'Baby Daddy' Choreographer to Teach at Patel Conservatory; Placement Auditions Saturday

How would you like to perform in a musical choreographed by the woman who is choreographing the new ABC series Baby Daddy has choreographed shows like Boston Legal and films like Wild Hogs with John Travolta, Martin Lawrence and Tim Allen? You can do just that this summer without even having to leave Tampa, as Michelle Elkin will choreograph Little Shop of Horrors at the Straz Center’s Patel Conservatory this July.

In addition to those already mentioned, Elkin is known for her work in numerous films and TV shows, such as What Just Happened, Twenty Good Years on CBS, Your Mama Don't Dance on Lifetime and Weeds on Showtime. Elkin's film debut was performing in the musical, Annie, at age 8.

"In 2010 I had the honor of being the Associate Choreographer on the Broadway-bound musical, ‘Wonderland,’ that premiered at the Straz Center. I am looking forward to returning three years later to my ‘Tampa family’ to choreograph the new generation of up and coming artists in their production of Little Shop Of Horrors. I know it will be a memorable experience to remember for years to come," Elkin remarked.

The Patel Conservatory Theater’s three week summer intensive of Little Shop of Horrors, for students in grade nine through college, will run July 1-20 with public performances on July 18-20.

Placement auditions for all Patel Conservatory summer theater camps and classes, including Little Shop of Horrors, will be held Saturday, April 27 at 1 p.m. Acting classes and camps, in straight theater and musical theater, will be happening for all experience levels and ages.

Elkin will also guest instruct at the Patel Conservatory’s Next Generation Ballet summer intensives. A couple additional guest instructors teaching theater summer camps and classes include:

Doug Cooney, Los Angeles-based celebrated children’s author (The Beloved Dearly), screenwriter, playwright, novelist and lyricist, will work with students in the intensive A Straz  Musical Revue and in the Adult Acting Project.

Quentin Darrington, star of Broadway’s Memphis: A New Musical and Ragtime, will assist teach students enrolled in A Straz Musical Revue, Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid Jr. and the Shakespeare intensive, The Tempest.

Placement auditions are by appointment only and do not guarantee placement. To sign up, and for more info, call 813-222-6414 or email pateltheater@strazcenter.org.