Anne's lasting message and the talkback that followed left each audience, and myself, with a newfound perspective on this crucial time in our history. Anne Frank reminds each of us that we must cling to our ideals and that, in spite of everything, people are truly good at heart. And, in the midst of this pandemic, that is something each of us should do our best to remember.

It may sound very cheesy, but for me *love* is the foundation of everything and at the same time it is what we are looking for in our daily lives. That is why we feel so engaged and connected with our favorite song or show. What I think is marvelous, is that there are endless love stories and each one is worth telling.

Our student bloggers write about how they're coping with the current global health crisis, give insight on their school's performing arts programs, share their opinions on the latest theater news, and so much more. The joy of Avenue Q, a return to normalcy, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

Now, as the new school year dawns on me, I have had a lot of thoughts on the approach and eagerness to return to normalcy. South Africa and my university, Rhodes are so eager to return to normalcy as are most people. I agree, it's time to start easing back into a lockdown free world. But I do not agree that we can return to the world we once knew.

I used to only see myself in the performing arts, having been in choir for the majority of my life and having been engulfed in writing for the past several years. Now, I finally find myself branching out beyond what I thought I was capable of.

I think Alice Walker is a great writer and she has gone down in history for being one of the most impactful voices that has positioned herself in favor of rewriting the identity of black women in the American social framework.

Well, it's time again to apply and audition for your summer homes. This can be a slightly stressful time - taking new headshots, recording countless auditions to send all over the country. I'm going through that exact process right now, and the most important thing for me was narrowing down my options based on my wants and needs.

Avenue Q is one of Broadway's most unique masterpieces of all time. With the simple charm, music, and felt-faced protagonists of Sesame Street and the biting humor, prolific swearing, and relatable depiction of mediocre adult life, the 2003 Tony winner for Best Musical certainly made a name for itself as it delighted the audiences of New York City for 10 beautiful, off-color years. While many feel that the concept of 'Dirty Puppets' has become tired and cliche with the production of movies like The Happytime Murderers or the success of comedians like Randy Feltface, Avenue Q withstands the test of time through its sincere storytelling and simple themes that remind us all to find joy in our lives where we can and appreciate the things we have.

Our student bloggers write about how they're coping with the current global health crisis, give insight on their school's performing arts programs, share their opinions on the latest theater news, and so much more. Seeing your first musical on Broadway, anticipated productions of 2022, all about type-casting, the impact of movie musicals, goals for the semester, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

For Winter Quarter 2022, my main project has been working on Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins with UC San Diego's Department of Theatre and Dance. Based on the 15th century English morality play The Somonyng of Everyman, this version attempts to modernize and translate the themes and story to appeal to more contemporary audiences while still keeping the core messages of the original play.

I started my second (and last) semester of my junior year this week, and, I won’t lie, it’s been a bit overwhelming. However, as strange and scary as it may be to be more than halfway through with my college experience and my junior year, it’s also exciting. I really want to make it count, so I’ve come up with some goals to do just that.

I am a part of a studio of 18 actors. We have class three times a week, follow each other from teacher to teacher, room to room, and we bare our souls. These classmates know about my toxic relationships, my deepest insecurities, they know that when I cry I ball my hands into fists and cover my face. They know details about me that some of my oldest friends don't even know, and I know the same about them. I've seen them burst into tears, break things, scream at the wall. I've also seen them dance on tables and barf on the side of the street on a night out.

Scar Tissue is a play that revolves around two roommates, Jessica (playwright Victoria Fragnito) and Sam (Rita McCann), each going through their own struggles in dealing with toxic relationships from their pasts. Jessica is attempting to break free from the memories of a man she dated in college, Luke (Nick Ritacco), a man who haunts her current relationship with Jack (Brandon Ford Green). Sam, on the other hand, is struggling with her relationship with her sister, Hannah (Jillian Vitko), who abandoned her in a time of need. When both women have to face their pasts head-on, truths are revealed and realities are shattered, threatening the relationship between the two roommates.

With every selection comes mixed opinions, different themes, and problematic content, but how does a company settle on a title? Should the title with the best music or plot be chosen? Should only the title the director proposes be considered? Here are my tips to select a show that fits your company!

Let’s not put ourselves into boxes. Let’s not fear the messy. Instead of putting pressure on ourselves to be 'perfect' artists, lets tap into our defects. More likely than not, the spontaneity that comes with being human will be more interesting to audiences than just playing pretend.

I know I didn’t do my best for this audition and I was totally panicking but with this experience, I get to learn a lot. I have to keep a positive attitude because it’s not my time to shine. [...] Just a week ago, I went to my first ever musical audition and callback for a school production. We will be doing Into The Woods in a style of a workshop musical. In Singapore, we are still restricted to 5 singers unmasked at a time. Therefore, we will be doing Into The Woods as part of a workshop process without a final showcase, which means it ends right before the production week. The outline of the module is for year 2 and year 3 to collaborate so all of us get to work with other people.

It can be hard to stay motivated during the cold winter months. I find that listening to music can help me gain the motivation I need. Here are my top five musical theater songs that help me stay motivated.

With college graduation a mere 3 months away, I've never felt more panicked in my life. There's this overwhelming feeling of what do I do, what's next, where do I go from here, that college graduates often face. Recently what has helped me, and sort of self-soothed me has been tick, tick... BOOM!

Sitting on that KCACTF workshop, I wondered how different life would be if I went on college auditions as I am NOW. I wouldn't be the girl with the glossy headshot and fear in her eyes. I would be the confident auditionee, with better audition pieces and longer resumes. Then, I quickly checked that hypothetical train of thought...I am thankful to that girl with the glossy headshot. I never want to wish her existence away, or regret anything she did. Her determination and courage to audition, learn and grow led me to the life I live today. She will always live within me, reminding me where I started and how far I've come. And I think that growth is an important part of who I am.

I am inspired by the cast members who have to be in character every day, whether that is as an umpire at Casey Corner, or a princess at Fairytale Hall. These performers have a strength and imagination I don’t yet possess, but I really hope to someday.

I realized how much of what I wanted from life may end up not possible because the world simply might not last another 40 years. I decided to write a poem that is my plea for people to realize just how dire the climate crisis is.

Read all about what upcoming musicals and shows student blogger Elisa Kluger is excited to see in 2022 in this new blog post, including Paradise Square, a Newsies reunion concert at 54 Below featuring cast members from Broadway and touring, and the reopening night of Beetlejuice on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre.

If you're struggling to get a self-tape audition you can watch without bemoaning the video or sound quality, I am here to help. Self-tapes can be a pain, but they're also an opportunity to get your audition exactly how you want it. I have compiled the tips I find the most helpful for setting up your self-tape into this article, just for you.

Walking into 'The Gallery' at the Green Fig truly makes you feel like you're entering some kind of secret society. I won't go into much detail but be prepared to be wowed! Once you're inside, a cast member gives you a shot and escorts you to your seat as other actors interact with the audience, asking questions and making jokes. The venue has a very 'speakeasy vibe,' perfect for a drinking club with a Shakespeare problem. Before seeing the show, I got to interview Lisa Klages, the Associate Director and Production Manager, as well as Nate Betancourt, the drunk actor at that night's performance

With a new year comes a new opportunity to see Broadway shows. Since the re-opening of Broadway in September of 2021, several productions from Hamilton to Wicked have continued to perform eight shows a week to eager audiences. Although these past few weeks have been difficult, Broadway productions have remained open despite the many challenges that the Omicron variant has presented. While it is difficult to foresee how the rest of the pandemic will play out, it becomes clear that the best time to see a Broadway show is now, especially since crowds are smaller, tickets are easier to attain, and the logistics are easier to navigate. With this in mind, compiled below is a list of some of the shows to see right now, presenting the theatrical highlights of 2022 so far.