Spotlight
Stories that deserve your attention
The Benefits of a Small College Theatre Program
“As someone who looked at programs both large and small, I can tell you from experience that the differences are significant. The most important thing is to choose the school that is best suited to you as an individual. That being said, let me tell you how I fell in love with my small college Theatre program.”
Stop criticizing artists who leave NYC during the pandemic
“There is something I am noticing which I find very bizarre - there is this wave of artists on social media who are getting attacked and criticized for leaving New York City during the pandemic.”
A Random Prompt Generator Challenge for Bored Playwrights
“How are you feeling these days? With the loss of in-person theatre and the impossibility of large gatherings for the foreseeable future, it’s been hard to get the creative juices flowing. And honestly? I’m actually getting tired of lying around in bed, waiting for things to change. I want to create things again! I want to feel excited about a project again! So I’m giving this a try.”
I tried making a 10 minute improv musical. Here’s how it went
“People should create because they like it, it improves their mood and it develops their skills. This is where my 10-minute musical lives.”
My theatre "thank you" list
“Thanksgiving is an ageless tradition, full of friends, family, delicious food, and gratitude. During this season of thanks, I wanted to talk about all the things I am thankful for in theatre.”
Being grateful when everything sucks
“Is your career in shambles? Does it seem like you’ll never get a decent gig again? Do you regret getting that expensive education in the arts? Are your dim career prospects affecting your relationships? Does our political climate have your emotions in tatters? Is it tough to even form complete sentences right now? I know it’s Thanksgiving and it’s that time of year when we’re supposed to be counting our blessings and whatnot. But OMG, what if it’s a struggle to even get out of bed in the morning? How can you be grateful when everything sucks?”
Sometimes You Need to Readjust Your Goals
“About a year ago, I decided to take a break from acting. I decided to focus on my job and on other important priorities in my life. I didn’t realize that the time I spent away from acting would cause me to be more critical and aware of what my next steps would be. To be honest, I’m not sure what they are.”
An autistic actress deconstructs Sia’s 'Music' mess
“My anger stems from the fact that Sia knowingly and deliberately packaged an offensive, reductive, and infantilizing appropriation of our neurology as self-aggrandizing inspiration porn for consumption by non-autistics.”
Anti-gay actress blames LGBTQ people in cast for her firing
In October 2019, controversy swirled over the firing of an actress set to portray the role of Celie in the musical, The Color Purple, due to anti-gay comments she had posted on Facebook. Now, in proceedings due to her suing her former employer, legal representatives for Seyi Omooba said the performer was fired in part due to “the particular demography of the theatre company”, of which “LGBTQ people are a sizeable proportion”.
Top 10 Worst Glee Plots
“I’m going to start by saying that this show is one of my absolute favorites. The earnest covers, the tongue-in-cheek charm, the lovable cast of misfits – they hold such a special place in my heart. That being said, it is important to be critical of all art, even the art we cherish with affection and nostalgia. And while I am willing to suspend my disbelief for many Glee plot lines, some of them really, really missed the mark.”
Ways to make live theatre more accessible
“Accessibility matters and it isn’t hard. It just takes a little bit of effort, and I promise that effort will mean so much to those of us who benefit from it.”
Love Musical Theatre? Here’s Why You’ll Love 'Community'!
“My comfort show is Community. Found on both Netflix and Hulu, I credit this clever sitcom with keeping me sane through quarantine. The safety of the study group and the silliness of Greendale Community College is all I need to serenade me to sleep each night. And I’ve realized something after watching (and listening to) this show for the past 7 months. It is not only brilliant, hilarious, and a fantastic way to enjoy the overwhelming talent of Donald Glover. It is also an amazing show for fans of musical theatre.”