MUSICAL THEATRE SUMMER INTENSIVE COURSE
BERLIN
TRAIN • PERFORM • GROW
Join our all-day, English-led summer intensive mentored by industry pros to unlock your stage potential and shine.
Teen Track - Ages 12–18 | All Levels Welcome
Young Artist Track - Ages 18–23 | Professional Development
NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS • ENGLISH IMMERSION • STAGE LAB BERLIN • MUSICAL THEATRE SUMMER INTENSIVE • AUGUST 2026 •
The Program
Join us for a dynamic and inspiring week of musical theatre training at Stage Lab Berlin.
This intensive program is designed for young artists who want to develop their skills in singing, acting, and movement in a focused, supportive, and professional environment.
Whether new to musical theatre or already experienced, students will grow artistically, build confidence, and perform in a professional setting.
Why Stage Lab Berlin
• Full-day intensive (25+ hours of training per week)
• Individual vocal coaching and ensemble work
• Professional faculty with international experience
• Native English-speaking environment
• Final showcase performance for family and friends
How the Week Works
Each participant will bring one or two songs to work on during the week, developing technique, interpretation, and performance skills through guided coaching.
Alongside individual work, students rehearse ensemble pieces, learning collaboration, stage movement, and stage presence.
Focus areas include:
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Vocal technique and song interpretation
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Acting and character development
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Movement and stage presence
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Ensemble collaboration
The week culminates in a FINAL SHOWCASE performance on Friday 17:00, where students present their work for family and friends.
Age Groups
Participants are grouped to ensure focused and supportive learning:
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Ages 12 - 14
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Ages 15 - 17
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Ages 18 - 23
2026 Dates
Flexible booking – join one or multiple weeks:
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August 3 - 7
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August 10 - 14
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August 17 - 21
Intensive Schedule
10:00 — 16:00
Sessions run Monday through Friday. Every intensive week culminates in a final professional showcase Friday at 17:00 for family and friends.
English Speaking Environment
All sessions are conducted in English by native speakers, creating an immersive environment where students can develop performance skills while building confidence in English.
The Lab Faculty
Diipti Firmstone
Artistic Director | Voice | Performance
Australian opera and musical theatre performer, educator and Artistic Director Diipti Firmstone is based in Berlin and is passionate about developing the next generation of performers through outstanding, holistic performing arts training.
With over twenty years' experience as both a performer and teacher, Diipti has built an international career spanning opera, concert performance, musical theatre and vocal pedagogy. Alongside performing, she has taught extensively across Australia & Germany, working with children, young people, aspiring conservatoire students and professional performers.
Drawing on her Australian training and international career, Diipti believes the strongest performers develop through an integrated approach - where singing, acting, movement and creativity are taught together, not in isolation.
As the founder and Artistic Director of Stage Lab Berlin, she created the academy to bridge the gap between traditional music education and the collaborative reality of today's performing arts industry. Her vision is to create an international training environment where young artists can develop technical excellence, confidence, creativity and a deeper understanding of the profession through collaboration with leading performers, educators and industry professionals.
At Stage Lab Berlin, Diipti leads the academy's artistic vision, working alongside an international faculty to prepare performers for auditions, further study and professional careers in the performing arts.
www.diipti.com
Lawrence Rush
Musical Director | Composer | Performer | Educator
Lawrence Rush is an award-winning American composer, musical director, performer and educator with an international career spanning musical theatre, opera and arts education.
With decades of experience as both a performer and teaching artist, Lawrence has worked with leading organisations including The Neighborhood Playhouse, TADA! Youth Theater, Brooklyn Children's Theatre, STEPS on Broadway and, most recently, Berlin Brandenburg International School. In Summer 2026, he joins the faculty of the Berklee College of Music Musical Theatre Summer Program in Boston.
As a composer and lyricist, Lawrence is best known for Pride & Prejudice – The Musical, a Richard Rodgers Award Finalist and Eugene O'Neill Musical Theatre Conference Finalist, which has been performed internationally and featured at New York's renowned 54 Below.
At Stage Lab Berlin, Lawrence leads the musical direction of the programme, bringing together his expertise in vocal coaching, acting through song and musical storytelling. Passionate about nurturing young performers, he creates a supportive and inspiring environment where students are encouraged to develop confidence, artistry and a genuine connection between music, text and performance.
Website: www.lawrencerush.com
Eric Little
Musical Director | Piano | Vocal Coach
Eric Little is an American musical director, conductor, pianist, performer and educator whose work spans musical theatre, opera, collaborative performance and international arts projects.
Originally from Portland, Oregon, Eric has worked extensively throughout the United States as a music director, conductor, pianist and teaching artist. He spent over a decade working with Portland Center Stage, one of the leading regional theatre companies in the United States, where he music directed and conducted productions including RENT, The Music Man and Fun Home, while also performing as an actor and vocalist in a wide range of productions.
As a collaborative pianist and rehearsal accompanist, Eric worked with Portland Opera, preparing and accompanying complex operatic scores for rehearsal and performance. His work bridges the worlds of opera, musical theatre and contemporary performance, bringing a uniquely versatile perspective to his teaching and artistic leadership.
Internationally, Eric served as a U.S. State Department Arts Envoy in Cairo, Egypt, where he collaborated with Egyptian and American artists on cross-cultural performance projects, devised new theatrical works and performed at the Cairo International Festival of Contemporary and Experimental Theatre.
Passionate about developing young performers, Eric has led workshops, summer intensives and musical theatre training programmes for teenagers and emerging artists throughout the United States and internationally. His teaching focuses on musicality, storytelling, ensemble collaboration and authentic performance practice.
At Stage Lab Berlin, Eric serves as Musical Director, guiding students through music rehearsals, ensemble work and performance preparation while helping young artists develop confidence, creativity and strong collaborative skills.
Jess Rucinski
Musical Director | Collaborative Pianist | Vocal Coach
American pianist Jess Rucinski is a collaborative pianist, répétiteur and musical director with an international career spanning opera, musical theatre and vocal coaching.
Since 2025, Jess has been a member of the music staff at Theater Bonn. Previously, she worked as a guest répétiteur at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, where she performed orchestral piano for the acclaimed new production of Nixon in China, and at the Brandenburger Theater for Elektra. Her extensive experience also includes work with the Berlin Opera Academy, Boston Opera Collaborative, the Aspen Music Festival, Music Academy of the West and the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center, where she performed in the US premiere of George Benjamin's Written on Skin. At Aspen, she served as Opera Piano Fellow for Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story, combining her expertise in both opera and musical theatre.
Known for her versatility, Jess's repertoire ranges from Baroque opera to contemporary music, combining exceptional musical precision with a passion for collaborative performance and artistic excellence.
At Stage Lab Berlin, Jess serves as Musical Director, working closely with singers to develop confident, expressive and stylistically informed performances. Her supportive and collaborative approach helps performers strengthen their musicianship while discovering greater freedom, communication and authenticity on stage.
Rachel Nash
Movement | Dance | Choreography
Rachel Nash is an international dancer, choreographer, movement educator and lyric soprano whose work spans ballet, opera, musical theatre and contemporary performance.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Rachel trained at prestigious institutions including the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, School of American Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet School and Ballet Academy East. She performed professionally with Oregon Ballet Theatre, Richmond Ballet and Charlottesville Ballet, dancing principal and featured roles in works by George Balanchine, Mikhail Fokine and other leading choreographers. In 2022, she was selected as one of only 22 dancers to perform in the 90th Anniversary Gala at Jacob’s Pillow, one of the most celebrated dance festivals in the world.
As a choreographer, Rachel has created original works for ballet companies, universities and training institutions across the United States and Europe. In 2024, she was appointed Resident Choreographer for the Berlin Opera Academy’s Summer OpernFest, where she choreographed her first full-length opera, and in 2025 she served as Assistant Director for Opera Zuid’s production of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi in the Netherlands.
Passionate about nurturing the next generation of performers, Rachel brings a uniquely interdisciplinary approach to teaching, drawing upon her extensive experience in dance, acting, music and movement. She holds a BFA in Dance from Point Park University and is currently completing her Gyrokinesis teacher certification while pursuing a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership.
At Stage Lab Berlin, Rachel leads movement and choreography, helping performers develop confidence, physical storytelling, stage presence and authentic artistic expression.
Leslie Unger
Director | Choreographer | Movement & Performance
Leslie Unger is an American director, choreographer, educator and performer whose career spans more than three decades across Europe and the United States.
Based in Berlin, Leslie has built an exceptional international career in musical theatre, theatre and performer training. As a performer, she appeared in the European tour of Cats and spent seven years at Berlin's Theater des Westens. Her directing and choreography credits include the Berliner Ensemble, regional theatres throughout the United States, and productions across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
A passionate educator, Leslie has taught and directed at leading institutions including Yale University, The Hartt School, SVA Musical Berlin and numerous professional training programmes throughout Europe and the United States. Her teaching is rooted in collaboration, artistic curiosity and the belief that movement is an essential part of authentic storytelling.
At Stage Lab Berlin, Leslie leads movement, choreography and performance, helping performers develop confidence, stage presence and a deeper connection between movement, character and story.