The Voice Studio, formerly called The Paul Gavert Studio, truly began when two of voice instructor Paul Gavert’s AMDA students, Victoria Mallory and Kurt Peterson, were cast by Leonard Bernstein and Richard Rodgers from hundreds of hopefuls for the first major revival of West Side Story at Lincoln Center in the summer of 1968.

With the success of the show and the two unknowns came many inquiries about Mr. Gavert’s technique. Soon many notables began to work at the studio including, Betty Buckley and Donna McKechnie. The success of Kurt and Victoria in shows including Dear World, Follies and A Little Night Music  and Sondheim- A Musical Tribute brought greater visibility and attention to the Studio. Stephen Sondheim and Hal Prince began sending theirs casts and after the success of A Chorus Line, Michael Bennet and Joseph Papp (The Public Theatre) began sending all the dancers to the studio.  Over the 40 year history of The Voice Studio, the history of Broadway is entwined with the history of the Studio, training many of Broadway’s finest singers, actors and dancers with those who just loved to sing.

After Paul’s death in the early 1990s, the Studio was expanded, and from two teachers and a handful of students in the 1970s, The Voice Studio now includes more than 25 teachers and over 300 students as well as having become the home of Broadway conducting and performance classes.

On any given day over the past couple of years you might see the top of Sutton Foster’s head as she pours through the music library, Bette Midler on her cell phone in the kitchen, Audra McDonald patiently waiting for her lesson time or Adam Pascal on his way to his next performance.

The Voice Studio is in an integral part of James William Productions whose mission it is to produce new plays and musicals.

You can obtain more information on The Voice Studio by contacting us at tvsjwpnyc@aol.com or at 212-581-9188.

For more information on James William Productions, visit www.jameswilliamproductions.com.