Patrick Wilson shares acting, singing wisdom with students

Broadway and film star Patrick Wilson helped kick off a summer educational musical theatre program at the University of South Florida today by teaching acting skills to 185 students from throughout the United States.

"I've been coaching them on how to present an audition song," he said. "They need to connect with the song and the character."

Wilson, who grew up in St. Petersburg, is one of several guest lecturers from the theater world who are participating in the Broadway Theatre Project which runs through Aug. 2.

The program is designed to prepare students for a professional career in musical theater.

"I attended this same program 16 years ago and it's great to be able to give back," says Wilson, 36, who graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Also participating in the nationally acclaimed program is playwright, director and actor Austin Pendleton who has worked in dozens of films and TV shows.

Other instructors include Broadway musical director David Loud ("Curtains," Sweeny Todd" "The Look of Love"); dancer, choreographer, writer, and theatre director Christopher d'Amboise; choreographer Melissa Thodos and composer Frank Wildhorn who is developing "Wonderland," a musical inspired by "Alice in Wonderland" for the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

A version of "Wonderland" was first presented at a workshop during the 2007 session of Broadway Theatre Project. Numbers were choreographed and directed by the Project's Artistic Director Debra McWaters and presented in the Broadway Theatre Project performance. Producer Judith Lisi from the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center acquired the show after seeing the BTP workshop production.

Wilson, the son of WTVT, Channel 13, anchorman John Wilson and singer Mary Kay Wilson, was in St. Petersburg in May running an acting workshop at the Sunscreen Film Festival.

Wilson lives in New York where he divides his time between film and theater roles.

His film credits include "Angels in America" (HBO); "Phantom of the Opera;'" "The Alamo;" "Running With Scissors;" and "Lakeview Terrace." He recently completed filming a romantic comedy "The Baster" with Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman and is currently working on "Morning Glory," a comedy starring Harrison Ford and Rachel McAdams.

The 2009 session of Broadway Theatre Project will culminate in a festival that will take place at USF from July 30 to Aug. 1. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com and can be purchased for individual performances or for the entire festival.