A place for future stars or those wanting to express themselves

Around 200 students have signed up already for The Gateway’s Acting School’s spring and summer sessions. Stop by this Bellport landmark, off South Country Road, when sessions let out or are about to begin and witness the enthusiastic camaraderie and excitement as they gather outside or in the lobby.

“It’s a happy place to be where all the students can be who they are and there are no labels,” said Acting School manager and casting director, Rachel Armistead.  “Here, they have that amazing outlet.”

“Production classes get a fully scripted junior show,” she said, launching into the programs. “We just finished a version of ‘The Lion King.’ Acting classes teach the foundation of acting. Most think it’s memorization. We take them through how to be real from the scripted word. With musical theater classes, it’s not just sing a song or hit the high notes. You have to tell a story, and we also teach techniques like breath and voice support.”

For the upcoming “Matilda: The Musical Jr.” (July 7,8,14,15) and “Finding Nemo Jr.” (Aug. 18, 19, 25, 26 and Sept. 1, and 2), there were auditions.

“We had an open call in April. Students had to prepare 32 bars of a song and present it to us. With ‘Matilda,’ there were acting, singing, and dance callbacks,” Armistead said. “With ‘Finding Nemo,’ the first batch of callbacks are tomorrow,” she said, referring to last Friday. “Mary Giattino is the choreographer for ‘Matilda.’ (Giattino owns Stage Door School of Dance and has worked and danced in many Broadway and Gateway productions.) She has a wonderful way with students and inspires them. Even if they aren’t trained in ballet or other dance, she finds something they can do. Joe Minutillo is our director; he’s directed many shows for The Gateway, on the main stage and for us.”

Minutillo’s theatre education and director’s chops are legion; he received a prestigious New York State Rod Marriot Award for his work in theater education; besides Gateway, he’s directed at the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor as well as its Young Playwright’s program there, and for the Young American Writers Project for Emma Walton and Will Chandler at Stony Brook University.

Many Gateway Acting School alums have progressed to star in Broadway shows, national tours and regional productions, along with jobs in the industry, network television, feature films and daytime soaps. “We have so many success stories,” Armistead said. “They all get their training here and learn ‘Why are you saying that?’ ‘What are you saying?’ ‘Why are you in this confrontation?’ ‘What do you want?’”

But Armistead also pointed out, “The Acting School is so important for being an outlet, with all the bullying and social media prevalent today, and creating that safe space, regardless of helping to mold the next Broadway star. Some are here just for the fun of it.”

Adults are welcome, too.

Armistead’s initial dream was to become an actor, but wasn’t enamored with New York auditions. She attended California University of Pennsylvania; three days after graduating with a B.A. in theater, she moved to Long Island and began working with The Gateway. “I was a company management intern,” she said. “Robin [Allan] offered classes and Michael Baker (Gateway’s last acting school director) saw me teach.” She eventually became casting assistant, then assistant company manager of the programs, working with Baker and gaining accolades along the way. Armistead started with Gateway in 2012.

“I’m very comfortable behind the table,” she said. “I want to find that beautiful spark and build on that.”

“One thing I’m passionate about is our scholarship program,” she said. “We want to reach those who don’t have the finances. So, for students from Bellport and Mastic, we have an application process. Most times, they can get a partial or full scholarship.”