Singing Onstage Studios, the pre-eminent musical theatre training program in the Centre Region, will officially become the educational division of FUSE Productions.
“Heidi and I are excited about this new development,” says Richard Biever, also the Producing Artistic Director of FUSE Productions. “Although the mission of FUSE itself is educational — bringing together local talent, PSU students and faculty, and professionals from NYC — many current and former Singing Onstage students have been featured in FUSE’s productions over the years. So connecting and being able to cross-promote the two organizations feels very natural.”
Heidi Biever notes that formally merging the two organizations will provide students with another possible performance outlet, in addition to their student shows.
As a result of the merger, scholarship pledges for Singing Onstage students, as well as other tax-deductible donations, can now be made through Friends of FUSE, the fund-raising 501(c)3 wing of FUSE.
About Singing Onstage
Singing Onstage Studios strives to give students ages 3 and up, as well as adults, professional musical theatre training and performance experience. From 1992 to 1996, Richard Biever offered musical theatre performance classes in the former Dittmar dance studio on South Pugh Street in State College. After a hiatus in the late ‘90s, Singing Onstage programs resumed in 2003 under the leadership of Heidi Biever. Typically organized around well-known shows, courses now run on a semesterly basis, as well as in weeklong summer sessions. Over 1,000 students a year perform in Singing Onstage productions in several local venues.