This is the time of year where many college students are either returning to their various theatre programs are beginning them. As someone who works in college education myself, I am well aware of what colleges should be doing to make their programs worthwhile for their students. 

However, employing shitty faculty members is far from one of them.

Times are definitely hard right now for all of us self-isolating during this pandemic. Finding something that makes you smile – no matter what piece of entertainment it might be – is crucial at a time like this. So, here are seven musicals guaranteed to make you smile.

“For some theatres, this pandemic was too much and permanent closure was the best option. I’m not going to criticize that decision. But others who want a clear plan on how to restart operations, here are some ways you can do that.”

If you regularly follow the content from the Onstage Blog creators, then there’s a chance you’ve seen the article “Two Songs That Should Be Cut From ‘Les Mis​’”. This article sparked quite an interesting discussion about whether it really was worth it to cut Javert’s “Stars” or Éponine’s “On My Own” from the three-hour show. Naturally, many fans who have always loved Les Mis​ were quick to defend these beloved songs, and I’m here to do the same.”

The theatre community is comprised of many different types of people, with an especially large number of people who identify as LGBT+. If our community is so largely composed with queer people, why aren’t we doing a better job of telling their stories?

“Today, the Pisgah Film House sadly announced that they were permanently shutting their doors. While the film industry, even for small houses like Pisgah, faces a changing future with COVID-19, stated as a major reason for their closure is that they never received their funds that were raised using Brown Paper Tickets.”

“I have taken the initiative of watching every musical on Netflix and ranking them based on my own preferences.  Yes, that’s right, in the last month I have watched every musical on Netflix.”

If your heart and soul are happy, if you are content with your life and can do what you love - then you are fulfilled. And if it means you’re never on Broadway, if you aren’t in the next superhero blockbuster but are happy - that’s ok. Because fame isn’t the only form of fulfillment.

“The life skills you can learn from school theater at any level or from community theater are important and can help you develop a unique perspective on life and how to deal with the everyday struggles.”

“We all have good reasons in the world to turn toward this new kind of theatre. Helping the industry, curiosity, learning, safety, comfort, hope, community, creativity, we all find something that resonates. And theatre and its uniqueness, its sound, its shots, its productions, its characters, and its audience give us all this. Online or not.

“When writing a new play – and ultimately, when it is eventually selected for production – the goal should be to make an audience do at least one of the three following things, in one way or another…”

“Last week, theatre director Eric Holsen was notified that his position will be recommended to be cut in next year’s school budget. If the school board agrees with that recommendation, South St. Paul, MN students will be without their theatre director for the first time in a decade. To make matters worse, the recommended alternative doesn’t make fiscal sense and hurts theatre students even more. “