Broadway musicals are particularly good at capturing kids’ imaginations.
Every season, a new batch of innovative shows comes to Broadway. Many shows, and the performers who star in them, gain huge followings among young theater fans. Great performers and thrilling theater pieces inspire the next generation of creative artists.
Our popular Broadway Obsession classes use inspirational musical theater pieces as an inventive and approachable way to teach students all aspects of performance.
Students in the class get to choose which pieces and performances they most enjoy. Then they’ll sing, dance, and act their way through the works that move them. They’ll improve their musical theater performance technique as they share their enthusiasm.
The class concludes with a recital on the weekend of January 31st and February 1st.
Join us, and let the obsession begin!
AGES: 7 – 9
DATES: Wednesdays, Sept. 24 – Jan. 28
no class: 11/26, 12/24, 12/31
TIME: 4:00pm – 5:00pm
PRICE: $395
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR
ALEXIS CARDWELL
Alexis has a bachelor’s degree in education from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in Arts Administration from Northeastern University.
She is a trained singer, actor and tap dancer. Fun fact, her acting coach was Elefante’s own Karen Cantor! Alexis’ voice can be heard singing the jingle for Zippy Shell, which she co-wrote and recorded with her father.
Favorite directing credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Syracuse University and Clue: High School Edition at American History High School.
She also organized and performed her own one-woman cabaret fundraiser for the Brooke Healey Foundation.
As a motivated arts education advocate, Alexis has founded and managed drama programs including a theatre program at the Determination Center in Syracuse New York, and a pilot drama program in Newark Public Schools. In addition to teaching classes and high school programs, Alexis is also proud to be the director of Elefante’s summer musical theatre camp.
ALEXIS CARDWELL
Alexis has a bachelor’s degree in education from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in Arts Administration from Northeastern University.
She is a trained singer, actor and tap dancer. Fun fact, her acting coach was Elefante’s own Karen Cantor! Alexis’ voice can be heard singing the jingle for Zippy Shell, which she co-wrote and recorded with her father.
Favorite directing credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Syracuse University and Clue: High School Edition at American History High School.
She also organized and performed her own one-woman cabaret fundraiser for the Brooke Healey Foundation.
As a motivated arts education advocate, Alexis has founded and managed drama programs including a theatre program at the Determination Center in Syracuse New York, and a pilot drama program in Newark Public Schools. In addition to teaching classes and high school programs, Alexis is also proud to be the director of Elefante’s summer musical theatre camp.
LAURA CHANESKI
Laura has been a performing arts teacher for students ages 2-adult at studios throughout NJ for over 15 years. Laura has prepared her private lesson students for auditions that have earned them roles on Broadway National Tours, NBC’s Annie LIVE!, television shows, films, commercials, school plays and musicals, in addition to their dream performing arts high schools and college conservatory programs. In 2023, one of Laura’s students won the highly prestigious NJ Perry Award for Outstanding Youth Actor in a Play. Laura’s choreography work includes The Little Mermaid and Oklahoma! at Madison High School and Chicago, Mamma Mia!, The Lightning Thief and Freaky Friday at Governor Livingston High School.
Laura graduated from Rutgers University where she studied at Mason Gross School of Arts. As a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity, Laura’s professional credits include Singin’ in the Rain (Kathy) with the Ocean City Theater Company, White Christmas (Rita) at Surflight Theater, Greetings (Randi) at Off-Broadstreet Theater, White Guy on the Bus (Molly) at Passage Theater and Miracle on South Division Street (Ruth) at Shadowland Stages in addition to shows at Bucks County Playhouse, Centenary Stage Company, Waterfront Playhouse, Society Hill Playhouse and Bickford Theater. Her television appearances include Law & Order: SVU, House of Cards, YOU, Do No Harm, The Last O.G., That Damn Michael Che, the Hallmark movie Redemption in Cherry Springs and over 50 commercials. Laura has also recorded numerous voice-overs including a radio jingle for Tide.
LISA HYMAN
Lisa’s professional credits include Syracuse Stage’s production of Pygmalian, and Improv with Freestyle Repertory Company, The Dead Comics Society, Snazz and Guffaw, Sunday Night Improv Jam, Felix Culpa and others NYC based groups, including Bette Midler’s Annual Hulaween Charity Gala. She performed Stand-Up Comedy at Caroline’s, Stand Up NY, Gotham Comedy Club, and various venues around the Tri State Area.
As a singer, she toured with trio The Angeltones. She performed her set as an opening act for several off Broadway shows and charity events.
Lisa has written and performed industrials for national brand clients and trade shows all over the country.
She received her BFA from Syracuse University Summa Cum Laude in Acting with a dual minor in Psychology and Communications. She also completed a two year program with The William Esper Studio under Barbara Marchant.
In addition to teaching with Elefante, she is the Director and Producer of Temple Emanu El of Edison and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church of Metuchen’s Youth Theater Program.
Lisa loves nothing more than sharing the joy of theater with kids of all ages.
ALEXIS CARDWELL
Alexis has a bachelor’s degree in education from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in Arts Administration from Northeastern University.
She is a trained singer, actor and tap dancer. Fun fact, her acting coach was Elefante’s own Karen Cantor! Alexis’ voice can be heard singing the jingle for Zippy Shell, which she co-wrote and recorded with her father.
Favorite directing credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Syracuse University and Clue: High School Edition at American History High School.
She also organized and performed her own one-woman cabaret fundraiser for the Brooke Healey Foundation.
As a motivated arts education advocate, Alexis has founded and managed drama programs including a theatre program at the Determination Center in Syracuse New York, and a pilot drama program in Newark Public Schools. In addition to teaching classes and high school programs, Alexis is also proud to be the director of Elefante’s summer musical theatre camp.
Upright bass, also called string bass or double bass, is a member of the orchestra family. Just as often, however, it appears in jazz, bluegrass, folk, and other genres. With a large hollow body and 4 thick strings, the tones produced by the upright bass are low and rich. The instrument is capable of long, expressive tones when played with a bow; and short, percussive tones when plucked with the strings. String bass is a dynamic and impressive instrument to play!
The oboe is a woodwind and a member of the double-reed family. It is played by blowing air through the reed, attached at the top of the instrument. The reed consists of two very thin pieces of cane, pressed together with a small opening to allow air to pass through. The sound can be high in pitch, but it has a variety of colorful tones, from bright and piercing to low and mysterious.
