Student Blogger: Ellie Weaver

The college application process is overwhelming for any student applying, but even more overwhelming for those pursuing a musical theater or theater degree. I have come up with my top tips for students interested in auditioning for college theater programs as someone who recently finished up the audition process!

With school out and a newfound amount of free time, summer is the perfect time to participate in new theater activities and expand your horizons. Summer theater opportunities can be found in a variety of locations and formats.

Jukebox musicals, like Mamma Mia, have experienced mass success in both movie theaters and live on stage. But recently, some hard-core theater fans are saying they are tired of these pop-filled musicals. I, on the other hand, am here to vouch for the importance of the jukebox musical.

Have you ever heard a performer refer to tech week as “hell week?” What is a tech week and how did it earn such a nickname? There are some “survival tips” that will help make your life in tech much easier. 

You’re walking through your school’s hallway and stumble across a poster that says “Spring Musical Auditions! Sign up today!” You think to yourself: Why should I do that? Participating in your school’s musical is a great way to grow and learn skills that can be used beyond the stage. 

As a younger performer, I thought the best thing I could do for my growth was get on stage. But in reality, I learned just as many lessons about the theatre industry backstage. My experience behind the scenes taught me things about theatre productions that I would have never learned otherwise!

Whether it be for a school production or community theater, the drama surrounding a cast list can be endless. Most of this drama sprouts from a misunderstanding of what truly goes into casting a show. Many people who are new to the theater world assume that the lead role goes to the “best” performer, however, this couldn’t be more untrue. 

Many jobs other than performing go into creating and running a Broadway or professional show. If you are interested in pursuing a job in the theater but don’t necessarily wish to perform, take a look at the list below for some inspiration for other theater careers!

With Grammy season upon us, I decided to take a deep dive into the Grammys and the Tonys. How are these awards conducted and decided upon? Which Tony Award category matches most with the Grammy’s musical theater category? And most of all: is possible to predict the winner of Best Musical Theater Album based on who wins a Tony Award?

To improve at any skill, you need to practice. This is why performers attend voice, acting, and dance lessons. However, it is not possible to attend these classes daily. So how do you efficiently and effectively practice without a teacher or instructor present? The trick is learning to become your own teacher.

Shakespeare’s plays have been the inspiration for many beloved movies and musicals. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite movies and musicals that use the plot of various works by William Shakespeare. I encourage you to check out this list and see if you’ve been a secret fan of Shakespeare without even knowing it!

Social media has been entirely integrated into the theatre industry. It’s hard to find a Broadway show that isn’t active on Instagram or TikTok. Performers have taken to social media as well to advertise and create a name for themselves. As a high school performer, I have noticed both the positive and negative effects of social media’s involvement in the theatre industry. 

In the performing arts industry, I feel as though there is this notion that you always have to be doing something. There is this expectation that you should be constantly working on a new project or toward a new goal. This creates the myth that performers should feel guilty for doing “nothing.” But the truth is, this “nothing” can be just as productive as any “something.”

I realized that I wasn’t getting what I wanted to get out of my schooling. To fix this, I had to listen to my body and rest when I was tired (which was one of the reasons I started cyber school in the first place) and also advocate for myself.

I have been challenging myself to expand my horizons and listen to new genres and styles of music. I have come to love styles of music I never thought I’d listen to. Listening to a wider variety of music has helped me come to appreciate music as an art form. “Good music” can come in all shapes and sizes.

It is difficult to decide to voluntarily do something scary. To step outside of your comfort zone, you must consciously decide against your natural habits. As a performer, I have discovered the value of pushing myself to step outside my comfort zone. 

Musical theater is hard work and it is never going to be a walk in the park. But you never want to push yourself to the point where you lose your love for performing altogether. At one point or another, every performer will experience what is called “burnout.” Burnout is the feeling when performing loses its joy or spark.

The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do as a performer is nothing. Musical theater can be very hard on a performer’s physical and mental health. It is important to find a healthy balance between working and prioritizing your health. This balance has always been difficult for me to find.

Time management takes practice just like any other skill. Being great at managing time will be a tool that will help you in any walk of life. It will always feel like you are juggling a million things, but the balancing act will get easier over time.

Throughout my theater career, I have gone through periods of time where I have no confidence. I feel like I am a fake or not good enough or an imposter. So over the years, I have found a few tactics that help me maintain confidence and stay out of my head when I start to feel the negative thoughts overshadowing my abilities.