Today, Megan Scott, one of 2015 First Night Star Award winner Brenda Dent Gregory's talented student sat Murfreesboro's Siegel High School, continues our new season of High School Drama, the latest in a long list of younger actors to be introduced via Broadway World Nashville in the coming year…

Luckily, I can always count on Palm Beach Dramaworks to finely tune the most delicate of pieces. The creative team of The Night of the Iguana, led by director William Hayes, along with a Tim Altmeyer-led cast, gave a sudden and much needed voice to a play many put on the back burner.

Injuries are the worst thing to have when you are running from rehearsal to rehearsal. Inevitably, everyone will end up with some sort of injury during some part of their life. When I was younger, I played softball competitively, and I was a catcher. My knees are a testament to taking care of your body, as I didn't ice after every game, and ended up needing physical therapy because of it.

As a member of the cast of A Christmas Carol, I am able to get to know the actors that get to grace the stage beside me better than most people. In Meet the Carolers, I try to bring the actors to you, so you can know these special people like I do. This week, you get to meet John Patrick Cleary, who portrays Ebenezer Scrooge.

Nestled in the lakeside community of Netcong, New Jersey sits The Palace Theater, home of the Growing Stage Theater. When attending a main stage production, you'll not only watch a high-quality show, but also see an elaborate set designed by Perry Kroeger and Stephen Fredricks. The only thing more astonishing than the set is what the set is made of-cardboard. You may be asking yourself, How can such a flimsy material be chosen as the main material on set? Executive Director Stephen Fredricks explains. 'Honestly the inspiration came from the cost of buying wood. At the time the theatre couldn't afford sheets of plywood and other such materials, so we needed to find an affordable alternative. Perry Kroeger and I would visit all the area appliance stores on Thursdays - right after they had their deliveries for the weekend sales. Refrigerator and mattress containers were gold! We called it our weekly dumpster diving exercise. In time we discovered a company that sold cardboard in 4'x 8' sheets and then rest is history.'

As the leaves begin to turn and the temperatures start to drop and we see autumn all about us, it signals the frantic period of 2016 when local high schools are busily prepping their fall productions. Nashville's Hume-Fogg Academic High School is one such place, where students - under the direction of 2014 First Night Honoree Daron Bruce and his artistic collaborator Lisa Forbiss - are deep into rehearsals for the first of this academic year's presentations: Big Fish, starring Lindsey George, Jonathan Hankins and Nashville theater legacy Michael Dunaway.

In this week's vlog, I review Mad Cow Theatre's all-female production of 1776. Make sure to watch the bonus footage of cast members Lulu Picart and Laura Hodos in which they discuss their experience working with a cast of twenty six women! 

ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE A 5480 INDUCTION DISTINCTLY UNCONVENTIONAL AND PURELY GCIT:

Hello Broadway World! I'm am finally back for another blog after a long summer of theatre withdrawals. I have been so busy since the beginning of school, with college applications, homework, and just senior year in general. However, now that the applications are in, and my Broadway series tickets have begun, I went and saw Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella Saturday night. It was the national touring cast, and the roles were casted perfectly. It encompassed the spirit of the original Cinderella story while also adding in some comic relief. Tatyana Lubov and Hayden Stanes shined as Cinderella and Prince Topher. It was very interesting to see that Rodger and Hammerstein decided to have one of the step sisters,Gabrielle played by Mimi Robinson, become Cinderella's friends rather than having them both be against her. Although that was the case, the other step sister, Charlotte played by Joanna Johnson, stole the show with her comedy and her Stepsister's Lament. Chris Woods also had the audience's attention with his great performance as Jean-Michel. The Fairy Godmother, Leslie Jackson, had a beautiful voice, which was showcased in "There's Music In You". The dancers were the highlight of the show for me. The choreography and the costumes took the show to a whole new level and made the props and scenery come to life. At some points I found myself watching the dancers more than the actual story because they had been trained so well. I had been in a school production of Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella and it is interesting to see the huge differences between the actual Broadway musical script and the teen version. Also, there is nothing like going to a show at night. You can feel the excitement throughout the lobby and in the audience. Everybody is dressed up and ready to see the show. That's the magic of theatre.

In our highly competitive day and age, students in every school across the nation push themselves to succeed. From five to six college level classes to multiple clubs and activities to family obligations, students find themselves stressed and nervous about managing it all and finding balance. Kids who put themselves through it all deserve recognition for their dedication, but no one deserves praise more than the theater kid. Theater kids raise the bar for all students.

Finding out you didn't get the part you wanted always stings a little. You could be jealous, hurt, angry, or just plain old sad. And all of these things are okay, and are normal emotions. Never suppress your emotions because it could lead to some pretty unhealthy emotional/mental habits.

What can I say about Speech & Debate???

A reflection of the Broadway show that captured my heart, in honor of the closing of the North American Tour of Newsies.

In today's blog, I discuss THE ILLUSIONISTS at The Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando.

Rewrites. A word that stares writers down as the cursor blinks expectantly. This is the immense task I am facing-and an assignment I would not trade for the world.

Hello to all 5 million of my amazing readers (because there are DEFINITELY that many of you)!!! Sorry for my lack of blog last week...I know how emotionally difficult it was for you to deal with...but I'm back now, so you can wipe away the tears.

A cornerstone of American Theatre has just reached another benchmark of its legacy, and we are the ones lucky enough to observe the mastery. Bartlett Sher's hailed Fiddler on the Roof is the most fearless revival of a classic that Broadway has seen. A revelrous company and a class of principals that were born to play these roles paints a Fiddler that will simultaneously warm and haunt the hearts of all who pass through the Broadway Theatre's doors.

For some time now I've been in a funk.

On September 18, 2016, I was afforded the opportunity to attend the NJACT's 43rd Annual Perry Awards. I was extremely honored to be present supporting my twin brother, Joseph Laurino Jr. who was nominated for his role as Patsy in a production of Spamalot with the Chatham Community Players. His appearance in the show was an unexpected surprise that resulted in a comic and memorable performance. Our high school director and choreographer, James Mosser and Jennifer Williams branched out to this community theatre project and somehow knew that Joseph would be the perfect fit. This 16 year old boy took on the role of Patsy, the loyal companion to King Arthur, exuding charisma and a sense of maturity that captured the audience. With a stellar triple - threat performance, he left critics speechless with a smile from ear to ear. 

Although she's only a freshman in high school, Shelby Jones (who attends Murfreesboro's Middle Tennessee Christian School) has already amassed an enviable theater resume and established a reputation as one of the finest singers to be found onstage.

Over the past week, I have been in the process of recording, rehearsing and being coached for my pre screen audition videos for applying to college. I was also scrambling to meet deadlines I had set for myself to finish my college applications. I spent an hour and a half recording the vocal part of my auditions, two hours recording one mandatory dance combination, introductions to my video and my monologues. I also worked for an hour on the optional/technique jazz combination video.

I was never one to sit still. I always tap a foot in the air while I'm sitting cross-legged. I twirl my pen while taking notes in a lecture and make typing motions with my fingers while trying to figure out what to write. But I surprised myself. I have done more sitting still in the last week than I have in my entire life, and it was nothing less than enlightening. 

It's the fall, which means thousands of high schools across the country are beginning their spectacular seasons of theatre. From Shakespeare to Carrie, drama clubs are performing some very complicated and complex musicals and plays. The same goes for Fort Lauderdale High School, where the Stageplayers have officially begun rehearing one of the most underrated, hilarious, and intricate shows, The Drowsy Chaperone. 

Matthew Morrison is the prime example of a Renaissance man. From getting his big break as Link Larkin in Hairspray to starring in the cultural revolution of Glee to his time as J.M. Barrie in Finding Neverland, Morrison has showcased his ambition, passion and dedication as one of Broadway's leading men. 

We can all agree that there's no season more hashtag aesthetic than autumn. But, as is for everything cool, you need a playlist to bring it full circle.