About

OUR MISSION

The mission of Theatre Arts Project is to empower our students to perform with confidence, care, and creativity both onstage and off. 

  • We use the crafts of drama, music, and theatre dance to focus on process, not product.

  • We require professional excellence from our teachers, as both artists and educators.

  • We are ever mindful of the whole student, not just the performer. When each student’s time with us is done our primary hope for them is that they go make the world a better place.

  • We are dedicated to inclusion, diversity, acceptance, and mutual respect.

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CO-FOUNDERS

Elena Shaddow and Michael Harrington

Elena was last seen around North America in as Anna Leonowens in The Lincoln Center Production of THE KING AND I and on Broadway in THE VISIT with Chita Rivera. Other Broadway credits include THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, THE WOMAN IN WHITE, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, NINE, SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, and LES MISERABLES. Other professional highlights include being featured as Sister Sophia in NBC's THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE, playing Magnolia in SHOWBOAT at London's Royal Albert Hall, and creating the role of Clara for the First National Tour of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from New York University. Her full bio is at www.elenashaddow.com.

Michael studied as a Vocal Performance major at New York University from which he received his Bachelor of Music degree cum laude. He is also a Master of Arts candidate at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study having completed required course credits related to his concentration of directing and contemporary musical theatre. Michael led NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts as Executive Director from 2007-2015 where he was awarded a Drama Desk Award for presenting the Outstanding Unique Theatrical Experience in 2014. His passion for the performing arts and belief in its transformative potential has taken him around the globe working with artists from China, Australia, Germany, Italy, Israel, and more. He is the Executive Director of the country's largest and most prolific not-for-profit producer of professional theater for young audiences, TheaterWorksUSA.

 

Faculty

We employ teachers who have performing experience on both Broadway and Regional stages and film and television sets. In keeping with our tradition and mission of providing unparalleled theater education, we hand pick our teachers, making sure that they are kind, empathetic, patient and also incredibly skilled performers and teachers.

Musical Theater Voice & Music:

Adelina Peretti

Adelina Peretti is a multifaceted artist, excelling as a voice teacher as well as a performer. With a degree in classical voice from Wheaton College, she brings knowledge of vocal anatomy and healthy singing practices to her teaching. Currently pursuing her Masters in Musical Theatre at NYU, Adelina combines her passion for music and theater to inspire and guide young performers towards their artistic goals.  Most recently, Adelina was Musical Director for Theater Arts Project’s production of Moana Jr, and helped direct TAP’s summer showcases of Hamilton, Wicked, The Music Man, and The Lighting Thief.