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Team PUA

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PUA Support Team!

Welcome from us all :



Bunny Oldham :  I  just want to welcome you and thank you for sharing your gifts and talents with us this weekend.  It means so much that we have earned your trust for this process.  We are here for you!   TEAM PUA - PUAWERKS!

Hi. My name is Kathy Freihofer - and I am a musical theatre mom! I was there at the start at a workshop in Cleveland with Marcie and Bunny where the Facebook page was born!! My daughter, Sydney , graduated from the Wright State University in 2019 with her BFA in Acting. She’s currently living in New York City and pursuing her dreams.

I’m Karen Kelly, yet another Musical Theatre Mom. I am one of the admins of the MT Parents Facebook page. My son, Tyler, graduated from Nazareth University in May 2023 with s BFA in MT and has been working on shows ever since! We are NYC natives and that makes it easy for him to run into the city for auditions. I’m happy to be with you all here at Pittsburgh Unifides, helping the next group of high school seniors get one step closer to their dream!

Denise Liebowitz - Ryan Liebowitz auditioned for musical theater at the first PUA in 2021. The atmosphere was fantastic, and it set the tone for the remainder of his audition season. (And, yes, he met the faculty for his current school for the first time at PUA.) Both Ryan and his mom, Denise volunteered in 2022 and 2023. You can’t get rid of us. This year Denise is excited to wear the hat as a theater tech mom (representing her daughter who is in stage management) to help with the portfolio reviews. As any theater mom would do, I’ll wear both hats during the weekend because you can take the mom out of the theater, but you can’t take the theater out of the mom.

Hi. My name is Jacqueline and I am a musical theatre mom! My daughter, Amanda, graduated from the University of Miami in 2018 with her BFA in Musical Theatre, and minors in Music Business and Music Composition. She’s currently living in Hoboken, New Jersey and pursuing her dreams.

Suzanne Stitt - Five years ago, my son Quinn was a high school senior and we navigated MT College auditions by ourselves. We were immersed in a world we knew nothing about and constantly worried that we didn’t even know enough to be asking the right questions. I only wish that Pittsburgh Unifieds had been around then. It definitely takes a village and Marcie and Bunny have created an incredibly caring and immensely helpful village. And I’m here to help other parents have a smoother, less stressful and maybe even enjoyable journey.

My name is Molly Oldham, PROUD daughter of co-founder and super mom Bunny! I am a current senior at UNCG where I just came off of playing the bakers wife!! I’m so excited to be back helping the next class of performers find their collegiate home

Hi, my name is Ryan Liebowitz. I’m from Westchester, New York and I am a sophomore musical theater major at UNCG. This is my third year at Pittsburgh Unifieds, my first time, 2 years ago, I was auditioning for schools and found my home at UNCG. Can’t wait to meet all of y’all

Seth Francis is your go-to guy for the schedule at Pittsburgh Unified Auditions, happily playing a part in this exciting venture. With a chapter as a Resident Assistant at Miami University’s theatre dorm under his belt, he’s no stranger to lending a hand to budding performers. Seth sends good vibes to all auditionees and is always happy to chat!









 

About Pittsburgh Unifieds Auditions LLC

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In 2021, the Inaugural Pittsburgh Unifieds was a tremendously successful event which kicked off the audition season in October, connecting talented students from all over the country with 20 Musical Theater and Acting Programs both virtually and in person.  In 2022, we partnered with the Pittsburgh CLO and doubled our attendees.  We had a tremendous time and we are enjoying the successes of the candidates whether they landed at a PUA school or another fabulous choice.  We are humbled to be a small part of the process.


Pittsburgh Unifieds Auditions is an early, cost effective, vetted, in-person, consortium style audition which benefit the students, their families and the program directors looking to recruit them.   

 

The basis of the re-imagined process was conceived from a need that was observed in the popular Facebook Forum, which was founded 5 years ago by Marcie Yoho.  MT PARENTS currently has over 7200 parents looking for and sharing advice about the college audition process. (WE LOVE OUR BTDT parents who have Been There, Done That!).  

 

We know the earlier a student narrows down their lists with possible offers, the easier it is to schedule visits, connect with current students/faculty, and evaluate financial aid packages.  Similarly, from the program's vantage point, the earlier a connection is made, the better they can manage the campus visits, the financial aid process and the commitments whilst freeing up valuable time to work with existing students in the Spring. 

 

We are also aware of the financial burden of multiple auditions, applications, and travel expenses and how that adds to an already stressful process.   It is the goal of PUA to reduce that stress to provide a more manageable and enjoyable process for the student, the family, and also the programs.

Here are the Key Points you should know about PUA 2024/5

Dates of the In Person Event are October 4-7th in Pittsburgh, PA at CLO Pittsburgh
- Virtual Audition Option will be held through the GETACCEPT'D Portal On Oct 19-20th.

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- Dance Call is from 7-9 Saturday evening at the CLO.

- All auditions are recorded and available to Program Directors and their faculty.
- Call backs will be available in private rooms on October 6-7th (done by Monday afternoon.)
-⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Tech and Design Portfolio Reviews are 30 minutes each on Oct 19th. VIRTUALLY.
- Rising Junior Mock Audition/Masterclass that will be run by MTCA with multiple schools.

Virtual Auditions will be Oct 19th from 9-5 and candidates will be seen by ALL schools.

Virtual Callbacks will be Oct 20th and scheduled directly with candidates by the schools.

Virtual Dance Call will be sent to Virtual Candidates, and they will have 48 hours to self tape and download back.
 

Friday Oct 4th, we will have a STUDENT MIXER/DJ/Pizza Party from 7-9pm at the EVEN HOTEL.

Friday Oct 4th, we will have a FACULTY Meet and Greet at the BAKERSFIELD (walking distance from EVEN)
https://Parents are welcome to Meet Up at the Even Lobby Bar.  We will have Parent Events throughout the weekend.

 

The audition is Consortium Style and each program will designate if it is a Live Prescreen or a Final Audition (see each school info). We will have live accompanists and the opportunity to warm up with them again.  We will also provide a list of waiver/discount codes for applications to the programs in attendance.  At the end of the event, we will also provide student absence letters.

 

Cost of the weekend programming  includes your portal through GetAccept'd, All Masterclasses, Auditions, and a Swag Bag!  Scholarships will be available based on application.  Email scholarship@pittsburghunifiedauditions.org

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