Being new to the theater world isn't easy, I haven't been in theater for long, and this is my first blog post for Broadway World (Yay!). There are so many different rules to learn, so many different traditions and practices. I only started singing in 9th grade, and nearly 2 years later I joined the Thespian society at my high school. I was thrown from a world of sports into a world of acting and singing, and I couldn't have made a better decision for myself. 

Over the summer is a great time to visit local theatres and watch some enjoyable musicals and plays. However, this summer there are also many opportunities to participate in fun filled, summer theatre camps. Listed below are some of the theatres that I have performed and/or attended camp and the shows that they are performing over the summer, along with some possible theatre camps.

There was a sense of finality (and sawdust) in the air when the whole theatre department cleaned up our scene shop last week. Everyone was ready for our year to end. We had done our shows, and the props being put away were doing nothing except sitting there collecting dust. Sweeping the floor, organizing tools, and unscrewing wooden boards, it was strange walking through and dismembering things we had worked with for so long. No scene was left untouched from our final strike of the year, from our Yellow Brick Road from our rendition of Wizard of Oz, to the barnacles that appeared in The Little Mermaid.

There's nothing quite more heart-warming than seeing little kids being introduced to theatre. From the giant crowd of kids dancing on the plaza while Barry DeBois of the Once national tour leads them in singing 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' as a pre-show activity, to the children chattering excitedly in the rows directly in front of and behind me as the show was about to begin, I was reminded of the giddiness and pure joy I felt going to see theatre as a child. And as I watched the incredible child actors, teenagers, and professional adult performers that comprised the cast of Mayo Performing Arts Center's production of Mary Poppins, I was reminded of the passion that I still have for it today. 

Everybody has their 'thing' in high school. Maybe you were the star of the football team, or you dedicated your time to the robotics team. Maybe you were on the school newspaper staff or you attended all the science fairs. For a lot of kids, they throw themselves into the abyss of theatre.

"A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms." … We are all growing. Everyday and every moment we experience is, in essence, an added petal to who we are. We blossom in hopes of being the best we could be, and beside us are others who we can't help but compare ourselves with.

Italian Run

My interest in the theatre had started at a very young age. The place where I finally pursued the theatre was at Parkway Middle School of the Arts. It feels like I had walked in here just a few days ago, but the fact that we're leaving in a few days is still surprising to me. I have noticed that a lot of us had started off as mere amateurs. We just decided to try something that seemed fun! But over the years, we've got to see each other grow and improve in so many aspects… And it's fascinating how far everyone has come.

Twenty years ago, artist had a different meaning than it does now. Artists used to be so invested in their work that they often forgot to eat, sleep, or handle the normal routines of daily life. Nowadays, artists are more well-rounded than anything. Almost every high school theatre kid I meet also excels in academic subjects and other extracurriculars. Almost every college theatre major I meet has a dual major in something that older folks would consider more practical, like business or pre-law. This well-roundedness is fantastic, don't get me wrong. I consider myself one of the most well-rounded people, but when it comes to identifying as an artist, there should be more of a commitment to art than anything else. 

Recently I spoke with an old friend of mine. We met when we both performed in a local theatre production of Cinderella. Being the high-class hipster wannabes that we are, he suggested we share a coffee and chat a while. So, I ordered myself a french vanilla and caught up with my buddy. He'd been up to a lot since he graduated high school, he told me, and that there was a delightful little community theatre by his apartment that he was dying to take me to. "Parker, they are sooo good! Their production of Rent was BROADWAY CALIBER!" 

This week, the UHSPAC prepares to step into the spotlight. The Tony Award winning Papermill Playhouse hosts the Rising Star Awards celebrating excellence in High School Theatre. All across the state of New Jersey, performing arts programs compete for a bevy of honors including the coveted "Best Overall Production of a Musical." Union High School has participated in nine consecutive ceremonies, all nominated for the main prize. The UHSPAC has taken home the gold twice; in 2010 for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream coat as well as 2015 for Sophisticated Ladies. This toe tapping extravaganza currently holds the record for the most awards won in a single night by one school. Our 2016 production of Mary Poppins has been nominated for 12 Rising Stars and will be performing the number "Step in Time" as part of the festivities. This year, our department is being included in a documentary for PBS, recording our passage to the Rising Star Awards. For the past month, the sweeps have been rehearsing for the 21st annual journey over the rooftops. Tune in to Hometown TV on June 7th to experience the excitement with us! 

Looking back, I owe so much to the theatrical opportunities presented to me in high school. Not only was my school's theatre program educational and entertaining, but it opened up a new door in my life and sparked my love for what now has started to become my career. Among these experiences was performing in a production of the beloved classic West Side Story with C-R Productions. Though only my first production with the group, I cherished every moment of working alongside these incredibly talented performers who made each rehearsal an amazing experience.

Rehearsals for Worthington Community Theatre's production of Seussical started two weeks ago. I was cast as one of the three bird girls, which are a trio of performers similar to a girl group from the 60s and act as the narrator in addition to the Cat in the Hat. I was so excited because the role involved a lot of dancing and harmonies, and I couldn't wait to meet my new cast members!

The theatre world is full of people who would love to see you fail, people who want to watch you crash and burn. You constantly have to deal with foul personalities that refuse to see the progress and good in you. The world of theatre is just like the real world in that many of its inhabitants are negative in every meaning of the word, but that doesn't mean you have to be. 

A school year at Gloucester County Institute of Technology is more like a tumble. Somehow we muddle through the enormity of each event, emerging from it a little prouder, a little smarter, a little more appreciative. There's apexes tacked onto every month, among these being shows, Thespian Cabarets, and competitions. Anymore I envisage my mind as a scrapbook, with washi tape borders reading an event's name, the center of the page a sprawl of selfies, ticket stubs, and phrases the resound in the aesthetic of those hours.

At the 11th Annual Greater Philly Cappies, a student review-based mini-Tony awards for high schools in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey, my school got more than 14 nominations including one for Best Musical! We were ecstatic when we heard, and immediately began preparing our presentation  (after every few awards, a performance is done by a nominee for Best Musical, Play, or Song). Our show was The Little Mermaid, so we decided to the iconic number "Under the Sea" as our song. Unfortunately, much of our cast could not make it to the Cappies, so the people on stage for the song was cut dramatically. The amount of boys on stage was halved, and the population of girls didn't fare much better.

The barn is staring to get into its summer swing this year. The first day of rehearsal is getting closer and closer. Counting down the days until school ends and the days until rehearsal starts. We are currently in the end of school paradox. That being you show up to school and sit in all your classes and do nothing. The days are pointless, but I mean it happens every year so… 

I walked into a room full of people surrounding a table stocked with Hershey's candy bars, lollipops and flyers for The Blank Theatre's Young Playwrights Festival. For a moment, I hesitated-was this where I belonged, in a building a couple blocks away from the Hollywood Walk of Fame?-but before I could back out, someone spotted me and asked, "Are you here for the 'Supermarket of Lost' table read?" and I said yes.

Boston is really the only city where you can be leaving the Boston Symphony Hall after seeing the Boston Pops and be walking alongside Boston Red Sox fans leaving Fenway Park. This past Thursday I had the opportunity to see my Broadway idol, Sutton Foster, with the Boston Pops.

Some of the most iconic musicals are inspired by American Heroes.

One of the most important skills in musical theatre is singing. The need for the ability to sing in musical theatre is why most of my friends participate in choir, besides generally enjoying it.

Destiny's Child pushed for women to be independent in 2001 with Independent Woman, and I am pushing for actors to be independent today with this blog. Independence is a quality few people possess, a quality I am thankful enough to have, and a quality I hope to instill upon people. This quality is useful in almost any situation. But truthfully, I think it can be most useful to actors. 

In Orlando, the Fringe festival is kind of a big deal. It's a time when the theatre community comes together to perform, watch shows, network, eat from food trucks, and celebrate the arts. I saw three shows this weekend at the festival: On The Line, Burn Job, and Simpleton.

Lion King Jr. was performed at Parkway Middle School of the Arts on May 18th and 19th.  After five whole months of hard work, dedication, and practice, an absolutely fantastic show came together. This is my last show at Parkway Middle School of the Arts, and I could not have asked for a better experience as my last memory in such a wonderful performing arts program. 

Show teasers allow the opportunity to publicize a production as well as create anticipation for opening night!