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!

House down… Curtains opening… Go! Cue 634… Go!  Showtime!!!

This past Friday, we reached the end of our journey with Bye Bye Birdie! I know we will all miss being a part of this wonderful show, but we were so happy to share it with great audiences all three nights! Running a show is truly so different than the rehearsal process, because there is no room to restart and everyone is giving a 100% to their character that we normally don't see in rehearsals. 

Hello. My name is Aimee and I will be your tour guide to anything and everything Millbrook Playhouse. I am super excited to share my experiences this summer with you.  Millbrook Playhouse is a unique theater that used to be a barn. It has been open for over 50 years, and I have been with the barn for 11 of those years! (Including this summer season) This summer I will be in Peace Love and Cupcakes, The Little Mermaid, and the Teen Performing Arts Academy's production of Into The Woods Jr. I will write about performances, rehearsals, and the fabulous adventures with my wacky friends. 

Performers love the stage. Actors love every single second they get onstage, every moment under the spotlight. It's the best feeling in the world for us. But the worst thing to be in this highly competitive theatre world is specialized in only one aspect of theatre. For instance, only being trained in one style of dance isn't going to help you out in the long run when you audition for a dance company. The same is for performers. Stop performing. Quit thinking that it's okay to only be an actor, a singer, a dancer. Learn every aspect of theatre, every talent you can. This may seem annoying, but as an artist, it will help you in the long run to be knowledgeable about as much as you can. 

Hello!  It has been a long while!  These last few weeks I have been studying, stressing, and screaming.  Four AP tests,  one standardized test, and Annie auditions later, I'm back and ready to discuss all things theatre with you guys!

I'm still in high school and as a junior we just learned about the perils of sex and parenting. As a health class project, we were assigned electronic babies to care for over the course of two days. So how does this correlate to performing? … Responsibility!

Performing in musicals definitely has its perks. You can earn money, spend time with friends, strengthen skills, make audiences happy, and of course do what you love! But there is one serious challenge that all actors/actresses are all too familiar with: sore throats. Sore throats are very common, especially with the tentative weather patterns and sudden temperature changes happening now. So to help you cure a sore throat and go back to jamming out to Broadway each day, here are a few tips of my own, along with some other facts I learned after doing some research.

In a tight-nit community like that which I am from, the members of the town are all very close. Adults and children alike collaborate during sporting events, stream clean-ups, and fun-runs. This dynamic within the community also means that the members of the town play an important role in our school's drama department. Schools with less money in the theatre budget are often prone to do-it-yourself projects and community outreach, telling a story with minimal financial input. Coming from a small, rural community, myself and my fellow actors are accustomed to assisting in most if not all aspects of the high school drama program. However, we would not be able to create our productions without the help of friends and family. Through experience, I have learned that making a production is often so deeply rooted in the community you have supporting you.