As this article is being posted on BroadwayWorld, the main thing this article will be focusing on, of course, is Broadway itself and my revelations regarding it. And honestly, it's sort of embarrassing how long it took me to realize just how horrible and ingrained Broadway's issues are. I mean. The entire genre of musical theatre has its roots in minstrelsy. And while it may have evolved to something else, those roots are still there, and they still need to be addressed.
Student blogger Leah chats with John-Andrew Morrison, James Jackson Jr, and Jason Veasay, three of the fabulous cast members in A Strange Loop! 'While I cannot wait to get my tickets to any productions that open first, one of the shows I'm most looking forward to seeing is A Strange Loop'
“When I came home, I found myself unable to relax because the idea of not doing schoolwork or worrying about schoolwork or thinking about schoolwork was implausible. Now, a few weeks later, I feel my brain is too relaxed. Writing this 500-word blog has taken an embarrassingly long time, hence the very casual tone and title. Unlike my other blogs, this one simply did not flow.”
It really has not fully registered for me that I am an upperclassman, let alone that I just finished my junior year of college. With the pandemic, everything has kind of felt like a whirlwind and a blur.
Like theatre, film and television have the power to transport viewers into an alternate universe and take them on a beautiful journey, either ending in success, heartbreak, victory, or despair. No matter the genre, the world that exists within the screen is something truly spectacular and mesmerizing. While of course I love seeing original work in the theatre community, I am also occasionally a sucker for a good adaptation. I adore seeing some of my favorite pieces of art turned into a full-blown musical or play.
If you clicked this link, you know what to (generally) expect. Without further ado, in no particular order, here are my top ten tips for students starting or finishing their university theatre studies.
As for expectations, the movie is set to wow everyone who watches. Like the Broadway show, the emotions attached to the storyline and characters are sure to be overwhelming and will draw anyone right in. And because the wait for this film has been so long, the excitement and love is already heightened than if the timeline was any quicker.
The good news is, Broadway is back! It's been a very long year and a half, but theaters will be full of crowds, applause and happy smiles before we know it. There's no doubt that thousands are excited to see some of the most well known shows again along with the opening of others throughout the fall season. Get your tickets ready and best outfits out because as any avid lover of Mamma Mia! would say, here we go again!
I have listed a few of my favorite songs from musicals to add to your summertime playlist. They are perfect for car rides, beach trips or just lazy days by the pool. They are the perfect addition to the incredible Summer of Fun ahead of us.
I've discovered that once I start working on theater productions and I feel that magic and joy, I don't want to stop, which leads me to seek out new opportunities.
As soon as tickets for various productions went on sale, I penciled in a few shows that I'm especially excited to see. Whether it's a new production that's yet to be put on stage, or a Broadway staple, I'm ready to splurge on at least a few of these shows in the near future.
A future in the arts is precarious. It involves overwhelming self-motivation and internal strength. It means that you must constantly advocate for yourself. It means being okay with the fact that you may not succeed right off the bat—and if you’re a worrier like me, existing in this world can sometimes feel like running a marathon with a blindfold on.
I realized that my duty in this world was to communicate as clearly, honestly, and as loudly as I can so that others feel heard, represented, valid. Though, I will admit I lose it sometimes.
As in person classes increase and live theatre begins to open, a yoga practice has never been more important for an actor. These are my favorite yoga practices from Yoga with Adriene that I find beneficial for actors.
As more and more of my auditions come back with the dreaded 'Thank you for your submission, we will contact you if we need anything further,' I am reminded of my Basketball 'career' in the 4th grade.
Summer is almost upon us! That means it's time to kick back and unwind. Or at least, that's what I try to tell myself. See, I have a really hard time with 'downtime'. There's always a voice in the back of my head telling me that I should be doing something more productive, or that I'm 'wasting time'. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way.
My junior year of college I was asked to stage manage Fleeting Full which was a compilation of 4 short Beckett plays. After just two rehearsals, I fell completely in love with the plays, specifically Act Without Words II.
We don't know what our lives will look like in 2 months, not even in a week because we have learnt that everything changes from one moment to another, but with this light that is coming in we are able to take advantage of everything, enjoy and most importantly, take care of each other.
Without classes, we may stay stagnant in the summer - missing dance, history, and acting classes, we tend to fall off the wagon, so to speak. Luckily enough, I have created a list of things to do to keep you artistically stimulated during the long summer break!
I remember when I was in Grade One, we had to do readings from the class 'library', it was a shelf, and after the second term, if your reading skills had outgrown the class library books, we were invited to the junior school library. I remember very clearly being one of the first five being selected to go pick out a 'big girl' book. A book that was in black and white, with no colour.
People ask me if I wished I would have been cast as a different character and my answer is always no. I wouldn't trade Valentine for the world because of what he taught me. Though I never thought I'd actually say this, thank you Valentine. If you ever find yourself wearing THE costume, remember it is so much more. This is a character with a soul, a past, a story and it's your job to tell it.
As entertaining and cathartic it can be to poke fun at 'Glee,' we should also take the time to recognize its successes-especially those we missed the first time around. And what better occasion to do so than around the anniversary of the airing of the pilot?
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. A love letter to the performing arts department, a case for virtual theatre post-pandemic, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!