SOM Produce, the renowned production company behind shows like The Sound of Music, West Side Story, and Billy Elliot — with Grease and Matilda in pre-production — has officially opened its Musical Theatre School, SOM Academy, located at Calle Doctor Castelo, 7, very close to the Nuevo Teatro Alcalá in Madrid.
The idea to create SOM Academy arose in 2015 during the preparation of Billy Elliot, when the producer identified the need for comprehensive and specialized training in musicals in Spain. Marcos Cámara, partner at SOM Produce, highlights that this academy is different because it comes directly from the industry: “We want to train artists with the skills and talents that the Spanish musical theatre market really demands.”
The facilities cover 900 m² divided into five large rooms for training and rehearsals. Additionally, students will have access to theatres managed by the production company — Rialto, Alcalá, Calderón, and Apolo — where they can experience firsthand the organization of auditions and professional productions from the beginning.
SOM Academy has creative supervision from David Serrano and distinguished professionals such as Fernando Lázaro and Iker Karrera (dance), Verónica Ronda (singing), and Claudio Tolcachir and Timbre4 (acting). During the presentation, attendees could watch jazz rehearsals, performances of songs like Rent, and a preview of the SOM Junior Academy program with an Annie number coordinated by Luz Cipriota.
Currently, the academy offers seminars and workshops for adults, and starting September 2021, it will launch the professional degree in musical theatre, which integrates singing, dancing, and acting in a program divided into two cycles. In January 2021, a pre-degree program for young people aged 14 and up will also begin.
Marcos Cámara concludes that “SOM Academy strengthens Madrid’s position as the capital of Spanish-language musicals and positions us as a benchmark in the cultural market.”
