Pumpkin spice lattes, candy corn, apple pie-what do these things make you think of? First and foremost, YAAASSS (obvi), but also…fall! As I struggle to get back into the swing of school, there's one thing that keeps me going: my superhumanly high level of excitement for THE FALL 2016 THEATER SEASON!!! (*fireworks*) There are so many truly incredible offerings this year for audiences of all ages…but, for now, let's focus on what's out there for teens! So, now, I present to you (*drumroll)* My Top 5 Picks for Teens Fall 2016 (*confetti explosion*)! 

As a vocalist, sickness is my worst nightmare. I don't want to have to postpone voice lessons, practice or other rehearsal when I lose my voice. 

During my week in New York, I had the opportunity to interview Tina Stafford after watching the off broadway show she is in called Liberty. Tina is a working actress in New York City and was a part of the tour of Once the musical. It was really interesting talking to Tina and learning about what it's like to be an actress in New York City. Here are the questions I asked her and her responses!

As we head into the new school year (*rolls eyes*), all of us are still reminiscing about those summer nights (yes, that was a purposeful Grease reference…obvi). Some teenagers chose to spend their summer relaxing on the beach, working on their tan…I am not one of them!! I spent my summer at the legendary theater camp, Stagedoor Manor, where I performed in two full-fledged productions over the course of 6 weeks. This was my 3rd year at Stagedoor, AKA, 'Heaven on Earth for Theater Geeks', and it just gets better and better each year.

Every year at Upper Dublin High School, the theatre program puts on a get-together where they reveal the three shows to be done throughout the school year. Before they're revealed, though, you can guess what they're going to be. Last year the theatre director gave hints in the form of colors for the shows: black, green, and blue. If you can't figure all of them out, don't worry, we only managed to get two: Wizard of Oz for green, and The Little Mermaid for blue. Black, then, was The Importance of Being Earnest. All three ended up being incredible to perform, and the contrast between the two musicals and The Importance of Being Earnest was a great dynamic.

I tried out for my first play in several years. In prior years, I told myself I was too busy to take on another show, and let audition opportunities pass me by. To this day, that is my biggest regret of high school: not auditioning for everything.

I can think of only one thing that's better than theatre outreach--and that is using said outreach to welcome freshmen. 

I take my craft too seriously. Yes, I said it. Every theatre kid takes their craft too seriously. Now, I know how misleading that sounds. It sounds like I'm claiming we should all relax and stop working on our pieces. Trust me, that is NOT WHAT I AM SAYING. What I am saying is something that is built on advice hundreds of people have told me. From vocal coaches to directors to fellow cast members, basically everyone I know has told me that I take my craft too seriously. And I do. But I think we all do. I think we all spend far too much time worrying and questioning rather than doing. Thus, I present new advice for a new school year: stop taking your craft so seriously!

The green room of The Belmont Theatre on August 21st, 2016 would have been a sight familiar to any actor who can recall the day their show closed. The cast and crew was gathered in a tight circle, clutching hands as the stage manager, Judi Miller, called places for the final time. Her announcement brought forth an eruption of cheers, a sound that mixed with the bittersweet feeling that had overcome us all at the thought of bringing our production of Side Show to life one last time.

As social media becomes more and more prevalent in society, casting calls and other theatre things have become increasingly digital. With Facebook pages for several kinds of casting calls, specific types, agencies and websites, people have more information about how to submit to these casting calls.

On June 20th to the 26th I had the pleasure of attending the International Thespian Society Festival to represent my school, the OCVTS: Performing Arts Academy and our Troupe #6185!

The beginning of school brings lots of fun activities, some homework, and new friends. A lot of the time, with theatre or music activities there are auditions that go hand in hand with it. I know that I am preparing for a week of auditions next week, and I'm trying to figure out all of the songs, dances, and scenes I'll need to know for these auditions.

On this episode, take a peak behind the curtain and see how The Belmont Theatre brought the freaks of 'Side Show' to life!  

Going back to school means getting to see your friends again, meeting new teachers, and homework. It also means back to auditions. Whether you are a Freshman or a Senior it is always scary for everybody. From picking the right monologue to the right song, I've got you covered. Read below to see my tips for a stand out audition.

Hello, readers! After taking a short break from blogging to enjoy family time, I come back with a blog about the most stressful time of the year: audition time. As show season begins and drama clubs start long rehearsals, line learning, and vocal lessons, we theatre kids jump back into what we do best. However, starting the long process towards show day that we enjoy so much starts with one agonizing event: auditioning. Yes, I know, I've previously written about how much I love and enjoy auditions because of the creative opportunities and exploration they offer, but no person can deny that audition week is the most nerve racking experience (show week is a close second). Thus, I present a guide to handling this time of year with, as Meryl Streep said at the Democratic National Convention, "grit and grace."

Summer is officially over for me, and I'm immersed into the school year again. I'm already working on a school production of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and my classes are already piling on the homework, tests, and projects. Somehow, I'm not fazed by this mass chaos. It probably is related to the fact that I did not take a break this summer. Summer classes filled my summer until the second week of July (don't worry, I took these classes to lighten my junior year), babysitting was a routine job for me, and I was in a production of Shrek the Musical at a local community theatre. 

High school senior Patti Meadors gives advice she would have loved going into high school. Incoming freshman, sophomores, juniors, seniors and anyone who has a high school student should know some of these tips to have a more comfortable transition into high school responsibilities and the college application process. 

BWW Interviews: Northwest High School Welcomes New Drama Teacher

Sometimes you just have to turn to music to tell the story.

I have less than one month until school starts. In less than one month I will be a senior in high school and I will have to worry about the future that lies ahead of me after graduation. But as of right now, I'm not going to worry about that. I am trying to stay as busy as possible; not worrying about the future but focusing on the present!

Allison Rambler takes you behind the scenes of The Belmont Theatre's production of 'Side Show' in this video blog dedicated to exploring and celebrating community theatre at it's finest.

As summer comes to a close, the infamous back to school commercials hit the TV screens. Often times, schools provide a student planner or other recommendation to stay organized. Some students may find these planners useless, and jot down assignments on their hand. Most of the time, these students are those who don't have after school commitments.

As the opening night of The Belmont Theater's 'Side Show' quickly approaches, the activity in the black box studio has increased ten-fold. The set is becoming more elaborate, the swell of music from the orchestra now fills the air, and the costumes are coming together piece by piece. Tech week has begun, and it can both an exciting and somewhat stressful time for any production. As an actor, it can sometimes be difficult to lose sight of your character and even the meaning behind the show itself among the bustle and flurry of tech week. That is why I felt that the time had come to interview some of the actors in our show, in order to provide a bit of insight into their characters and to explain from their perspective the importance of a musical such as 'Side Show.' And for Nik Olson, this was no small task.

As summer comes to a close, the infamous back to school commercials hit the TV screens. Often times, schools provide a student planner or other recommendation to stay organized. Some students may find these planners useless, and jot down assignments on their hand. Most of the time, these students are those who don't have after school commitments.

You've been preparing for this audition for weeks. Your monologue and 16 bars have been rehearsed to perfection; your headshot and resume impeccable. You feel as if the role is practically yours--all you have to do is walk into the audition room and take it. Then, right before your audition, the nerves hit. Your heart races. Your mind spins, thinking up all kinds of scenarios in which your audition can go terribly wrong. This hinders your performance. You leave frustrated and unsatisfied.