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!

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. 

'We've learned. We're learning. And the steps of our journey are marked for us here.' (The Skin of Our Teeth, Act III)

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. 

The moment I found out that I would have the privilege of Assistant Directing the all-youth production of The Fantastic Mr. Fox, I felt a certain excitement boil within me. I would be able to see the production of a show from a different point of view, the directorial view. The part that I was excited about most was the part that the actors dread the most- The Big Bad Audition. 

2016 is officially ending, and while much of the year was filled with major upsets (RIP David Bowie, Carrie Fisher, Prince, Muhammad Ali, Carrie, Alan Rickman, and many others) and some seriously stressful moments (2016 presidential election, I'm looking at you!), the year had bright moments too! Thus, I run through a few of my favorite moments of 2016.

This week, I got the chance to talk with Ola Rafalo, Dalton Joseph, Peter Rodrigues, Kyle Knappenberger, and Bryant Williams from Opera Orlando's 'Amahl and the Night Visitors.'

About a month ago, my voice made its local television debut as I stood on the Philadelphia Art Museum steps, in an aquamarine sweater and polka dot skirt, and sang twenty seconds of 'You're The One That I Want.' I would consider a Thanksgiving spent singing one of my favorite musicals a pretty dip-da-dip-da-dip doo-wop-be-dooby-doo one.

This year, the Dance Theatre of Orlando presents The Nuthouse -- a new holiday tradition. The production reimagines The Nutcracker in an insane asylum. On Christmas Eve, the patients celebrate the holidays and welcome a new inmate, Claire. After overdosing on medication, Claire slips into an alternative reality, envisioning the other patients as characters from the traditional ballet.

It is too often a narrative that students who study theater in school are lamented upon, often being slandered as 'Theater Geeks' or 'Drama Nerds' But do the students who have been exposed to theater and other forms of the arts actually hold an advantage over students that don't?

The past month was a jam-packed rush of rehearsals, Thespian competition, and performance after performance. Thus, I apologize for not writing. My lack of blogs is partially because of my schedule and partially because I needed new material to write about. I didn't realize that my jam-packed schedule could be the source for my new material. 

"Hey there Delilah, what's it like in New York City..." Lori's alarm clock blared as she groggily went to hit the snooze button. She knew she could not let that button be hit one more time, it was her opening night on Broadway. Everyday was the same for her. Get up, go to school, go to rehearsal, get some sort of fast food, go home, do homework, and finally go to sleep. It was an endless cycle that probably is not very healthy. Anybody would think that having an opening night on Broadway would be fun and exciting, but for Lori, there was so many things going on in her head. Lori was an average teenager, stressing over grades, popularity, and boys. That was until she heard on the radio that Hamilton, the smash hit musical that had been breaking ticket number records since it opened, was having an open casting audition in New York City for the new Elizabeth Schuyler. Lori had been acting her entire life in community theatres and schools and such. Her dream was to eventually make it to Broadway but she never thought that this opportunity would come so early in life. She sat up in bed and looked at her watch.

Merry December, Drama Kids! This is the month in which we replace our mugs of throat coat with mugs of hot chocolate and sit in Holiday Cabaret techs for hours. Our celebrations are particularly shiny this time of year-so here comes a Songs That Sum Up With Lots of Tinsel.

This week, I got to chat with Bryan Jager and Ryan Corridoni from THE HAPPY ELF at the Orlando REP. Check out the video below!

The award - winning Union High School Performing Arts Company has been tirelessly working on our Winter Production of Footloose. Based off the classic 1984 film, the story follows Ren McCormack, an upbeat Chicago teen who moves to the small town of Bomont. He meets some friends along the way that would soon change his life in a way he never thought possible. 

This November 24th I celebrate one year since first hearing something from Hamilton. It's not a coincidence that this day also is when 2016's Thanksgiving falls.

The life of a young Broadway performer isn't easy-these kids are practically living double lives, going from a busy, exhausting school day to casually performing in a Broadway show eight times a week. #nbd But despite their jam-packed schedules, these talented t(w)eens still make time to do good in the world with KIDS SERVE, a program of BROADWAY SERVES dedicated to providing Great White Way youngsters with the chance to give back.

Around the holidays, one always tends to gravitate towards family. They often eat large dinners, shop lavishly, and do other holiday oriented activities together. They might even see a holiday production at their local theater. But little do they know, while they are enjoying the show with their family, they are actually watching one on stage.

This week, I got the chance to sit down with Michael Sakir (Conductor), Vincent Connor (Stage Director), and Dennis Jesse (Dr. Malatesta) from Opera Orlando's production of DON PASQUALE.

I'm just going to come right out and say it: I don't listen to modern music. Because I'm a nerd, I like to listen to classical music, show tunes, and movie scores. So I was extremely excited to see West Orange High School's production of Amadeus.

'We've learned. We're learning. And the steps of our journey are marked for us here.' (The Skin of Our Teeth, Act III)

This past Saturday, I was in a show written by my theatre teacher, Virginia Byrne, called "THE WOMEN OF WORCESTER". It celebrated women who were born in or made a difference in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Creating a world where orphan boys can be heros, girls can be leaders, and nothing is impossible, the cast of Episcopal Academy's Peter and the Starcatcher highlighted the true meaning of friendship and home in a beautifully refreshing way. 

This week, I got the chance to sit down with the cast of Rock the Presidents to talk about small casts, presidential knowledge, and advice for aspiring actors.

We would like to invite you, family and friends to our fall musical production of 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' at Fort Hayes High School. It's a fantastic show that even involves some audience participation!