Musical Theatre Academy

The Musical Theatre Academy (The MTA) was a drama college based in Islington, London.[1] Founded in 2009, the school closed at the end of the 2021–2022 academic year. The principal, Annemarie Lewis Thomas, announced that students in their final term would still graduate and the other students would be helped to find places in other institutions.[2]

The Musical Theatre Academy
Address
Map
Bernie Grant Arts Centre
Townhall Approach Road

,
N15 4RX

England
Coordinates51°32′52″N 0°6′23″W / 51.54778°N 0.10639°W / 51.54778; -0.10639
Information
MottoRigorously Professional
Established2009
FounderAnnemarie Lewis Thomas
SpecialistPerforming Arts
Principal/CEOAnnemarie Lewis Thomas
GenderMixed
Students42
Websitehttp://www.themta.co.uk/

College History

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The MTA was opened in 2009 by Annemarie Lewis Thomas.[3][4] In 2012, it was awarded The Stage Award of School of the Year in 2012, who described the school as "a new force in drama training."[5] In 2017 The MTA was once again named as The Stage School of the Year. This time the citation commended them on the #time4change campaign, whilst acknowledging The MTA's growing influence within the training sector.[6][7]

The academy was originally based at the Drill Hall (now the RADA Studios), before moving to 89 Holloway Road in 2011. In July 2015 the academy relocated to The Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham. Students received a guarantee that their fees are spent on training, not on securing a profit, and consequently the academy was granted charitable status in 2012.[8]

Teaching, productions and policies

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The course ran over 4 terms per year with 40 hours contact time per week, with classes evenly divided between acting, dancing and singing. All of its staff were working in the theatre whilst teaching.[9] It produced public performances every term – shows included the world premieres of Lia's Guide to Winning The Lottery (by Keren David, Paul Herbet and Andy Kaby), In Touch[10][11] (by Dougal Irvine), Dangerous Daughters, Celebs Anon, The Sunshine Gang, The Ballad of Kitty Jay, Just the Ticket and The Venus Factor (all by Nick Stimson and Annemarie Lewis Thomas), and Animus (by Webborn and Finn).

The academy was the only UK college to have a policy of supporting new writing in the UK and regularly had composers coming in to work with the students on new material.[12] The MTA saw itself as a college for life, providing graduates with care, support and help.[13] In its first 10 years (2009-2019), 100% of students had secured agent representation prior to graduating.[14]

One of the academy's productions was Something Old, Something New – The Musical Theatre Revue'.[15]

Performances

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The students (as part of their training) were regularly seen in the West End in professional shows/concerts, and to date its students have backed Shoshana Bean, Patina Miller performed with Katherine Jenkins at the London Palladium, and sung on the album Lift by Craig Adams and Ian Watson.[16] They have also provided the ensemble for the Tommy Gala at the Prince Edward Theatre, the MMD 20th anniversary Gala at the Novello, and Julie Atherton – No Space for Air at the Apollo Theatre. More recently the students have been seen on several episodes of The Last Leg on Channel 4.[citation needed]

Performance History
Date Performance Venue Writer Music Director Choreographer
Mar 2010 Something Old, Something New The Drill Hall Annemarie Lewis Thomas
June 2010 Bad Girls The Drill Hall Maureen Chadwick & Ann McManus Kath Gotts Simon Greiff
15–17 Sept 2010 Dangerous Daughters The Drill Hall Nick Stimson Annemarie Lewis Thomas Nick Stimson
Dec 2010 Cinderella The Drill Hall Daniel O'Brien Annemarie Lewis Thomas
16–19 Mar 2011 Something Old, Something New The Drill Hall Annemarie Lewis Thomas Jack Gunn
15–18 June 2011 Zombie Prom The Drill Hall John Dempsey Dana P Rowe Helen Evens
14–17 Sept 2011 Celebs Anon The Drill Hall Nick Stimson Annemarie Lewis Thomas Pip Minnthorpe
20–23 Dec 2011 Puss In Boots Waterloo East Daniel O'Brien Annemarie Lewis Thomas Gerry Flanagan
14–16 Dec 2011 Don Juan Waterloo East n/a Helen Evans
14–17 Mar 2012 Something Old, Something New Bridewell Theatre Annemarie Lewis Thomas Jack Gunn
13–16 June 2012 In Touch Bridewell Theatre Dougal Irvine Dougal Irvine John Brant
12–15 Sept 2012 The Sunshine Gang Bridewell Theatre Nick Stimson Annemarie Lewis Thomas Kate Golledge
12–15 Dec 2012 Jack & The Beanstalk Courtyard Theatre, London Daniel O'Brien Annemarie Lewis Thomas Howard Samuels
13–15 Dec 2012 Electra Courtyard Theatre, London n/a Helen Evens
13–16 Mar 2013 Something Old, Something New Bridewell Theatre Annemarie Lewis Thomas Jack Gunn
12–15 June 2013 Lia's Guide To Winning The Lottery Bridewell Theatre Keren David Paul Herbert Ryan McBryde
11–14 Sept 2013 The Ballad of Kitty Jay Bridewell Theatre Nick Stimson Annemarie Lewis Thomas Pip Minnithorpe
Dec 2013 Jack and the Beanstalk Courtyard Annemarie Lewis Thomas Howard Samuels
Dec 2013 Ting Tang Mine Courtyard Theatre Tilly Vosburgh
Mar 2014 Something Old, Something New Bridewell Theatre Annemarie Lewis Thomas Jack Gunn
June 2014 Just So Bridewell Theatre Inga Davis-Rutter Christian Durham Cressida Carre
10–13 Sept 2014 Just The Ticket Bridewell Theatre Nick Stimson Annemarie Lewis Thomas Simon Greiff Carly Hainsby
10–17 Dec 2014 Beauty & the Beast Bernie Grant Arts Centre Daniel O'Brien Annemarie Lewis Thomas Howard Samuels Helen Siveter
15–17 Dec 2014 Welcome to Thebes Bernie Grant Arts Centre n/a Tilly Vosburgh
11–14 Mar 2015 Something Old, Something New Bridewell Theatre Annmarie Lewis Thomas Cressida Carre
10–13 June 2015 Sunshine On Leith Bridewell Theatre Stephen Greenhorn Mary McAdam Michael Howcroft Helen Rymer
9–12 Sept 2015 The Venus Factor Bridewell Theatre Nick Stimson Annemarie Lewis Thomas Pip Minnithorpe Carly Hainsby
9–19 Dec 2015 Cinderella Bernie Grant Arts Centre Daniel O'Brien Annemarie Lewis Thomas Howard Samuels Cris Penfold
Dec 2015 A State Affair Bernie Grant Arts Centre n/a Paul Foster
9–12 Mar 2016 Something Old, Something New Bernie Grant Arts Centre Annemarie Lewis Thomas Steve Elias
8–11 June 2016 Around The World In 80 Days Bernie Grant Arts Centre Phil Willmott Annemarie Lewis Thomas Racky Plews
7–10 Sept 2016 Animus Bridewell Theatre Michael Webborn & Daniel Finn Michael Webborn Christian Durham Helen Rymer
Dec 2016 "Robinson Crusoe" Bernie Grant Arts Centre Daniel O'Brien Annemarie Lewis Thomas Howard Samuels Nicky Griffiths
Dec 2016 "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" Bernie Grant Arts Centre n/a Tilly Vosburgh
March 2017 "Something Old, Something New" Bernie Grant Arts Centre Annemarie Lewis Thomas Steve Elias
June 2017 "All Shook Up" Bernie Grant Arts Centre Kevin Oliver Jones Max Reynolds Heather Douglas
September 2017 "Dangerous Daughters" Bridewell Annemarie Lewis Thomas Racky Plews
December 2017 "Mother Goose" Bernie Grant Arts Centre Annemarie Lewis Thomas Omar F Okai
December 2017 "By The Bog Of Cats" Bernie Grant Arts Centre N/A Tilly Vosburgh
March 2018 "Something Old, Something New" Bernie Grant Arts Centre Annemarie Lewis Thomas Steve Elias
June 2018 "Seussical" Pleasance Theatre Annemarie Lewis Thomas Cressida Carré
September 2018 "Oh My, Nellie Bly" Bridewell Annemarie Lewis Thomas Simon Kane Chris Whittaker
December 2018 "Cinderella" Tower Theatre (Folkestone) Annemarie Lewis Thomas Omar F Okai
December 2018 "Our Mutual Friend" Tower Theatre N/A Tilly Vosburgh
March 2019 "Something Old, Something New" Bridewell Annemarie Lewis Thomas Steve Elias
June 2019 "Calamity Jane" Bridewell Annemarie Lewis Thomas Derek Bond Lucie Pankhurst
September 2019 "The Sunshine Gang" Bridewell Annemarie Lewis Thomas Simon Greiff Alec Mann
December 2019 "Dick Whittington" Tower Theatre (Folkestone) Annemarie Lewis Thomas Howard Samuels Helen Siveter
December 2019 "For The Love of The Nightingale" Tower Theatre Tilly Vosburgh

References

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  1. ^ "The Musical Theatre Academy". Themta.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  2. ^ Hemley, Matthew (12 August 2022). "Drama school the MTA to close at end of academic year after 14 years". The Stage.
  3. ^ "Official Website". Annemarie Lewis Thomas. Archived from the original on 12 June 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  4. ^ "The Stage Podcast (iTunes edition) Feed". Digitalpodcast.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  5. ^ "We reveal the winners of The Stage 100 Awards | News". The Stage. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  6. ^ "The Musical Theatre Academy: 'We're a college for life'". The Stage. 17 October 2018.
  7. ^ Harris, Jon. "Welcome to the Musical Theatre Academy". The MTA. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  8. ^ "The Musical Theatre Academy". Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Faculty | The Musical Theatre Academy". Themta.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 May 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  10. ^ "In Touch Review- Bridewell Theatre | Soliloquy's Blog". Soliloquyblog.wordpress.com. 14 June 2012. Archived from the original on 12 June 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  11. ^ Shenton, Mark. "Talent lines up to revitalise West End | Features". The Stage. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  12. ^ Bird, Henry. "Musical theatre training – listings | Advice". The Stage. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  13. ^ "UKP-Arts: Musical Theatre - the diary of a musical theatre student". www.ukperformingarts.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Stage 100 Awards 2012: School of the year". The Stage. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  15. ^ "Sardines review: Something Old, Something New: The MTA Musical Revue – The MTA (student productions)". Sardinesmagazine.co.uk. 18 March 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  16. ^ "Lift Original Concept Album". Archived from the original on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
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