Meet the Graduates

Patti D’Beck and David Leong are storytellers, hobby historians, professional speakers, and long-time Broadway performers, directors and choreographers. They collaborated on nearly 40 Broadway plays and musicals including A Chorus Line, Grease, Pippin, Hamlet and Macbeth. They also choreographed dozens of celebrities from Liza Minelli, Mickey Rooney, Daniel Craig, Sigourney Weaver, Christopher Plummer, Chubby Checker and Brooke Shields.

Patti has an M.A. in Performing Arts from N.Y.U. and before her Broadway career, she was a featured dancer at the famous NYC nightclubs the Latin Quarter and the Copacabana. David taught at the prestigious Juilliard School, is the author of two public speaking books and holds the Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre. As retired college professors from Virginia Commonwealth University, they also currently teach empathy, communication, and personal presence to doctors and nurses.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS – PART I.
See the scenes and hear the stories behind the making of the movie musicals Singin’ in the Rain, The Wizard of Oz, Oklahoma and many more.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS – PART II.
See the scenes and hear the stories behind the making of the movie musicals My Fair Lady, Hello, Dolly!, The Sound of Music, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof and many more.

RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN II – THE SURPRISING STORIES BEHIND THE SONGS YOU GREW UP WITH
Learn the backstory behind the musical partnership that revolutionized Broadway and the American Movie Musical.

UNFORGETTABLE CROONERS: THE STORIES BEHIND THE SINGERS
Laugh and learn as you hear the music and inspiring real-life stories of famous “Crooners” like Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, and many others.

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY: THE STORIES BEHIND THE SONGS
Listen to the music and hear the surprising stories behind songs like That’s Amore, Moon River, Volare, Sentimental Journey and many more.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF 1950’S TELEVISION: FROM HOWDY DOODY TO I LOVE LUCY
Learn how the classic TV shows redefined and reshaped American culture.

FIVE GROUNDBREAKING THINGS THAT 1960’S TV CHANGED
From the Kennedy/Nixon presidential debate to the live broadcast of America’s moon landing, no other decade of television made a giant leap like the 1960’s.

HERCULES, HELEN, MONSTERS AND MYTHOLOGY: MOVIES THAT TAKE YOU BACK TO ANCIENT GREECE
Get a closeup look at how the moviemakers brought these timeless tales to the big screen.

SEA BATTLES, CAESAR, AND SWORDS: THE MOST SPECTACULAR MOVIES SET IN ANCIENT ROME
Separate fact from fiction as you discover how Hollywood filmmakers created some of the greatest stories ever told on film.

BROADWAY SHOWSTOPPERS AND SPECIAL FX
Broadway masters unveil the secrets behind the making of some of the biggest showstopping moments from Phantom of the Opera, Singin’ in the Rain, Peter Pan, Pippin and many others.

STAGING THE STARS OF BROADWAY
Broadway master’s describe the skills and strategies they used to stage celebrities including Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer, Reba McEntire and many others.

THE BIGGEST CINEMATIC SWASHBUCKLERS OF ALL TIME
Learn the hidden secrets about Hollywood’s swashbuckling heroes and heroines and how they made the smash hits Zorro, Robin Hood, Star Wars, and many others.

THE MOST POPULAR CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY SONGS OF ALL TIME
Do you know that almost all of the Christmas and holiday songs you’re most likely to hear are from the 1940’s and 1950’s? Learn that and more as you enjoy the nostalgic memories of your favorite holiday hits while you hear stories behind the writing and making of Jingle Bells, White Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock, The Christmas Song and many others.

Patti D’Beck and David Leong have world-wide professional speaking experience, long-time Broadway performers/directors/choreographers, former tenured college theatre professors (40+ years), Ted Talk Speakers, professional speaking coaches and authors. You can Google us to learn more.

Celebrity Edge Dates February 3, – 13, 2023 Broadway, Hollywood and Crooners lectures

Regents Oceana February 24 – March 13, 2023 Broadway, Hollywood and Crooners lectures