Broadway Beginnings is a nationally recognized program within DP's Theater Department, with an Artistic Advisory Board consisting of top names from Broadway, TV, and film (see below). Broadway Beginnings has done high school premieres of GRAND DUCHY by Robert Freedman, whose musical GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Musical. In addition, we produced the first high school reading of Sammy Buck and Dan Aquisto's LIKE YOU LIKE IT and the West Coast High School premiere of the production as well. Broadway Beginnings has also produced student written musicals such as Alexander Georgakis' HOW GREEN IS YOUR VALLEY? and Neve Greenwald's RELATIVITY. Although Pippin is not a new musical, this year, during COVID times, we had to completely reimagine it in a drive-in movie setting, switching between 3 stages: a parking lot platform, an outdoor LIVE broadcast studio and... the roof, as well as incorporating pre-recorded music videos. These various elements often played together or off each other as well.
Broadway Beginnings Advisory Board
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Past Members
- Mary Rodgers - Composer/Writer - Chairman of the Juilliard School
- Harold Prince - Director/Producer
Special Performance Opportunities
Broadway Beginnings Advisory Board members have been very helpful in providing special viewing opportunities for Dos Pueblos' Theater students including dress rehearsal seats for Stephen Sondheim's Follies at the Ahmanson Theater and West Side Story at the Pantages Theater. Students were also special invited guests to the dress rehearsal of Stephen Schwartz' My Fairytale at PCPA and Séance On A Wet Afternoon at the Granada. In addition to watching great performances, several of Mr. Sayre's students had the opportunity to perform the closing number with composer/lyricist Jason Robert Brown in a concert he performed for Rubicon Theatre.
Testimonials
I have known Clark Sayre since 1981 and kept in touch with him in the intervening years. Most recently, I saw him at the hugely successful MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG reunion concert and since then he has been writing me about his plan to create a High School Musical Theatre Development Program. I am surprised that no one has thought of it before, and I think it is a capital notion. In addition, I think Clark is the man to shepherd it. So I will watch with great interest and hope that at some point I can be practically helpful.
- Harold Prince (Tony-Award Winning Producer/Director)
I am writing this letter in support of the development of the new High School Musical Theater Development Program at Dos Pueblos High School Theater Department. Initiated by Clark Sayre, I believe it is an exceptional idea. Not only would this program be enriching to the writers of new musicals today but it would be an extraordinary experience for students to actually work on a new piece with the writer. What better way to make music and drama come alive for young people. My first musical theater writing experience was in high school and I am forever grateful for it. So I encourage you wholeheartedly to support the High school Musical Theater Development Program at Dos Pueblos. I look forward to seeing where this exciting, enriching new endeavor leads.
- Stephen Flaherty (Tony Award Winning Composer)
Please be assured you have my support and best wishes for success with your program. All of us theater alums have much to be grateful for, having enjoyed such a rich and rewarding training experience. I often think of how invaluable that experience was in shaping not only my talent, but instilling discipline and positive values that have extended far beyond the theater. I can't think of anyone better suited to guiding young people on their first exposure to theater than Clark Sayre.
- Howard McGillin, DP Alum, longest-running Phantom on Broadway