In my last entry, I covered playwriting tips for outlining and creating the idea for a strong play or musical. Now that we’ve covered how to make a solid plan for the piece you’re trying to write, there comes a time to put that plan into action and give a shot at the writing portion! Here’s my advice on how to kickstart your script and bring your planned piece to life.

Now in college, and having had the opportunity to stage and direct “Mortal Dilemma” at my school, I’ve had lots of my theatre major peers ask me about my writing process and tips on how to create and perfect their own pieces. In this entry I will cover the beginning steps to creating a strong written piece, and how to set up your play (or musical) for success! 

'Being an actor, and an acting student, is incredibly time consuimg. And it should be! Art takes time, and care, and attention to detail. But it can sometimes feel like in order to create something we can be proud of, we have to sacrifice our mental well-being.'

The grueling college application process is largely to blame for what is commonly referred to as “senioritis,” a euphemism for the “I’m basically finished” mindset that seniors tend to share.

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.

I think we’ve all experienced academic burnout at one point or another, but I didn’t appreciate that burnout could extend to a summer job until now. 

Have you ever been told that you're special, an old soul, or very mature for your age? Was any grade below a 95% considered 'failing' to you? Were you constantly participating in every activity humanly possible? If so, you may be entitled to financial compensation. 

Being burnt out means that you are not well. You’re emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted that you just can’t function as a human being. I have experienced burnout multiple times in the past, and I don’t think it's worth it. So why does it keep happening?

It’ll be nice to take a class merely because I’m interested in the topic, something which can often be overlooked while choosing college courses.

I have burnouts a lot more than I’d like to admit these days, and it’s been helpful to know the causes of this massive weight hanging in the air.

So, you successfully landed a part in your first show; congrats! Now that the stress of song singing, monologue reading, and waiting for the auditions is over—what comes next?

One of the things that I wanted to do this summer was to learn something new. So, I decided to learn how to use Adobe Photoshop. For practice, I wanted to create a series of photos with a specific theme. And that’s how the “Animals go to Broadway” series was born.

Remember that prescreens are just a snapshot of your work. They’re not supposed to be perfect, and they are also not your audition. Do your best, but don’t allow them to become something stressful.

I also allow myself to devote time to other hobbies to give my mind a break. I take the time to try a new baking recipe, read books, or practice yoga. These interests may seem trivial, but through them, I’ve learned how to try new things without the fear of messing up or doing it “wrong”: a skill that has translated to all areas of my life.

I also allow myself to devote time to other hobbies to give my mind a break. I take the time to try a new baking recipe, read books, or practice yoga. These interests may seem trivial, but through them, I’ve learned how to try new things without the fear of messing up or doing it “wrong”: a skill that has now carried over to other areas of my life.

One of my favorite things is walking back into my community theatre for the summer. This is a big signifier for me that summer has begun. I walk in and I immediately feel at home.

The only way to achieve your goals is to know what you need to do to get there. Building your toolbox, strengthening your skills, and gaining experience is the beginning of the journey to attaining your dream career!

I was so frustrated at the situation, but looking back, I wouldn't change a thing.

When I was a senior in high school, I remember trying to find the perfect college for me to pursue an education in musical theatre. Thankfully the school that I chose has really been able to help me for the past 2 years (and now I’m going to be a junior!!) prepare for the theatre life! I thought it would be fun to share what my school’s musical theatre program is like, so others can get an idea of what they can look forward to!

It’s always at the beginning of the semester where I have to buy a planner. This has been told to me time and time again that the best way to just know what’s going on in your busy schedule is with a planner. Once I have dates for rehearsals and when I get due dates for classes I immediately write them down. This way I can have an idea of what is a priority and what I’m doing on certain days.

I recently just finished up my run as the icon of female independence, Donna Sheridan, in a Summer production of Mamma Mia!, and my heart has never been so full. This role was one I found so much comfort and healing in, as I hadn’t realized how many parallels between Donna and myself I would find.

If you’re interested in soaking up the full experience of your school and/or program, I encourage you to find ways to become more involved. While you’re in school, take the opportunities you only would have there, get your tuition’s worth, and enhance your college experience. Furthermore, there are so many ways your skills as a performer, director, designer, or technician are applicable in other areas of your academic career. Find new places on-campus where you can apply them!

After my first year of college, this summer has been reflective and has made me look back at my year and consider my emotions as well as my wants and needs. Getting out of college I felt so relieved to be back at home, to have some sense of familiarity back in my life after facing change after change for the past nine months. 

There is one thing that is always, always going to be a priority for me. This was the case in high school and remains the case in college, and my hope is that it continues to be a priority as I move into the real world. That thing, as you might have suspected, is theater.

What’s more enjoyable than seeing a Broadway show? This might be a difficult question for many people, including myself. I’ve figured out the answer, though.