About this class
Songwork is a course in musical theater performance that treats every song as a scene — an act of storytelling carried through music. The course is built on the principle that acting is the foundation of all performance disciplines, and applies that foundation to the specific demands of singing a story on stage. Learners develop the skills of song interpretation, emotional truth, vocal expression, and stage presence through hands-on studio work.
Each session focuses on a defined element of song-as-scene work — analyzing the lyric as text, identifying the character's objective inside the song, shaping phrasing and breath as dramatic choices, building physical presence while singing — and learners practice in real time on standards from the musical theater canon and contemporary repertoire. Instruction is studio-based and supportive: every session involves on-your-feet singing work, partner exercises, and structured group feedback under the coaching of a working performer. The course culminates in a fully developed performance shared with the group.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, learners will be able to:
- Approach a song as a scene, identifying its objective, obstacle, and tactic
- Analyze a lyric the way an actor analyzes a monologue
- Use breath, phrasing, and emotional truth to communicate the story inside a song
- Build stage presence and physical storytelling while singing
- Choose material that fits the learner's voice, range, and interpretive instincts
- Give and receive feedback productively in a studio environment
- Perform a song for the group with developed character work and clear staging
Methodology
The course draws on the conservatory tradition of integrated actor training, applied to the specific craft of musical theater. Practice is the primary mode of instruction: text analysis of lyrics is paired with active, on-your-feet vocal performance and partner work, with coaching from a working performer.
Topics we cover
- Acting the song: lyric as text, story as throughline
- Objective, obstacle, and tactic inside a musical number
- Phrasing, breath, and emotional choice as storytelling tools
- Stage presence: physical storytelling while singing
- Vocal expression: connecting sound to meaning
- Choosing material: finding songs that fit voice and story
- The standalone piece: shaping a complete song as a self-contained performance
- Putting it all together: character, voice, and stagecraft in one number
Who it's for
For anyone who wants to sing a song and tell its story — building the actor's toolkit and applying it to musical theater. The course welcomes singers at every level, from those new to performance to experienced performers looking to deepen their interpretive work. No prior musical theater experience required.
Who teaches it
Tate McElhaney
Actor and member of Actors' Equity, trained at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music — one of the country's top musical theater conservatories — with professional regional credits at Westport Country Playhouse, Theatre Aspen, Aspen Music Festival, and Cincinnati POPS.
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Pricing
$100 per session · 120 min per class. Register for 8 or more sessions across any combination of classes at The Grove and save 15%.
Registration is handled on our secure registration site.
Classes at The Grove are non-credit, personal-enrichment programs offered by Big Apple Coaching LLC. Participation does not confer academic credit, professional certification, or licensure.