BWW Blog: Finding Art in the Big Apple

This Spring Break I was fortunate enough to travel to a city very close to my heart but one that I had only encountered through television and movies and books, most notably, the second season of Glee. This past week I traveled to New York City for the first time for seven full days and my eyes lit up with the eternal lights around me and the feeling of the Big Apple was so overwhelming that all I could do, upon seeing the city from my plane and standing in the middle of Times Square for the first time, was shed a couple tears.

I am a stage performer with aspirations to move to the city that never sleeps once I graduate from Northwestern University. While I do have much time from now until then, being a member of the class of 2021, the excitement of New York really solidified that decision, I need to come back as soon as I can. But it wasn't just the crowded streets, and the mascots, or the twenty-four hour Starbucks that captivated me, it was the Great White Way, the lights and the glamor of Broadway, and the millions of people from around the world who travel just to witness the greatness it harbors, me being one of them. While my plan was to see three shows while I was there: "The Lion King," "The Iceman Cometh," and "The Spongebob Squarepants Musical," my trip had a mind of its own and I eventually ended up seeing eight: "School of Rock," "Phantom of the Opera," "The Band's Visit," "The Play That Goes Wrong," and "Carousel," in addition to the previous three. And OH MY GOODNESS, was this the trip of a lifetime.

While the choreography of "Carousel" entranced me, the timeless story of Simba filled me with emotions, and the music of "The Band's Visit" inspired by the Arab culture amazed me, I want to share a bit about my experience with some of the people I connected with while there. I was able to have lunch with Ian Weinberger, an associate conductor of "Hamilton", actor Harry Lennix ("The Blacklist," "The Matrix," "Man of Steel"), music assistant of the new "Donna Summer Musical" Michael Kaish, and Broadway producer ("The Play that Goes Wrong," "Something Rotten") Lucas McMahon, who all happen to be alumni of Northwestern, and for Ian as well as my high school.

Through each interaction I was able to gain an even greater sense of appreciation of not only the theatrical arts but of the cinematic arts as well. From hearing about Mr. Weinberger's experience with working with Mr. Alex Lacamoire and conducting, and Mr. Kaish's experiences with working as a music assistant to a new show from its beginning stages in La Jolla all the way to Broadway, an even greater love of the orchestral sides of the theatre built up within me, and encouraged me to fly back home and continue working on my music right away. Speaking with Mr. Lennix about his own endeavors in film making and in starring in a show ignited the cinematic passion within me and I sat in awe listening to how much time he devotes to creating art on the screen. Drinking coffee with Mr. McMahon allowed me to see just how connected friends stay with each other after college, and also how much determination and spirit it takes in producing, not just a show, but the longest running Broadway play in history! These four men have been influential in my very first trip to the city as they all encouraged me to keep working, but also to just have fun in college because these years will go by so fast. I am happy to say that these people will be able to lend advice further down the road, and a hand whenever I need to get picked up, because college, as many may know, is no easy feat.

This trip not only gave me what I hoped my first time in New York would give me, a sense of hope and determination, but it grew my love for every type of art, and the people who create them. After I watched Tony nominee Joshua Henry perform in "Carousel" I waited for him at the stage door and told him that what he did on the stage is something I do and want to do in the future, and he replied with "hopefully we'll be in a show together sometime. Keep doing it." Yes, I will keep doing it. I will keep making art. And who knows? Maybe one day I will be in a show with him, and I can look back on this first trip and see how the journey began.

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