Broadway Dreams Foundation Hoping to Get Reality Show

By: Mar. 05, 2012
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Tigerlily Media and Freestyle Picture Company will begin test shooting this week for a new reality show that will go behind the scenes of The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF), America's premier performing arts training program. Each year BDF provides invaluable training to thousands of young performers all around the country through a series of intensive programs lead by a faculty of Broadway's biggest stars, directors, casting directors and agents.

They say there's a light for every broken heart on Broadway. This new reality-based television show, tentatively named "Broadway Dreams," will follow hundreds of Broadway hopefuls as they learn the ropes from the industry's brightest stars and savviest of insiders. The program will offer a thrilling backstage look at the triumph and tears, hard work, struggle and passion as these talented artists work to realize their Broadway dreams.

"Broadway Dreams is a fantastic organization that presents significant learning opportunities for those pursuing careers in musical theater," said producer Kevin Chinoy of Freestyle Picture Company. "We are excited to work with BDF to create a compelling TV program that will give audiences a look at the hard work such a career requires, and to give one fortunate winner a greater platform for pursuing their dream."

"It's time for television audiences to get a real taste of the personalities and outstanding work that it takes to become a Broadway star and the Broadway Dreams Foundation is the perfect subject to tell the story. The market is ripe for a show of this caliber and I am really looking forward to working with BDF's Executive Director Annette Tanner to find the right home for this new series," said producer Warren Skeels of TigerLily Media.

"Since the inception of The Broadway Dreams Foundation seven years ago there has been moment after moment of powerful stories, great characters, lots of laughter, tears and unreal talent. I cannot tell you how many times someone has said 'this should be a television show,' said BDF's Executive Annette Tanner. "The fact that Warren and Kevin have the same belief and that this is really happening is exciting beyond belief. We can't wait to share the magic of Broadway Dreams with the country!"

This summer The Broadway Dreams Foundation will present week-long intensive workshops in Atlanta, GA; Omaha, NE and Philadelphia, PA. Attendees will receive first-rate training in acting, dance and vocal performance before participating alongside their Broadway idols in a
one-night-only concert event open to the public. Preliminary shooting of the new reality-based series will begin the week of March 5, 2012 during an open call audition for the Atlanta intensive. Some of BDF's core faculty members Tituss Burgess (The Little Mermaid, Jersey Boys), Billy Porter (Miss Saigon, Grease), Nicholas Rodriguez (Tarzan, ABC's "One Life to Live"), Nikki Snelson (Legally Blonde, A Chorus Line) along with BDF Executive Director Annette Tanner and BDF Artistic Director James Kinney (Fosse, Sweet Charity) will be on-hand for filming.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation's musical theatre intensive programs are offered nationally throughout the year and are led by an exceptional faculty of high-profile and experienced Broadway
professionals. The unique programs offer highly personalized and supportive coaching, an exciting and collaborative learning environment and ongoing networking to build confidence and life skills – all of which May Launch a life-changing career. Thousands of students have participated in the BDF program and some have gone on to star on Broadway, pursue careers in the arts or attend prestigious theatre programs in universities throughout the United States. For more information, please visit www.mybroadwaydreams.com.

TigerLily Media is an award-winning producing entity whose recent documentary "Thespians" premiered on Showtime in the fall of 2011. Other credits include: "Chops," which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and "Who's Your Monkey" released by Screen Media. TigerLily Media's broadcast clients have included: the Florida Lottery, Zaxby's, Shoney's, Dick's Sporting Goods, University of Baltimore, VyStar Credit Union, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and Eyeglass World.

Founded by partners Francesca Silvestri and Kevin Chinoy, Freestyle Picture Company is a TV, film and branded content development and Production Company that works with companies to invigorate their brand and develop innovative, fully-conceived programs that utilize all potential avenues to achieve marketing goals. Freestyle has worked with a diverse and extensive client list of corporations that including Bebe, Bloomingdales, Canon, Cartier, Clarisonic, Clinique, Details Magazine, Elizabeth Arden, Ford Mercury, Glamour Magazine, Grand Centenario, Hyundai, Klondike, Lycra, Men's Vogue, Nokia, Revlon, Samsung, Starbucks, Suave, Tommy Hilfiger, W Hotels, and Walgreens. They recently produced "Project Five," a Lifetime original movie directed by Jennifer Aniston, Alicia Keys, Demi Moore, Penelope Spheeris, and Patty Jenkins, which features an anthology of five short films exploring the impact of breast cancer on people's lives, for Sony Pictures TV. Also this past Fall, as a part of Canon's "Project Imagin8ion," Freestyle teamed with Ron Howard to produce the first user-generated photo contest to serve as the foundation for a
Hollywood short film, directed by Bryce Dallas Howard and shot with Canon EOS cameras and lenses. This past summer they completed the sixth season of the Glamour Magazine Reel Moments project, in which they give women a chance to direct a short film for the first time. Launched in 2005, they have now produced 20 shorts as a part of this project and given directorial debuts to actors Jennifer AnistonJessica Biel, Kirsten Dunst, Bryce Dallas Howard, Kate Hudson, Eva Longoria, Eva Mendes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Zoe Saldana, Trudie StylerRachel Weisz, Olivia Wilde, and Rita Wilson, and to writers Jenny Bicks, Carol Leifer, and Kiwi Smith.



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