Posts in Editorial
An Open Letter to Tech Week

I’m writing this letter from the battlefield. It’s Wednesday—well, early Thursday now—of Tech week and the show I’m working on opens Friday. I’ve slept 8 hours in the past 3 days. The paint in my hair is at least a couple of days old and I haven’t changed my clothes in a week. I can’t remember the last time I saw the costume designer without some sort of sewing in her hands. At least I’ve seen her—I asked the props designer to go find gaff tape a couple days ago and I haven’t seen her since.

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5 Things "Waiting for Guffman" Got Right When It Comes To Community Theatre

Believe it or not, this coming January marks the 25th Anniversary of the indie classic "Waiting for Guffman". What made this film so memorable, and required viewing for any theatre person, is not only the humor but also how well they nailed the culture that is small-town community theatre. Here are 5 of the many things that this movie got completely right.

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13 Things All Theatre Kids Can Relate To

From tech crew to leads, from directors to choreographers, if you’re involved in theatre you will immediately know what I’m talking about. We’ve been teased for our “over-dramatic ways” and our “cult-like behavior” and all the other nonsense non-thespians make up about us, we all know they’re just jealous! Whether you’re a “noob” or a seasoned actress, you’re sure to relate to this list of fourteen experiences we all share!

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A Professor’s Recipe to Electric Musical Theatre Stage Presence

Stage Presence.  Star Quality.  The X-factor.   Whatever you call it, it is the difference between an adequate actor and a good actor and often times, between a good actor and a star.  Many people say it is an indefinable quality that someone is either born with or not.   As a college professor who is charged with teaching students how to be solid actors and musical theatre performers that does not cut it.  It is my responsibility to teach my students everything in my power to make them stronger and “you’ve either got it or you don’t” is a mantra that does a disservice to my students and my profession.  

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No One Wants A Pit Musician’s Autograph

I am intensely passionate about attending live theatre, mainly because of its immense power. It makes reality melt away, drawing me within a into a world different than my own for a few hours, playing my emotional keys through sentimental ballads and show stopping soliloquies, and provoking thought and subsequent change. Due to the fact that I myself aspire to become a professional performer (especially a musical theatre performer), I swell with the admiration I feel towards the extraordinary people I see gracing the stage. I adore the fact that when I attend a Broadway musical, I am able to exit the theatre directly after the curtain call and approach the stage door in the hopes of meeting one of these exceptional performers.

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