Student Blogger: Grace Callahan - Page 2

As we begin to reemerge from the shadow of a pandemic, the first thing many of us want to do is go to the movie theater. Before the world shut down, it was my favorite thing to go out and do; so when 'Spirited' is released Christmas of 2022, you'll find me cozied up in a seat with a bucket of popcorn.

Last Friday, the first two episodes of the new musical comedy television series 'Schmigadoon' aired - and I think I've found my new favorite thing. The comedy stars Cecily Strong and Keegan Michael Key as Melissa and Josh, two Doctors who've sought couples' counseling after recent struggles in their relationship. On a counseling retreat, they stray from the rest of the couples and suddenly find themselves in a town called 'Schmigadoon' where life is one big musical. Dove Cameron, Kristin Chenoweth, Aaron Tveit, Ariana DeBose and Alan Cumming also star.

After learning about this and thinking of as many movie MacGuffins as I possibly could, I realized that MacGuffins also play an important role in many of our favorite musicals. So, without further ado, Musical MacGuffins.

As we know, Broadway is returning this fall (FINALLY!). While many shows were forced to shut their doors permanently due to the pandemic, several productions have already set re-opening dates.

Summer is HERE! If you’re like me, that means rolling down the windows and cranking up the ‘tunes. By tunes, of course, I mean showtunes.

It’s almost time for THE movie release of the summer – In the Heights. You’ve rewatched every trailer, and now it’s time to prepare for the real thing. But how do you even begin to plan a watch-party for this season’s most anticipated release? Us theatre-lovers have waited a long time for this movie, so if you’re going to celebrate, you’ve got to do it right.

​​​​​​Hey! College student here. It’s finals season – but you probably already knew that. It’s an incredibly stressful time for students, and easy to feel burned out. Though I can feel myself approaching exhaustion, I’ve been able to keep moving and working. Every student is different, so I’m not about to tell you “the” way to avoid running out of steam. We all have different responsibilities, and for some students the fatigue is unavoidable. With that in mind, below are some ways I’ve stayed inspired and determined. 

With one year in the pandemic down, theatre is beginning to reemerge. One particular theatre, the Manhattan Class Company (MCC), has recently announced the return of their annual concert “Miscast”.

A few days ago, I read an article about Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new stage adaptation of Cinderella. There are few details on the story, but we do know that Emerald Fennell has written the book, and that Carrie Hope Fletcher is set to star. Due to the May reopening of the West End, the production recently dove back into rehearsals.

It’s officially been a year since the world shut down, and theatre with it. Since then, we’ve adapted to the new circumstances and in many ways have continued to thrive artistically however we can. From what I’ve seen, much of the initial fear has begun to subside as vaccinations become more and more available. Because of all of this, college life experienced some major shifts. If you’re a high school senior worrying about what college theatre will look like in the fall, I thought I’d share some ways that my college (Millikin University) has overcome some of those obstacles.

Before “Valentine’s Month” comes to a close, I wanted to rank my top ten Musical Love stories. Well,  some of my favorite love stories. This is a pretty wide category so I had to be pretty selective, and I’m  definitely forgetting a few just because of how general this style is. I’m very prepared for you to disagree  on a few – but let me know what you think! 

Hopefully this list gives you some new reads, and if not, reminded you of some old favorites.

If you are planning to get back on the horse this  summer but don’t know how to search for the perfect opportunity, here’s some help.

After a year like 2020, where theatre was changed forever (and at times, not for the better), it’s pretty cool to see so many movie-musicals on their way. I think we all need it.

Take care of yourself, be proud of  yourself, and cross that finish line.

This holiday season, there isn’t much to do outside of our homes (and not much you SHOULD  do) - and many of us are accepting that this year’s festivities are going to be a little different.

As I and other college students around the country are gearing up to go home for the holidays, I can’t  help but begin to get excited about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

If you’re a senior in high school, this headline is not news to you. You’re well in the thick of it.

For many, quarantine has been a time of artistic creation and experimentation. The truest artists  have strapped down and continued working – giving us what we need right now.

We’re in the middle of one of the scariest and most stressful events our generation has  had to face. We have not known a crisis like this. And – somehow – we're expected to continue  living and learning as though the world is not upside-down.