OCC student Kalen Rogers is one of only 12 individuals from across the country – and the only community college student – selected to spend two weeks in Italy for a prestigious Broadway intensive.
Rogers will sing, act and dance with an elite group of students at the Broadway Al Monte Musical Theatre Summer Intensive. The experience leads up to a grand finale performance in May at the Piazza del Bourbon in Monte Santa Maria Tiberina.
Teri Hansen, program director for Broadway Al Monte and visiting assistant professor of Musical Theatre at Oakland University, reviewed Rogers’ taped audition. She described his talent level as “extraordinary.” Rogers sang “If I Loved You” from “Carousel.”
“I believe Kalen has what it takes to have a successful career on Broadway,” Hansen said. “He just exhibits all the characteristics of a star in the making.”
Rogers was awarded the Norm Lewis Scholarship to help pay for the trip. Lewis made history in 2014 as “The Phantom of the Opera’s” first African American Phantom on Broadway.
Beating the Odds
Rogers, who played Leaf Coneybear in OCC’s Fall production of "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” is thrilled to be chosen for the international summer intensive.
“I want as a black young individual to show other people of color they can also do
this,” he said. “Yes, it’s hard, but it’s possible. Winning something has never been in my life so this is very, very new to me. It’s
a crazy feeling.”
The selected students, except Rogers, have either recently graduated or will graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Musical Theatre. The competition for BFA programs is fierce with thousands of students auditioning every year at colleges and conservatories across the country. Many of the programs often choose only about a dozen students in the annual selection process.
“That makes Rogers’ selection for the Broadway intensive even more impressive," said Jennifer Little, OCC Theatre faculty and former Broadway actor.
“We look for story tellers,” Little said. “Kalen is very good at storytelling, and that’s what we do for a living. In this intensive, he will be working all day, every day on his craft. It will be eye opening to him and help him understand the commitment, stamina and mental and physical demands of what we do.”
The 26-year old from Rochester will have the opportunity to work with a team of Broadway professionals including:
- Acting/Singing Instructor Teri Hansen (“An American in Paris,” “The Sound of Music,” “Showboat”)
- Choreographer Luis Villabon (Assistant to Antonio Banderas, “A Chorus Line” Malaga, Spain, Paula Abdul)
- Music Director Andy Peterson (“A Beautiful Noise,” “Tootsie,” “My One and Only”)
- Psychophysical Movement Instructor Chiara D’Anna (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art)
Discovering a Passion
Rogers said he never knew that theatre was something he would love so much until he hit the stage for the first time working under Little's direction in “You Make My Frame Shake.” His other OCC productions include: "12 Angry Jurors" (Juror #4), "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (Hyde), "The Play That Goes Wrong" (Max) and the upcoming March play “Radium Girls” (Arthur Roeder).
“Coming to OCC has helped me become a more successful actor,” said Rogers, who recently auditioned for the BFA Musical Theatre program at OU and is awaiting the results.“I enjoy acting and moving people emotionally and changing the way they think. I want to be inspirational.”
For more information on OCC’s Theatre offerings including upcoming shows and courses, visit online at oaklandcc.edu/theatre.
About OCC
Oakland Community College offers nearly 100 degrees and certificates programs with the resources students need to be successful and advance our community. As a top transfer institution, OCC offers one of the state’s most affordable tuition rates and flexibility in scheduling with face-to-face and online options. The College is nationally recognized for its high-demand career training with expert faculty in their fields. More than 1 million students have enrolled in the College since it opened in 1965. Learn more at oaklandcc.edu.
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Media Contact: OCC Marketing & Communications | 248.341.2020 | contactus@oaklandcc.edu