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We love musicals. Musicals are so common, so known, and so loved. Almost everyone knows of iconic musicals like Wicked and Chicago. Every theater kid knows every word to The Phantom of the Opera. The best part about musicals is that they are universally popular. The idea of a musical is not a niche, cult-followed topic. Musicals are enjoyed by the non-theater people as well. I mean, look at Hamilton. Its popularity beyond the theater community is staggering. But what about the other side of theater? What about the side where performers do not break out into song and dance every few minutes, solve their problems with a six-minute tap number, or sing catchy lyrics that stick in the audience's mind for the next few weeks? Yes, I am talking about straight plays. Why don't we hear about their impact and popularity? Why don't I see theater kids running around wearing The Glass Menagerie shirts instead of Dear Evan Hansen? This leads to the basis of this article: let's support straight plays.? ( more... )
Are you or your child auditioning for a college Musical Theatre program and have some questions? NEVER FEAR- It is I: Christopher, a current senior Musical Theatre student at Shenandoah Conservatory, here to help the college audition process go as smoothly as possible! ( more... )
As Assistant Director of?The Fantastic Mr. Fox, I have gotten to know several of the young performers that are participating in the production. I sat down with?Sophie Verhalen, who plays Mr. Fox. ( more... )
The power of theatre is not only to entertain, but to heal, honor, and harbor the most pressing themes. ( more... )
I have been involved in theatre for a long time in many aspects. From being a performer, to doing tech to being an audition reader, I have heard, seen and participated in many auditions. Yes there are many overdone songs, and many posts about them too, ?but there are many 'do nots' as well. Here are the top ten 'don'ts' for all you teenage actresses going on your next audition. ( more... )
One year and four months.? ( more... )
Jess here. ?I recently had the incredible opportunity to attend a production of?A Little Night Music at the Las Vegas Little Theatre, a well-established theatre company here in town. ?As Sondheim is my favorite composer, this was immensely pleasing to see.? The story is set in 1900's Sweden, and follows the lives of Fredrik Egerman and his young wife, Anne.? Their inner turmoil when dealing with all things romantic is apparent from the outset, with 'Soon/Later/Now' sung by Anne, Fredrik, and Fredrik's son, Henrik, clearly defining the show's underlying premise of frustration, longing and infidelity.? When actress Desiree Armfeldt, Fredrik's former lover, happens by their town on tour, an opportunity to rekindle the romance comes into play, however foiled by the unexpected arrival of Desiree's married lover, Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm.? Subsequently, the development of several unbeknownst love triangles and pairings surface in Act II, as the group members all rendezvous at the country estate of Desiree's mother, Madame Armfeldt, for a climactic 'Weekend in the Country.' ( more... )
For those that don't know, I personally identify as a "techtor". This term came to me one day when I was scrolling through Pinterest. It means an actor who is also a techie. Most people will pick one or the other and solely focus on one. That is honestly great for them. I, however, find that I am not alone in my adventure to learn everything. Several people that I've worked with are actors that also do tech or are techies that also act.? ( more... )
Hi there, Broadway World readers! I'm Emma Suttell, and I am elated to say I'm a new student blogger for BWW! I am super active in community theatre, and perform regularly, recently taking on the role of a stage manager in-training. I can't wait to share my experiences with all of the readers of Broadway World. ( more... )
After receiving a new script and knowing what you have been cast as, the first thing actors generally do is look through their script and identify their lines. If you are worried about learning lines quickly, here are some tips that have helped me learn lines quickly. ( more... )
Jess here. ?2017 is upon us, and keeping with tradition, I have made a resolution. ?No, it's not your typical "eat healthier" or "get a gym membership" kind of resolution, its one involving creativity. ?You see, I attend a performing arts high school in Las Vegas and I can safely say that the art of musical theatre is my passion. ?I've decided to write a one act musical this year, a feat which I know is incredibly daunting, but I am always up for a challenge. ?I already have my plotline figured out, and I'm really happy with what I have, but now I just need to write it.? The problem is, I don't know where to start. ?When looking at iconic musicals, I find it impossible to make a distinct connection between them all. This begs the question, what makes a good show? ?This can be interpreted many ways; from a technical standpoint, to the content, to the actors portraying the characters. ?The whole idea of "a good show" baffles me, because no one shares the same opinion when defining what is good vs. what is bad. ? ( more... )
It's A Maze-ing! The Secret Garden spreads wonder, 'wick' and music on stage in Toronto! ( more... )
The Westside Theatre pulsed with hip hop music and glowed with the neon lights on stage. Did I come to the right place or was this a club? I settled into my seat, ready for this one act ride.? ( more... )
Content warning: This article describes art about sexual assault. ( more... )
The summer after her junior year of high school, seventeen-year-old Eva Noblezada ventured to the big apple to compete in the National High School Musical Theater Awards (aka the Jimmy Awards). It was there that she would learn from industry professionals, and compete against the cream of the crop in high school theater from around the country. Little did she know that this competition would catapult her into a series of auditions and eventually land her the lead role in Miss Saigon on London's West End.? ( more... )
It's everywhere. Body Positive ads and videos work its way into the media on practically a daily basis. Stores are expanding the sizes they carry, girls are encouraged to embrace their curves, but all the same a photoshopped fantasy takes over our minds thinking what the ideal image is. I decided to take a look at how this affects the theatre world that I am so blessed to be a part of. I surveyed one hundred random, anonymous participants. The survey was distributed to several different theatre pages on social media where participants have a wide range of experiences and opinions. I also had the pleasure to interview Michael Kennedy (a student at the University of New Haven), Stephen Sheperd (a recent alumnus of the University of New Haven), and Diana Dart Harris (a professor at the University of New Haven whom has degrees in both dance education and exercise science). ( more... )
As juniors & senior students from the School of Performing Arts at Gloucester County Institute of Technology and proud members of International Thespian Society Troupe 5480, we're embarking on a theatre advocacy project, and we need your help! ( more... )
To start off the new year, The Studio Theatre at the Villages presents Noel Coward's classic, PRIVATE LIVES. Lauren Culver plays Amanda, who discovers on her honeymoon that her ex, Elyot, is staying with his new wife in the adjacent room. I talked with Lauren about the stylized comedy of the play, her character, and presenting this classic to a modern audience.? ( more... )
'We've learned. We're learning. And the steps of our journey are marked for us here.' (The Skin of Our Teeth, Act III) ( more... )
Within the past week, I had the pleasure of meeting award - winning Canadian film and television actress, Emily Hampshire. She came in to speak to my Advanced Musical Theatre Class offering her insight into the film and television industry. Emily shared her story of how she made her dream become a reality. From an early age, she focused on her goals bringing her the success she has today.? Emily's infectious spirit permeated the classroom as 18 eager students hung on her every word. She was so supportive of us, excited to watch our performances and shared her enthusiasm.? ( more... )
I bet you think I'll say "built in friends" or "fun classes" or "hanging out in the green room" or "doing shows," and while all of those things are great and mostly true, none of those things are the best thing about being a theatre major. ( more... )
Revivals can be a tricky subject. People fall in love with the details that make up a show without realizing it. I mean, how can Elphaba's grandiose Defying Gravity first act ending ever be done differently? What about Phantom's epic chandelier drop, how can that be altered? Yes, we tend to cherish certain elements from a show and at times even consider them to be irreplaceable. I, like some of you, am one of those theatre fans. So yeah, I'll admit, I was a bit worried when I found out Mexico's Rent Revival was going to have a completely new take on this modern musical classic.? ( more... )
Just as you would build a wardrobe, with varied outfits for different occasions and temperatures, your music repertoire book needs to feature a diverse selection of pieces to show you can handle different sorts of singing demands. Not every song can (or should be) a show-stopper, full of dramatic heft and long, sustained high notes at the top of your range. Sometimes, it's more important to demonstrate naturalness and vulnerability, or show that you understand the needs of a very specific musical style. It's valuable to have many different kinds of songs in your "toolbox" to exhibit the full scope of your strengths.? ( more... )
A big part of show business is typecasting. There are "types" that people fall into. These can be based around age, race, gender, and personality. Some people this as an opportunity to play to their strengths. I once participated in a workshop where the instructor told us to "know our types". He then began to call people out one by one: "You're a Fierstein. Try looking at Edna Turnblad or Tevye." "You're a Broderick. Look at his roles." "Streisand. You have a lot of options for material." He compared us to already well known household names in the theatre world. What about embracing who you naturally are? Why be the next [insert celebrity here], when you can make a name for yourself and be original? There are stock characters that people naturally gravitate towards with ease whether it be by look or by personality, but if people get locked into these types it begins to be all they are seen as. To some people, these types can be seen as limiting. There's not much variety in roles if they play the same kind of part over and over. Actors should try to expand their range of roles when possible. The popular belief of what is attractive doesn't necessarily need to be the leading players driving the action, but just because someone who isn't conventionally attractive drives the story doesn't mean it is an ugly duckling tale. Dramaturgy also comes into play if a character description is explicitly influencing the script. That being said, I've seen several productions where the characters look phenomenal. They are a perfect depiction of how the story describes, but the talent was subpar. It was very clear that a different person was a much better fit, though they might not have been the perfect image. This idea got me thinking: Just because you look the part, does that mean you deserve it?? ( more... )
I'm often a very positive person, being able to see the silver lining of every situation, and do not like to admit or submit to hardships in my life. But to be completely honest, 2016 has been a difficult year. As life can be tumultuous sometimes, it can also be magnificent. Alas, here we are, at the conclusion of our year, and I thought I'd do a little 'Year In Review' of my 2016. ( more... )