The Academy is once again defying the odds, expanding its staff, rather than cutting back. We've hired a new administrative assistant, Bryan Blaskie, to help with daily workload, as well as special projects.
Bryan's responsibilities include sexy stuff like supervising the online Catalogue for New Musicals, overseeing new technology and social media, and then...LESS sexy stuff like office management, database supervision, and daily/weekly communication with composers, lyricists and bookwriters. And maybe a little bit of tidying and janitorial assistance thrown in, just for good measure.
Bryan first joined ANMT as a composer during 2011-2012’s Core Curriculum. After successfully completing the program, he wrote the music for “iWish” as part of the 2012 15-Minute Musicals program. In addition to his work as a composer, Bryan is an accompanist for various programs in Los Angeles. He played Keyboard II for our production of “A Ring in Brooklyn”. He is a staff accompanist for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. He also performs around the LA area in his blues duo, Torch Note. Bryan is from Columbus, Ohio, where he studied music composition and piano performance at Denison University.
"Bryan's starting as a part-time employee," says Scott, "but there is definitely room to grow into a full-time position, or even a whole new department. Bryan's a smart, funny, and artistic composer, but he also has the skills and drive of an entrepreneur, and he knows there are opportunities to launch whole new departments at the Academy: the world is his musical theatre oyster...if that metaphor makes any sense."
"I'm really a lucky guy," says Blaskie. "I've wound up in the right spot and the right time. I love my bosses -- we have a gas working together; lots of laughter and clowning around. But at the end of the day, I take this job very seriously. I know the opportunity they're giving me here. But now it's up to me to make something exciting happen."
