HATHAWAY BROWN THEATRE INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES FOURTH SUMMER OF PROFESSIONAL THEATRE TRAINING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE Hathaway Brown Theatre Institute (HBTI) is entering its 4th summer, offering performing arts training and professional production experiences for youth people. HBTI offers young people a challenging curriculum of drama, dance and/or music, as well as the opportunity to participate in fully staged productions. HBTI boasts instructors who are some of the top professional actors, directors, designers and academics in the area, and who have a long list of successful former students who have gone on to Broadway, film and television. The program, a part of the Performing Arts Department at Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, utilizes similar training techniques to those employed by the nation's most preeminent drama schools. HBTI offers programs on two levels: Grades 1 – 4, and Grades 5 – college. Classes are available in two 3-week sessions and one 2-week session, beginning June 20, July 11 and August 1, respectively. Director Bebe Weinberg Katz said, "While the training at HBTI is geared toward the young performer interested in a professional theatre career, our students gain the confidence, discipline and social skills that will help give them the extra edge in this highly-competitive world, no matter what their eventual field of pursuit. The students also find the process immensely fun, exciting and rewarding, which is one of the reasons our first three years have been such a big hit." Over the first three years of its existence, the Hathaway Brown Theatre Institute (HBTI) taught over 500 students in acting, musical theatre and dance and involved over 200 of its students in highly acclaimed productions that have received numerous broadwayworld.comnominations. Last summer’s production of *Rent: School Edition* won for “best theatre production for young audiences.” HBTI will also mount two full productions: *Fiddler on the Roof, *directed by Bebe Weinberg Katz ( July 1 – 17) and *Into the Woods, *directed by Fred Sternfeld ( Performances: July 29 – August 7). The productions are a direct extension of the training. "Our shows allow the students to apply the tools and techniques they learn during the day in productions mounted by top professional directors and designers." Katz added, "It's a rare chance for young performers to participate at such a high professional level." To find out more about the Hathaway Brown Theatre Institute and to register for summer training sessions, visit www.hb.edu/hbti. If you have additional questions email HBTI director, Bebe Weinberg Katz at bkatz@hb.edu -- Bebe Weinberg Katz Director Hathaway Brown Theatre Institute bkatz@hb.edu 216 4020785