Student Blogger: Blake Velick

Are you a college student interning in New York for the summer on a budget, but you want to see a lot of theatre? Or are you moving to New York in the fall and planning on seeing as many shows as possible? Luckily, it is possible to see almost any show without breaking the bank!

A few years ago, Broadway social media accounts rarely posted performance videos except for little clips meshed into advertisements. However, we are now seeing a shift in Broadway’s digital marketing to include longer show clips, to encourage fans to post covers, and to target users of each social media platform differently.

For my final project in dramaturgy, I created a casebook on the global sensation Come From Away. My 42 page casebook dove into the musical’s development and historical background, production history, and more. However, my favorite part of the casebook was writing a short dramaturg note that would be hypothetically included in the show’s playbill.

In December, I was elected as the 2022 President of Penn Singers Light Opera Company and took on the role of producer for our production of Patience. While producing can be an incredibly busy and crazy job with many COVID complications to deal with on top of normal problems, it has been a pleasure to facilitate a fantastic group of artists.

If you are searching for positions in theatrical development, you have likely come across the buzzword “script coverage”. This time-consuming, detail-oriented task can be daunting for interns who have never analyzed a script for a company. Thanks to my most recent internship, I have extensive experience in performing script coverage for plays, films, and TV pilots, so I came up with 5 tips for script coverage newcomers.

With every selection comes mixed opinions, different themes, and problematic content, but how does a company settle on a title? Should the title with the best music or plot be chosen? Should only the title the director proposes be considered? Here are my tips to select a show that fits your company!

I recently had the opportunity to ask McKenna Kerrigan a few questions on her teaching experience and career as well as some advice for young theatre professionals. Her responses remind us of the excitement we derive from the theatre and how all our experiences can teach us something.

After our first run, filled with laughs and screams, I finally saw my vision fit with my co-director's vision. When our hand-painted set was constructed on the first day of tech week and cue-to-cue began, I got chills and knew my work as a director was practically done. I could finally enjoy the show and see everything come together. Before our final run, I sat in the theatre and channelled my thoughts and feelings into my first director's note. All audience members had the opportunity to read this director's note from our digital program. Imagine you are in the Class of '49 Auditorium at the University of Pennsylvania. Hill House looms in front of you, and you begin reading the digital program where you stumble upon my director's note.

Above all, the Broadway experience is just as magical as before even with mask mandates and the lack of stagedooring. Not only did I feel safe watching the performance, but I also knew that everyone onstage was protected thanks to all the audience members committing to wearing masks and showing proof of vaccination.

Violence is universally perceived as an unnecessary evil. However, metaphorical violence in theatrical direction allows for actors to have creative freedom while staying within the limitations of a director’s vision. In Anne Bogart’s A Director Prepares, violence is compared to decisiveness, articulation, and disagreement.

Need some help predicting the winners? I have attempted to predict about half of these categories (mainly the musical theatre categories since I was not able to see the majority of the plays in the 2019-2020 season), and have provided some rationale for each category. Of course, all the nominees deserve awards, but only one can win in each.

Putting on shoes for class felt strange yesterday. I am accustomed to rolling out of bed ten minutes before my first class and eating my breakfast while listening to a Zoom lecture. Beyond the strangeness of preparing for in-person classes, I have to prepare for in-person auditions and rehearsals.

The Wizard of Oz shows audiences that times may be tough, but love, friendship, and humanity can be fostered through hard work. Even though this fairy tale can be considered propaganda in the age of the Great Depression, it can still function as motivation for Americans to take risks and combat their struggles in troubled times.

According to a recent announcement from the Broadway League, all audiences, performers, crew members, and theatre staff must be vaccinated and audiences must wear masks. This does not bother me at all since I recognize the benefits of keeping everyone healthy and safe in exchange for incredible theatre.

Sunday in the Park with George illustrates the struggles of being an artist in two different centuries. Undoubtedly, these struggles continue to perpetuate in the contemporary art world and can be applied to Stephen Sondheim’s experience as a musical theatre composer and lyricist.

I was disappointed to find out that “Inútil” and “Everything I Know” were cut from the movie. These are two of my favorite songs from the musical and they are essential to the characterization of Kevin Rosario as well as his daughter Nina.

For her Broadway debut, Dana originated the role of the Girl Scout and she understudied Lydia. She has also been seen Off-Broadway in Avenue Q and in the first national tour of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Read on for some inspiration, advice, and hope for the future of the theatre industry!

The internship application process can be incredibly stressful with sending out multiple cover letters, participating in virtual interviews, and waiting weeks to hear back from companies. However, polishing your application materials and theatrical skills will have employers begging to have you join their teams.

The musical was a unique addition to the Broadway lineup since it effectively integrated social media and projection into theatre. There was always something to capture the eyes of audiences, and it offered new experiences for returning fans. However, I am curious how this will transfer to the screen.

Cameron Mackintosh and the producing team should reconsider their orchestral decision in order to benefit the growth of musicians in the theatre industry and conserve the splendor of The Phantom of the Opera's iconic music. Otherwise, Mackintosh may become the phantom of the orchestra.