Toledo Opera will host a musical theater audition masterclass with Broadway veteran Raquel Suarez Groen on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at the Secor Ballroom at 425 Jefferson Avenue, Toledo, Ohio 43604. Tailored for students in grades 9-12, attendees can expect valuable insights into audition techniques and performance skills straight from the Broadway stage. Raquel Suarez Groen will share her expertise gained from years of experience in both theatre and film, providing aspiring performers with a unique opportunity to learn from one of the industry’s finest talents.
In addition to the immersive learning experience, eight students will have the chance to showcase their talents as participants of the masterclass. To be considered as a candidate, interested students are required to submit two videos of themselves singing musical theatre selections with accompaniment. The chosen performers will have the chance to perform for Raquel in front of an audience and will receive personalized feedback on their performances.
“We are very excited to offer this rare opportunity for our regional high school students to learn and hone their skills from a professional Broadway artist,” shared Toledo Opera Co-Artistic Director James M. Norman. “Raquel is a dynamo stage performer who will enthuse and uplift students as they learn the dos and don’ts of auditioning.”
Admission to the masterclass is $20 for attendees and participants. Student attendees and participants will receive a complimentary ticket to the Student Night at the Opera performance of Ragtime on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Registration is available at toledoopera.org. To be considered as a performance candidate, please indicate “Performer Candidate” in order to receive the video upload form.
Known for her “fresh and clear” sound and her versatile performances of complex characters, Raquel Suarez Groen is a force to be reckoned with on both Opera and theatre stages. Ms. Suarez Groen made her Broadway début in the iconic role of Carlotta Giudicelli in The Phantom of the Opera which she has since performed close to 1000 performances in her two years with the company. She has been busy on camera this past few seasons as well, with several print campaigns running including Injectafer and SculpSure. She also appeared as a soloist for NY Couture Fashion Week. Of her performance as Roxanne in ¡Figaro! (90210), performed Off Broadway at The Duke, critics hailed every aspect of her performance, noting both the hilarity in her “hyper-screwball comedy performance” while also lauding her portrayal of “the suffering Roxanne Conti (affectingly sung by the soprano Raquel Suarez Groen).” The Huffington Post summed up this tour-de-force performance with their review: “Suarez Groen is poignant and witty.” Highlights of Ms. Suarez Groen’s operatic engagements include her début with Opera Carolina as Marzelline (Fidelio), Frasquita (Carmen) with Opera San Antonio and Venture Opera, Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) with Opera on the James, Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi) with DiCapo Opera, Gianetta in (L’elisir d’amore) with Opera in Williamsburg, the title role in Cendrillon with New York Lyric Opera and Kate Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly) at Opera Lyra Ottawa. Additional roles include Adele (Die Fledermaus), Musetta (La Bohème), Ilia (Idomeneo) with the Martina Arroyo Foundation’s Prelude to Performance festival and Laurie Moss (The Tender Land) at Opera NUOVA. Raquel started Empower Voices Now, a program offering masterclasses, coachings, and lectures from the best of Broadway and the opera world’s professionals: http://www.empowervoicesnow.com/. Ms. Groen will join make her Toledo Opera debut as Mother in Ragtime on April 19 & 21, 2024.
Registration for the masterclass can be found at toledoopera.org. For more information, please visit toledoopera.org. For media access, or for additional information, please contact Rachael Cammarn at rcammarn@toledoopera.org.
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.