Broadway to the Palace Artist Retreat
2026

The Academy at Westmoreland Cultural Trust - The Palace Theatre - August 2026

Director/Choreographer/Retreat Director

The Broadway to the Palace Artist Retreat returned to The Palace Theatre in August 2026 for its second annual intensive, bringing together an exceptional company of emerging performers for a week of advanced training, artistic exploration, professional mentorship and performance alongside working Broadway artists.

Presented by The Academy at Westmoreland Cultural Trust, the retreat is designed to bridge the space between educational theatre and the professional performing arts industry. Participants spend the week immersed in voice, acting, musical theatre dance, repertoire coaching, ensemble performance and artistic development while working directly with Broadway professionals in an environment built around collaboration, experimentation and individual growth.

The 2026 retreat was led by Tony and Grammy Award-nominated Broadway performer Micaela Diamond, whose credits include Parade, The Cher Show and Stephen Sondheim's Here We Are. Diamond served as the retreat's Broadway Guest Teaching Artist and co-directed the culminating showcase alongside Retreat Director Nick Lenz. Broadway Music Director Emily Marshall, whose credits include Jagged Little Pill, Waitress, Mean Girls, Be More Chill and Head Over Heels, provided music direction, arrangements and individualized musical coaching throughout the experience.

An Expanded 2026 Experience

New to the retreat was The Broadway Tea, an industry panel connecting participants with professionals representing multiple sides of the Broadway business. Panelists included Broadway performer Kelsee Kimmel, Broadway producer and performer Drew Elhamalawy and senior talent agent Steve Meyers of Nicolosi & Co. The conversation gave participants an opportunity to learn about professional representation, producing, auditioning, career development and the realities of building a sustainable life in the performing arts.

The retreat also welcomed Mandie Patsy as a Guest Teaching Artist in Musical Theatre Dance. A veteran of the national tour of The Producers, Patsy worked with participants on material from the show, culminating in a fully staged performance of Susan Stroman's Iconic choreography to "I Want to Be a Producer" during the final showcase.

Wellness remained an essential component of the Broadway to the Palace philosophy. Jim Donovan, M.Ed. returned as a Guest Wellness Practitioner and participants were joined by the Pawsitive Impact Therapy Dog Team, providing opportunities throughout an intensive artistic week to reconnect, reset and care for the whole performer.

The Broadway to the Palace Artist Retreat reflects The Academy at Westmoreland Cultural Trust's commitment to creating high-quality, industry-aligned arts education that gives emerging artists access to experiences traditionally concentrated in larger theatrical markets. By bringing Broadway professionals directly to Westmoreland County and placing participants alongside them in the studio and on The Palace Theatre stage, the retreat provides a distinctive opportunity for artists to grow without first having to leave their community to access professional-level mentorship.

2026 Retreat Artists, Staff & Guests

Retreat Director - Nick Lenz

Broadway Guest Teaching Artist - Micaela Diamond

Broadway Music Director - Emily Marshall

Guest Teaching Artist, Musical Theatre Dance - Mandie Patsy

Guest Wellness Practitioner - Jim Donovan, M.Ed. & Pawsitive Impact Therapy Dog Team

"The Broadway Tea" Industry Panelists - Kelsee Kimmel, HELL'S KITCHEN , Drew Elhamalawy, THE LOST BOYS, Steve Meyers, Nicolosi & Co

2026 Production Team

Direction by - Nick Lenz & Micaela Diamond

Music Direction & Arrangements - Emily Marshall

Choreography, "I Want to Be a Producer" originally by Susan Stroman taught by - Mandie Patsy

Company Stage Manager - Alex Boyd

Sound Design - Jesse Madden, Next Step Productions