MUSICAL THEATRE

Stagebound

Masterclass & Cabaret Series

Registration Opening Summer 2025!

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“A very welcoming, supportive and very inclusive environment that showcased all sorts of talent from so many walks of life. A real supportive community was found in this program.”

– Ryan N, Past Participant

Returning Fall 2025

After huge success from our pilot program in Spring 2025. Stagebound Masterclass and Cabaret Series is returning bigger and better this Fall!

START DATE

September 2025

REHEARSAL DAY

Sundays

REHEARSAL TIMES

Introductory: 10:00AM to 12:00PM
Ensemble: 12:30PM to 3:30PM

Showcase Dates

November 2025

The Stagebound Process

Stagebound Masterclasses are accessible to performers of any skill-level and experience: people who have never been on stage, those who haven’t done it since they were kids, or aspiring (or working) professionals. Instructors Julie Martell and Chuck Homewood are successful and experienced industry professionals who excel in meeting students wherever they are. The goal is to create a safe space where we can make mistakes, learn, and improve. Beginner students will learn from those with more experience and those with more experience will benefit from a return to basics as their classmates get started.

New masterclass students are eligible to register for “Introduction Masterclass”, and returning students are invited to register for “Ensemble Masterclass” where they will apply the skills learned in the Intro course to the new challenge of performing with others. While there is some room to adjust the amount of “homework” to individual schedules, students can expect to spend 1-3 hours each week outside of class to rehearse on their own and will need to memorize 2-4 numbers to perform at the end of term showcase.

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Introductory Masterclass

Students will be introduced to the work of the singing actor by preparing a song specially selected for their level of experience and training. Class will cover individual coaching on interpretation of both the text and the score in a group setting and prepares each student for a thorough understanding of the craft of musical theatre. In addition, group work on ensemble numbers forms the foundation of singing as a chorus.

Ensemble Masterclass

Dive into the art of ensemble performance – exploring what it truly looks and feels like to perform with others. Through focused work on duets and trios, you’ll develop the skills to navigate shared performance space with clarity, connection, and confidence.

Our Instructors

Julie Martell

Born and raised in Cape Breton, Julie left home and received her undergraduate honours degree at the University of Windsor, with a double major in Music and Theatre. Upon graduation she landed the part of Sophie in the musical Mamma Mia with Mirvish productions in Toronto.

18 years later she played the role of Donna (the mother) in Neptune Theatre’s production of Mamma Mia. Other credits include Gypsy Rose Lee on Broadway with Bernadette Peters, Maria in The Sound of Music (Theatre Aquarius) Cathy in The Last Five Years (The Grand Theatre) A Night With Jason Robert Brown (Glenn Gould Studio) Good Vibrations: The Beach Boys Musical (NYSF)Belle in Beauty and the Beast (Neptune) Mom in Billy Elliott (Neptune Theatre) Dear Rita (Neptune Theatre) 9 seasons at the Shaw Festival: Starring roles in: Sweet Charity, Ragtime, A Little Night Music, Gypsy, One Touch of Venus, The Cherry Orchard, Happy End, Belle Moral, Maria Severa, The President, The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide, Sunday in The Park With George, Play Orchestra Play, French Without Tears, Follies: In Concert.

After 30 years of living and working away, Julie is thrilled to be back in Nova Scotia performing, teaching privately and sharing her expertise with Ekko’s new Music Theatre program.

Chuck Homewood

Chuck has musically directed more than 75 productions across the country and has toured internationally including three Broadway shows. At Neptune Theatre he has musically directed Into the Woods, Frog and Toad, Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Carol: The Musical, Disney’s High School Musical and Shakespeare In Love Chuck was Neptune Theatre’s Director of Education for eight years, overseeing Theatre School programs and the Young Neptune Touring Company. He has taught at the Banff Centre, Dalhousie University,Neptune Theatre School, Maritime Conservatory of the Performing Arts and the HAT Academy.

In addition to conducting and arranging for musical theatre Chuck is also a busy clinician as a singing actor coach and collaborative pianist. He has recently returned from China where he taught for the American Musical Theatre Academy in Shanghai and Beijing. Chuck also maintains a thriving boutique piano studio specializing in adult students wishing to study either classically or in popular idioms.