TexARTS Triple Threat Pre-Professional Program

New Student Auditions for the 2022-2023 season are Friday, August 5th.  An informational meeting for interested students is Tuesday July 19th.  Click here for audition information.

The TexARTS Triple Threat program is a technique-focused curriculum for students who are dedicated to advanced musical theater training. Built on a core of classes that cover the three pillars of musical theater skills – singing, acting, and dancing – Triple Threat students also meet weekly in workshop sessions and rehearsals to synthesize all they have learned and focus on special topics that will help them grow as performers.

We recognize that students have myriad performance and learning opportunities at school and in quality arts programs in the Austin area. The Triple Threat program is expressly designed to provide students with the technique and skills to be successful in these programs.

Triple Threat Staff

We believe that exposure to a variety of creative perspectives and experience best prepares our students for a future in musical theater. We also recognize that consistent guidance through the program and a close eye on each student’s development is critical to success. The Triple Threat curriculum is crafted and directed by Cassie Eckerman, the TexARTS Education Manager who ensures that workshop curriculum augments technique class curriculum and provides regular feedback to students and communication to parents. Master teachers will augment Ms. Cassie’s efforts and provide their specific expertise in workshop topics as well as choreography and creative direction for performance pieces.

Triple Threat or T3

The Triple Threat Pre-Professional program helps establish and grow the foundation of skills required for musical theater. Students are required to take these core curriculum technique classes:

• Jazz – Jazz dance is foundational to musical theater and forms the basis of most musical theater choreography.  This class allows students strengthen and stretch their bodies as well as learn the vocabulary, steps, and technique that they will need to be successful in the art form.

• Ballet – Ballet is a key component of a well rounded musical theater performer and provides students with body awareness, knowledge of ballet vocabulary and steps, technique, and strength.

• Tap – Tap is a an integral part of musical theater, but is often a much overlooked skill in dance and theater education.  Its focus on rhythm, weight shift, and body control are invaluable tools for students as they move forward in their careers.

• Group Voice – Group Voice is complementary to private voice instruction, the curriculum rotates through important lessons such as acting the song, ensemble singing, part singing, and harmony.

• Acting – Acting is a dynamic and fun class that exposes students to different aspects of acting, scene work, and monologue work.  Students also learn stagecraft and how to analyze performance.

Students are encouraged to take additional, optional dance classes including Hip Hop, Contemporary, or Strength and Stretch to round-out their dance foundation.

On Tuesdays students will meet for an additional hour to synthesize the skills they’ve learned in their technique classes. They will:

• Learn and practice performance pieces and repertory that will be used in performances throughout the year.
• Work on audition preparation and other skills that support performance and work in musical theater productions.
• Have the opportunity to get a behind the scenes view of the TexARTS professional series creative process from the shows’ creative teams and attend the shows to see how the process comes to life in performance.

Getting Involved

Students or families interested in the T3 program should contact the Education Manager and program director, Cassie Eckerman, directly.  Prospective students should register for the Summer Ballet Intensive or Summer Dance Intensive as an entry point to the program.  Acceptance into the program is based on an evaluation and interview.

Commitment Expectations

It’s expected that program participants have already begun a study of dancing, singing, and acting prior to participating in the program. A commitment to and passion for dedicated musical theater technique training are also critical. We ask all participants to commit to 8 hours of class time each week across technique and workshop classes. Participation in all core classes on a weekly basis is required.

Participation in either the Summer Dance Intensive or the Summer Ballet Intensive is required of all prospective and current T3 students.  The TexARTS and Intensive staff will collaborate to place students in the appropriate Triple Threat program and core class levels based on age and experience. They will also make recommendations on additional dance technique classes and levels that would most benefit the student.

Fees & Class Placement

Fees for all technique classes, Thursday workshops, and optional incremental dance technique classes are included in a single semester fee. Fees for participation in our performance programs like The Nutcracker and our Musical Theater Academy shows are incremental. Triple Threat program fees are subject to our Tuition and Fees Policy.

Students will be placed in appropriate dance classes based on their previous experience and skill as observed in the audition process. We have revamped our dance offerings to better simplify the progression for students and allow for a more predictable weekly schedule. At any point in the semester an instructor can recommend that a student move up to the next level of dance class to continue their progress.