08/06/2021
ATI's Masterclass Series!
Actors Theatre of Indiana has three exciting masterclasses coming up over the next three months!
The first of these will be a Master Class with Billy Stritch and ATI Co-founder Don Farrell on Friday, August 27 from 6 to 9 p.m. Billy Stritch is one of the premier singer-pianists on the New York and national jazz and cabaret scenes. He began his career in Houston, Texas, where he formed the vocal trio Montgomery, Plant and Stritch. The trio performed all over New York and Europe from 1983 until 1990. A chance meeting with Liza Minnelli in March of 1991 resulted in her asking him to create vocal arrangements for the record-breaking extravaganza Liza Stepping Out at Radio City Music Hall. In addition to his 25-year collaboration with as accompanist and opening act for Liza, Billy recently toured with the legendary Tony Bennett as Tony’s pianist and musical director. Currently during COVID-19, he is hosting a weekly Facebook live-stream show “Billy’s Place”, celebrating the Great American Songbook with songs and stories from his varied career, Thursdays at 8 p.m. He has recorded five solo CDs and his latest release Billy’s Place is a collection of his favorite songs from these online concerts.
The second of these Master Class sessions will be with The Blue Eyed Bettys on Friday, October 1, 2021, from 6 to 9 p.m. With Daniel Emond on banjo, Sarah Hund on fiddle, and Ben Mackel on guitar, The Blue Eyed Bettys delight with their powerful vocals in three part harmony to create an indie-folk pop grass sound. All actors, The Blue Eyed Bettys met while doing a new play together at the Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota. The Bettys have cultivated followings in Florida, New York, North Carolina, and the Midwest for five song-soaked years of touring throughout the Eastern U.S.
The third Master Class will be with Michele McConnell on Saturday, October 30, 2021 from noon to 3 p.m. McConnell has been on Broadway since 2010 doing The Phantom of the Opera. She has also been in Camelot (tour with Robert Goulet), Beauty and the Beast (Montreal/Las Vegas), and has performed with DiCapo Opera, Mobile Opera, Missouri Symphony, Skyline Theatre Company, San Diego Repertory, San Diego Chamber Orchestra, Totem Pole Playhouse, and many more. McConnell has traveled to over 115 countries performing on luxury cruise ships with her husband, baritone Duane McDevitt, and serves on the musical theatre faculty at NJCU.
To give each student quality attention, the teachers will limit this class to only 10 who participate. Tuition is $100 to participate, $50 to audit (observe). The location for the Master Classes will be announced closer to the time of the sessions. For any questions on these educational opportunities through Actors Theatre of Indiana, please feel free to email [email protected] or call 317.490.7793. To sign up for the Master Classes, visit
ATI MASTERCLASS SERIES Actors Theatre of Indiana presents a variety of national professional talent on its stage at the Studio Theater as well as monthly engagements at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael. These Masterclasses are one-day events with the master artists. For any questions, please contac...