Broadway star Terrence Mann, the newly appointed Phillips Distinguished Professor in Musical Theatre at Western Carolina University, will present public master classes for actors and singers and will be holding open auditions for a February production of “The Music Man.”

The activities begin Thursday, Nov. 2, and continue through Saturday, Nov. 4. All events are free and open to the public, and performers from across Western North Carolina are encouraged to participate.

Mann originated the role of the Beast in the Broadway production of “Beauty and the Beast,” earning Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for best actor for his performance. He originated several Broadway roles, including leads in “Cats,” “Les Miserables” and “The Scarlett Pimpernel.” Mann also has taken the Broadway stage in “Lennon,” “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Getting Away With Murder,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Rags,” “Barnum,” “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway” and “Jekyll and Hyde.”

Mann will offer a master class for actors on Nov. 2, focusing on techniques for the dramatic and artistic delivery of monologues. The session will begin at 7 p.m. in Niggli Theater. A similar class for singers will be held in the recital hall of the Coulter Building at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, with Mann guiding several young singers in the interpretation and performance of musical theater song.

“These two classes are an extraordinary opportunity for WCU students to work with a gifted singer and actor whose achievements on Broadway, television and film have been greeted with critical acclaim, including two Tony Award nominations,” said Bradley Martin, interim director of WCU’s musical theatre program. “Also an inspiring teacher, Mr. Mann will share with the performers and audience the years of hands-on experience gained at the highest levels of theatrical performance.”

Mann will hold open auditions Nov. 4, for Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man,” his WCU directorial debut set to hit the stage in February. Auditions will begin at 2 p.m. in the recital hall of the Coulter Building. Those interested in auditioning should be prepared to sing a song of their choice (an accompanist will be provided).

The endowed professorship in musical theatre at WCU was made possible by a $233,000 gift from the estate of the late Carolyn P. Phillips of Waynesville, $100,000 in matching money from the C.D. Spangler Foundation, and $167,000 through a General Assembly program designed to encourage private support of public institutions of higher education. Established in 2000, the professorship was hailed as the first such commitment to musical theatre studies in the University of North Carolina system.

For more information, contact Bradley Martin at 828.227.3726.