Below is a sampling of Master Class teachers who participated in the 2008 event

Jason Robert Brown
Christopher Gattelli
Kate Grant
Kimberly Grigsby
Tina Howe
Michael Passaro
Stephen Schwartz
Tony Walton
Eric Woodall

Jason Robert Brown has been hailed as "one of Broadway's smartest and most sophisticated songwriters since Stephen Sondheim" (Philadelphia Inquirer), and his "extraordinary, jubilant theater music " (Chicago Tribune) has been heard all over the world, whether in one of the hundreds of productions of his musicals every year or in his own incendiary live performances. The New York Times refers to Jason as "a leading member of a new generation of composers who embody high hopes for the American musical."Jason is the composer and lyricist of the musical, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, which was cited as one of Time Magazine's 10 Best of 2001 and won Drama Desk Awards for Best Music and Best Lyrics. Jason won a 1999 Tony Award for his score to PARADE, a musical written with Alfred Uhry and directed by Harold Prince, which premiered at Lincoln Center Theatre in December 1998, and subsequently won both the Drama Desk and New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards for Best New Musical. "Parade" was also presented on a national tour in 2000, which Jason conducted. Jason's first musical, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD, a theatrical song cycle directed by Daisy Prince, played Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre in the fall of 1995, and has since been seen in more than two hundred productions around the world. Jason's newest musical, 13, written with Dan Elish and directed by Todd Graff, premiered this January to rave reviews at Los Angeles's Mark Taper Forum, and opens on Broadway in the spring of 2008. Jason is the winner of the 2002 Kleban Award for Outstanding Lyrics and the 1996 Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Foundation Award for Musical Theatre. Jason's songs, including the cabaret standard STARS AND THE MOON, have been performed and recorded by Audra McDonald, Betty Buckley, Karen Akers, Renée Fleming, Philip Quast, Jon Hendricks and many others.

Jason's first solo album, WEARING SOMEONE ELSE'S CLOTHES, featuring his band The Caucasian Rhythm Kings, was named one of Amazon.com's best of 2005, and is available from Sh-K-Boom Records. His collaboration with singer Lauren Kennedy, SONGS OF JASON ROBERT BROWN, is available on PS Classics. Jason's piano sonata, MR. BROADWAY, was commissioned and premiered by Anthony De Mare at Carnegie Hall. Also in the wings: an musical adaptation of the 1992 film HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, in collaboration with screenwriter/director Andrew Bergman. Jason is also the composer of the incidental music for David Lindsay-Abaire's KIMBERLY AKIMBO and FUDDY MEERS, Marsha Norman's LAST DANCE, David Marshall Grant's CURRENT EVENTS, Kenneth Lonergan's THE WAVERLY GALLERY, and the Irish Repertory Theater's production of LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, and he was a Tony Award nominee for his contributions to the score of URBAN COWBOY THE MUSICAL. His scores are published by Hal Leonard. Jason currently teaches musical theater performance and composition at the University of Southern California.

As a conductor and arranger, Jason's recent New York credits include URBAN COWBOY THE MUSICAL on Broadway; Oliver Goldstick's play, DINAH WAS, directed by David Petrarca, at the Gramercy Theatre and on national tour; and William Finn's A NEW BRAIN, directed by Graciela Daniele, at Lincoln Center Theater. Jason was the musical director of the pop vocal group, The Tonics, with whom he performed at the 1992 tribute to Stephen Sondheim at Carnegie Hall (recorded by RCA Victor); he was the conductor and orchestrator of Yoko Ono's musical, NEW YORK ROCK, at the WPA Theatre (on Capitol Records); and he orchestrated Andrew Lippa's JOHN AND JEN, Off-Broadway at Lamb's Theatre (Varese Sarabande). In 1994, Jason was the conductor and arranger of Michael John LaChiusa's THE PETRIFIED PRINCE, directed by Harold Prince, at the Public Theatre. Additionally, Jason served as the orchestrator and arranger of Charles Strouse and Lee Adams's score for a proposed musical of STAR WARS. Jason also took over as musical director for the Off-Broadway hit WHEN PIGS FLY. Jason has conducted and created arrangements and orchestrations for Liza Minnelli, John Pizzarelli, Tovah Feldshuh, and Laurie Beechman, among many others. Jason studied composition at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., with Samuel Adler, Christopher Rouse, and Joseph Schwantner. He now divides his time between Los Angeles, California and Spoleto, Italy. Jason is a proud member of the Dramatist's Guild and the American Federation of Musicians Local 802 & 47.

Christopher Gattelli Broadway: SOUTH PACIFIC (Tony nomination, Outer Critics Circle nomination), SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, THE RITZ, MARTIN SHORT: FAME BECOMES ME, HIGH FIDELITY. West End: SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. Off-Broadway: ALTAR BOYZ (Lortel, Callaway, Kevin Kline Awards, Drama Desk nom.), BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL! (LORTEL AWARD), TICK,TICK… BOOM!, 10 MILLION MILES, ADRIFT IN MACAO, I LOVE YOU BECAUSE, HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD… Favorites: SILENCE! THE MUSICAL (Best Musical Fringe 05), CHESS concert with Josh Groban, HAIR concert with Jennifer Hudson, “ROSIE O’DONNELL SHOW” (resident choreographer for three seasons). Upcoming: Jason Robert Brown’s 13, GODSPELL, ROMANTIC POETRY and directing the first Muppet musical JIM HENSON’S EMMET OTTER’S JUGBAND CHRISTMAS.

Kate Grant has spent a life in the theatre as a teacher, writer and actress. After graduating from Juilliard, she appeared in over one hundred plays at such theaters as the Roundabout and Public in New York. Her first full-length play, THE WOUND OF LOVE received the Berilla Kerr Award in playwriting and went on to full productions at at the Actors Studio, Penguin Repertory Theater, the John Houseman Studio Theater and Provincetown Repertory. Her newest play received readings at the Barrow Group Theater and the Abingdon. Her screenplay THE PRACTICE ROOM is in development with Brooklyn Independent Studios. She recently acquired her Doctorate in Arts and Letters at Drew University. She teaches acting and writing for performance at St. Francis College in Brooklyn.

Kimberly Grigsby is currently the conductor and music director of Broadway's SPRING AWAKENING (music by Duncan Sheik) and the music director of Broadway's current revival of GREASE.  Music directing/conducting credits include, on Broadway, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA (lyrics & music by Adam Guettel); CAROLINE OR CHANGE (music by Jeanine Tesori); THE FULL MONTY (music by David Yazbek); YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN and TWELFTH NIGHT (music by Jeanine Tesori); and Off-Broadway, SPRING AWAKENING (music by Duncan Sheik), TWO GENTLEMAN OF VERNONA (Shakespeare In the Park) ; SONGS FROM AN UNMADE BED (various composers, lyrics by Mark Campbell); JUNIE B. JONES (music by Zina Goldrich); THE IMMIGRANT (music by Steven Alper); RADIANT BABY (music by Debra Barsha); and TWELFTH NIGHT (music by Duncan Sheik). For her work on CAROLINE OR CHANGE in Los Angeles, she received the 2005 Los Angeles Drama Critics' Circle Award for Music Direction; and for The Philadelpha Theatre Company's production of ELEGIES (lyrics & music by William Finn) she received the 2005 Barrymore Award for Music Direction. Additional regional credits include FLOYD COLLINS (music by Adam Guettel) and THE FIRST PICTURE SHOW (music by Jeanine Tesori). Other collaborations include MY LIFE IS A FAIRY TALE and ORPHAN OF ZHAO, both with lyrics & music by Stephin Merritt for Lincoln Center Festival; LOVE'S FIRE (Adam Guettel); O PIONEERS! (Kim Sherman); FOOLS RUSH IN (Steve Marzullo); TELAIO: DESDEMONA (Susan Botti). Ms. Grigsby holds degrees from Southern Methodist University and Manhattan School of Music.

Tina Howe's plays include THE NEST, BIRTH AND AFTER BIRTH, MUSEUM, THE ART OF DINING, PAINTING CHURCHES, COASTAL DISTURBANCES, APPROACHING ZANZIBAR, ONE SHOE OFF, PRIDE’S CROSSING, SUCH SMALL HANDS, REMBRANDT’S GIFT and new translations of Eugène Ionesco’s THE BALD SOPRANO and THE LESSON as well as a host of shorter plays. These works premiered at the New York Shakespeare Festival, the Kennedy Center, Second Stage, The Old Globe Theatre, Lincoln Center Theater, The Actors Theatre of Louisville and the Atlantic Theater Company. Her most recent play, CHASING MANET, opens at Primary Stages next spring. Among her many awards are an Obie for Distinguished playwriting, a Tony nomination for best Play, an Outer Circle Critics Award, a Rockefeller Grant, two N.E.A. Fellowships, a Guggenheim Fellowship, an American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Literature, the Sidney Kingsley Award, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, two honorary degrees and the William Inge Award for Distinguished Achievement in the American Theatre. A two time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Miss Howe has been a Visiting Professor at Hunter College since 1990 and has also taught master classes at NYU, UCLA, Columbia and Carnegie Mellon. Her works can be read in numerous anthologies as well as in Coastal Disturbances: Four Plays by Tina Howe, and Approaching Zanzibar and Other Plays, published by Theatre Communications Group and most recently her translations of Ionesco's THE BALD SOPRANO and THE LESSON, published by Grove Press. Miss Howe is proud to have served on the council of the Dramatists Guild since 1990.

Michael Passaro is a Broadway stage manager.  His credits include LES MISERABLES, THE HISTORY BOYS, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, CAROUSEL, DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES, THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, ANGELS IN AMERICA, ASPECTS OF LOVE, STARLIGHT EXPRESS, and MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS.

Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for WICKED, which opened in the fall of 2003 and is currently running on Broadway and around the world.

In 1971, he wrote music and lyrics for his first musical, GODSPELL, for which he won several awards including two Grammys. This was followed by the English texts, in collaboration with Leonard Bernstein, for Bernstein's MASS, which opened the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The following year, he wrote the music and lyrics for PIPPIN and two years later, THE MAGIC SHOW. At one point, GODSPELL, PIPPIN, and THE MAGIC SHOW were all running on Broadway simultaneously.

He next wrote the music and lyrics for THE BAKER'S WIFE, followed by a musical version of Studs Terkel's WORKING, to which he contributed four songs, and which he also adapted and directed, winning the Drama Desk Award as best director. He also co-directed the television production, which was presented as part of the PBS "American Playhouse" series.

Next came songs for a one-act musical for children, CAPTAIN LOUIE, and a children's book, THE PERFECT PEACH. He then wrote music for three of the songs in the Off-Broadway revue, PERSONALS, lyrics to Charles Strouse's music for RAGS, and music and lyrics for CHILDREN OF EDEN.

He then began working in film, collaborating with composer Alan Menken on the scores for the Disney animated features POCAHONTAS, for which he received two Academy Awards and another Grammy, and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. He also provided songs for DreamWorks' first animated feature, THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, for which he won another Academy Award for the song "When You Believe".  Mr. Schwartz provided music and lyrics for the original television musical, GEPPETTO, seen on The Wonderful World of Disney. Recently, he released two CDs on which he sings new songs, entitled RELUCTANT PILGRIM and UNCHARTED TERRITORY.  Under the auspices of the ASCAP Foundation, he runs musical theatre workshops in New York and Los Angeles, and serves on the ASCAP board; he is also a member of the Council of the Dramatists' Guild.

Tony Walton Tony Walton’s Broadway productions include the recent WELL and revivals of OUR TOWN, I’M NOT RAPPAPORT, THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, UNCLE VANYA, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, 1776, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, SHE LOVES ME, GUYS AND DOLLS, and ANYTHING GOES, Bob Fosse’s original productions of CHICAGO and PIPPIN, Pinter’s MOONLIGHT and ASHES TO ASHES, GRAND HOTEL, THE REAL THING, THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES, Madison Square Garden’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL, and Julie Andrews’ triumphant revival of THE BOYFRIEND. He also directed and designed the smash hit revival of WHERE’S CHARLIE for Goodspeed Opera House. For the past 50 years he has been designing settings and costumes for film as well. He has designed for films such as Mary Poppins, Murder on the Orient Express, Fahrenheit 451, The Wiz, The Boy Friend, All That Jazz, Death of a Salesman, The Glass Menagerie, Regarding Henry, and Deathtrap. His many awards include the Oscar, the Emmy and 3 Tonys (16 nominations). He was elected to the Theatre Hall of Fame in 1991.

Eric Woodall is a casting director at Tara Rubin Casting, heading up casting for the Broadway and touring productions of MAMMA MIA, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, THE LITTLE MERMAID, MARY POPPINS, ROCK ‘N’ ROLL, THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION, JERSEY BOYS, THE PHANTON OF THE OPERA, 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, LES MISERABLES, and MY FAIR LADY.