Student Blog: Back to School in DC!
Going to school in DC, one of the biggest performing arts cities in America, has provided me with theatre opportunities I wouldn't be able to receive anywhere else.
It's my sophomore year! While someone's second year in college is nothing particularly exciting, it is a year that I have been looking forward to. I spent most of my freshman year feeling clueless, like a little baby on campus. Now that I have navigated through that awkward stage, I finally feel comfortable to explore and take advantage of everything Washington DC has to offer. I am a theatre and marketing double major at The George Washington University. Most people expected me to study politics while attending university in the Nation's Capital, but my time here has been focused on theatre. DC has one of the best theatre scenes in the U.S. and I feel so grateful that I get to immerse myself in this city's performing arts world.
This semester I am taking a variety of theatre classes that have only made my love for performing grow, as well as a few required Gen-Ed courses (much less exciting). I am taking an intermediate level acting course that is focused on the Meisner technique, an auditioning course focused on "perfecting" monologues for future auditions, and a production design course focused on scenic and costume design. My Meisner class is absolutely terrifying in the best way possible. The class and technique challenges me as an actor in a way that I have never been challenged before. While it will take time for me to fully grasp and implement this technique into my acting, I am very thankful for this course and all of its difficulties that will only make me a more authentic performer. What I love about my auditions class is the feedback I receive from my professor. Now that I have a couple monologues under my belt, I feel much more confident about auditioning which is a feeling I have never felt about it prior to taking this course. My production design class has been a lot of fun for me as one of my goals for my time at college is to explore every aspect of theatre. So far I have learned the basics of lighting design, scenic design, and costuming which I previously knew nearly nothing about.
Another thing keeping me busy this semester is a play I was cast in titled The Oregon Trail by Bekah Brunstetter. We start performances the first weekend of November and I have had so much fun working with my cast. We are currently in tech rehearsals, which is always slightly terrifying, but I can't wait for people to see our show!
I can't believe the semester is already halfway through. The fall semester always flies by but that only makes me more excited for the classes I will be taking in the spring! I can't wait to see what new opportunities arise and what new ways I can explore the theatre scene in DC!
From This Author - Student Blogger: Taylor Smith
Student Blog: High School vs. College TheatreDecember 3, 2022
This fall I was cast in my first college production, a play titled The Oregon Trail by Bekah Brunstetter. This was a highly educational and beneficial show process for me and a great start to my college theatre career. As this was the first play I had been a part of since my senior year of high school, I noticed many differences between the rehearsal processes in high school vs. college.
Student Blog: Navigating the Fall SemesterNovember 30, 2022
While I have managed to push through and conquer the start of my Sophomore year, I have faced many challenges regarding my workload and responsibilities along the way. Each semester I always find it difficult to create a routine that perfectly balances my school work, job, and social life and just when I think I’ve fallen into the perfect rhythm, something interferes that completely throws it off track.
Student Blog: Working at The Kennedy Center!November 1, 2022
On September 14th, 2021 I attended The Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert. I got to see performances from incredible talent such as Kelli O’Hara, Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, Joshua Henry, and Renee Fleming. This was my first time visiting the performing arts center and I was completely awestruck. I had never been to such a beautiful and elegant theater. After the concert concluded, I couldn’t help but want to go back as soon as possible. Since then, I have taken advantage of their student tickets which has allowed me to see shows such as Hadestown and Mean Girls for only $20. After spending a good amount of time there during my freshman year of college, I knew I wanted to apply to work at The Kennedy Center as soon as possible.
Student Blog: Back to School in DC!November 1, 2022
It’s my sophomore year! While someone’s second year in college is nothing particularly exciting, it is a year that I have been looking forward to. I spent most of my freshman year feeling clueless, like a little baby on campus. Now that I have navigated through that awkward stage, I finally feel comfortable to explore and take advantage of everything Washington DC has to offer.
