On Stage, Ready, Go!

On Stage, Ready, Go!

"On Stage, Ready, Go!" is the podcast of the Musicalschule Ahrensburg. Hauke Wendt offers behind-the-scenes insights into a theatre school for acting, dance and singing — from trial lessons and safeguarding to questions of tolerance and community. Honest conversations about everyday life at a school that trains young and adult performers.

🎧 9 Episoden
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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – Progress comes from perseverance – 7 insights from a school year 11 Minuten 51 Sekunden
S01E08

Progress comes from perseverance – 7 insights from a school year

In this special episode, Headteacher Hauke Wendt offers a personal insight into a whole school year at the Ahrensburg Musical School (near Hamburg). Rather than listing events, he shares seven profound insights into what truly helps people to grow: the difference between talent and hard work, the underestimated power of community, and why the greatest things often start small. This episode is less a traditional podcast episode and more a reflection on what it means to build something together – and why it is sometimes so difficult to hold on to precisely what we desire most.

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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – Why musical theatre students learn acting, dance and singing [S01E07] 14 Minuten 38 Sekunden
S01E07

Why musical theatre students learn acting, dance and singing [S01E07]

What exactly is a musical theatre course and how is it structured? Hauke Wendt and Marc Brendemühl explain the core of the Ahrensburg Musical Theatre School: the combination of acting, dance and singing in 90 minutes a week. They discuss age groups ranging from 3-year-olds to adults, the specific curriculum agreed with the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs, flexible lesson planning, and why English musical theatre training serves as the model.

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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – Performances at the musical theatre school: compulsory or voluntary? 24 Minuten 10 Sekunden
S01E06

Performances at the musical theatre school: compulsory or voluntary?

Performances are at the heart of a performing arts school – but do all pupils really have to go on stage? In this episode from the Ahrensburg Musical Theatre School (near Hamburg), Hauke Wendt and Marc Brendemühl discuss the importance of performances, how the school deals with students who suffer from performance anxiety, and why even former professionals choose to teach without appearing on stage themselves. They recount spectacular guest performances – from the ‘Thriller’ dance featuring 150 dancers at Hamburg Central Station to the ‘Back to the 50’s’ revue. An in-depth conversation about the balance between performance and craft.

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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – Singing lessons: Quality, not compromise 14 Minuten 42 Sekunden
S01E05

Singing lessons: Quality, not compromise

In this episode, Hauke Wendt and Marc Brendemühl discuss the singing lessons on offer at the Ahrensburg Musical Theatre School near Hamburg. The focus is on the new one-to-one singing lessons with experienced tutors Tony Kent and Katrin Redepenning, who has recently joined the school as Head of the Acting and Singing Department. Hauke talks about his long-standing collaboration with Tony (for over 25 years!) and explains why the school deliberately prioritises quality over low prices. Find out how quickly beginners make progress, who benefits from these lessons, and how you can even give a lesson as a gift voucher.

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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – The history of the founding of the Ahrensburg Musical Theatre School 23 Minuten 2 Sekunden
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The history of the founding of the Ahrensburg Musical Theatre School

How did the Ahrensburg Musical School actually come about? In this episode, Marc Brendemühl and founder Hauke Wendt tell the fascinating story: from a spontaneous school project week, through monthly workshops, to the establishment of one of the largest private theatre schools in the region. Listeners will find out what role the children played in the school’s founding, how the Wendts met, and why Ahrensburg – despite its proximity to Hamburg – remained the perfect location. The episode also offers a glimpse into the studios, the school’s philosophy on growth, and its first successful students performing on professional stages.

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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – Living tolerance: A safety plan for safe spaces 16 Minuten 35 Sekunden
S01E03

Living tolerance: A safety plan for safe spaces

Tolerance is not just an issue – it is in the very DNA of the Ahrensburg Musical School (near Hamburg). In this episode, Hauke Wendt and Marc Brendemühl discuss a comprehensive protection policy that the school has developed in collaboration with the Child Protection Association. They explain why preventive measures are important, how dignity is upheld in the classroom, and how to deal constructively with criticism – without crossing personal boundaries. A personal conversation about tolerance in practice at a theatre school, shaped by real-life experiences and practical solutions.

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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – Trial lessons: Why they cost money and how they work 15 Minuten 16 Sekunden
S01E02

Trial lessons: Why they cost money and how they work

In this episode, Hauke Wendt and Marc Brendemühl discuss how taster sessions at the Ahrensburg Musical Theatre School work and why there is a fee. The taster session is the main way for new pupils to be accepted – whether they have no prior experience or are already experienced. Marc explains why the €17 fee isn’t simply a cost, but a safeguard against no-shows: anyone who signs up and later becomes a student will have the fee refunded. You’ll also find out what the success rate is now, why some students travel from as far afield as Fehmarn to Frankfurt, and how fairly the musical theatre school handles rejections.

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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – Who is the musical theatre school best suited for? 19 Minuten 4 Sekunden
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Who is the musical theatre school best suited for?

Who should attend the Ahrensburg Musical Theatre School – and who perhaps shouldn’t? In this episode, Hauke Wendt and Marc Brendemühl discuss whether prior experience really matters, how realistic the path to a professional career is, and why honest feedback is more important than false hopes. Marc also talks about a pivotal moment during his studies, when two worlds collided – and how that experience has shaped the school’s philosophy today.

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