", Disney heroines Moana, Pocahontas, Beauty and the Beast - also song of Patsy Cline, People from Funny Girl, and La Traviata, to name a few fantastic selections.
