Have you been wanting to see a poignant, funny and professional play without spending a lot of money? Look no further than ANATOMY OF GRAY by Jim Leonard. With nothing more than some hay bales and a projection backdrop, the Mountain View High School production takes us back to the 1800's.

Jess here.  Last summer I had the opportunity to spend a week in Carmel, Indiana with 39 of the most talented teens I've ever met.  What happens in Carmel, you ask…?  THE SONGBOOK ACADEMY!  Now in its eighth season, the Songbook Academy is an annual week long summer music intensive designed for teens who are passionate about the music of the Great American Songbook.  Michael Feinstein, the multi-platinum-selling, two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy Award-nominated entertainer founded the Great American Songbook Foundation in 2007.  Each year he helms the program, and brings Broadway actors, Grammy and Emmy winners, and faculty from collegiate arts music programs to work alongside him in educating students about the rich history, songs and composers associated with the Great American Songbook. 

Students from Mountain View, Eagle and Centennial High Schools have joined together to bring us TARZAN. Directed by Centennial Drama Teacher, Machaela Burt, this Tarzan rendition is the stage musical based on the Disney film.

Opening March 31st, the Union High School Performing Arts Company will be presenting Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. I would like to welcome everyone to a new series on my blog where I share my thoughts on the path to creating magic. Going into my 10th and final UHSPAC production playing Marie / Fairy godmother is already proving itself to be an exciting challenge. As I reflect on my high school theatre career, so much has led me to this moment.

Jess here.  In my very first article I wrote about what makes a good show.  One of the points that was brought up included the importance of having a cohesive ensemble (and by ensemble, I mean the entire cast). I had the pleasure of seeing these words come to life on stage this past week.  I saw two high school theatre productions, each perfectly demonstrating the role a cohesive ensemble plays in taking a show to the next level.  

I'll never forget the day I found out the first-ever BroadwayCon was happening. I saw the headline in big, bold letters, and could barely believe my eyes. I WENT INSANE (tbh, that's an understatement). I began jumping up and down, screaming at the top of my lungs!!! For years and years, I'd been constantly rambling on about how desperately I wanted a Broadway convention to happen. Finally, it was going to be a reality, and I was overwhelmed by joy and surprise! The first year of BroadwayCon was absolutely unforgettable-and not just because we got stuck at the Hilton in the midst of that crazy blizzard!!

We love musicals. Musicals are so common, so known, and so loved. Almost everyone knows of iconic musicals like Wicked and Chicago. Every theater kid knows every word to The Phantom of the Opera. The best part about musicals is that they are universally popular. The idea of a musical is not a niche, cult-followed topic. Musicals are enjoyed by the non-theater people as well. I mean, look at Hamilton. Its popularity beyond the theater community is staggering. But what about the other side of theater? What about the side where performers do not break out into song and dance every few minutes, solve their problems with a six-minute tap number, or sing catchy lyrics that stick in the audience's mind for the next few weeks? Yes, I am talking about straight plays. Why don't we hear about their impact and popularity? Why don't I see theater kids running around wearing The Glass Menagerie shirts instead of Dear Evan Hansen? This leads to the basis of this article: let's support straight plays. 

Upper Arlington High School Vocal Music Department presents THE WIZARD OF OZ, playing February 23-26. Tickets go on sale Monday, Jan. 30 at www.uavocalmusic.org.

As Assistant Director of The Fantastic Mr. Fox, I have gotten to know several of the young performers that are participating in the production. I sat down with Sophie Verhalen, who plays Mr. Fox.

The power of theatre is not only to entertain, but to heal, honor, and harbor the most pressing themes.

I have been involved in theatre for a long time in many aspects. From being a performer, to doing tech to being an audition reader, I have heard, seen and participated in many auditions. Yes there are many overdone songs, and many posts about them too,  but there are many 'do nots' as well. Here are the top ten 'don'ts' for all you teenage actresses going on your next audition.

One year and four months. 

Jess here.  I recently had the incredible opportunity to attend a production of A Little Night Music at the Las Vegas Little Theatre, a well-established theatre company here in town.  As Sondheim is my favorite composer, this was immensely pleasing to see.  The story is set in 1900's Sweden, and follows the lives of Fredrik Egerman and his young wife, Anne.  Their inner turmoil when dealing with all things romantic is apparent from the outset, with 'Soon/Later/Now' sung by Anne, Fredrik, and Fredrik's son, Henrik, clearly defining the show's underlying premise of frustration, longing and infidelity.  When actress Desiree Armfeldt, Fredrik's former lover, happens by their town on tour, an opportunity to rekindle the romance comes into play, however foiled by the unexpected arrival of Desiree's married lover, Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm.  Subsequently, the development of several unbeknownst love triangles and pairings surface in Act II, as the group members all rendezvous at the country estate of Desiree's mother, Madame Armfeldt, for a climactic 'Weekend in the Country.'

Gahanna Lincoln High School presents the first ever ITS Miscast Gala, for one show only, Friday, January 20, 2017 at 7:30pm.  

Jess here.  2017 is upon us, and keeping with tradition, I have made a resolution.  No, it's not your typical "eat healthier" or "get a gym membership" kind of resolution, its one involving creativity.  You see, I attend a performing arts high school in Las Vegas and I can safely say that the art of musical theatre is my passion.  I've decided to write a one act musical this year, a feat which I know is incredibly daunting, but I am always up for a challenge.  I already have my plotline figured out, and I'm really happy with what I have, but now I just need to write it.  The problem is, I don't know where to start.  When looking at iconic musicals, I find it impossible to make a distinct connection between them all. This begs the question, what makes a good show?  This can be interpreted many ways; from a technical standpoint, to the content, to the actors portraying the characters.  The whole idea of "a good show" baffles me, because no one shares the same opinion when defining what is good vs. what is bad.  

Theatre students at Dos Pueblos High School recently presented student-driven mini-plays, comprised of micro-scenes stitched together within a theme. These pieces feature the student point of view, which calls on the students to critically examine and reflect on conflict in their lives. These students have recognized problems within their (youth) culture, and have built dramatic renderings of situations that more clearly define these issues, and offer information for conflict diffusion and resolution.

It's A Maze-ing! The Secret Garden spreads wonder, 'wick' and music on stage in Toronto!

The summer after her junior year of high school, seventeen-year-old Eva Noblezada ventured to the big apple to compete in the National High School Musical Theater Awards (aka the Jimmy Awards). It was there that she would learn from industry professionals, and compete against the cream of the crop in high school theater from around the country. Little did she know that this competition would catapult her into a series of auditions and eventually land her the lead role in Miss Saigon on London's West End. 

As juniors & senior students from the School of Performing Arts at Gloucester County Institute of Technology and proud members of International Thespian Society Troupe 5480, we're embarking on a theatre advocacy project, and we need your help!

To start off the new year, The Studio Theatre at the Villages presents Noel Coward's classic, PRIVATE LIVES. Lauren Culver plays Amanda, who discovers on her honeymoon that her ex, Elyot, is staying with his new wife in the adjacent room. I talked with Lauren about the stylized comedy of the play, her character, and presenting this classic to a modern audience. 

'We've learned. We're learning. And the steps of our journey are marked for us here.' (The Skin of Our Teeth, Act III)

Within the past week, I had the pleasure of meeting award - winning Canadian film and television actress, Emily Hampshire. She came in to speak to my Advanced Musical Theatre Class offering her insight into the film and television industry. Emily shared her story of how she made her dream become a reality. From an early age, she focused on her goals bringing her the success she has today.  Emily's infectious spirit permeated the classroom as 18 eager students hung on her every word. She was so supportive of us, excited to watch our performances and shared her enthusiasm. 

The moment I found out that I would have the privilege of Assistant Directing the all-youth production of The Fantastic Mr. Fox, I felt a certain excitement boil within me. I would be able to see the production of a show from a different point of view, the directorial view. The part that I was excited about most was the part that the actors dread the most- The Big Bad Audition. 

2016 is officially ending, and while much of the year was filled with major upsets (RIP David Bowie, Carrie Fisher, Prince, Muhammad Ali, Carrie, Alan Rickman, and many others) and some seriously stressful moments (2016 presidential election, I'm looking at you!), the year had bright moments too! Thus, I run through a few of my favorite moments of 2016.

This week, I got the chance to talk with Ola Rafalo, Dalton Joseph, Peter Rodrigues, Kyle Knappenberger, and Bryant Williams from Opera Orlando's 'Amahl and the Night Visitors.'