Believe it or not, I didn't always enjoy theatre. I have done it for as long as I can remember, but there was about a two year gap when I thought I would be done for good. I wasn't excited about going to rehearsals anymore, I didn't want to perform in front of anyone. Being on stage didn't feel like something I wanted to keep doing. So, I eased out of it by helping with hair, makeup, and crew and then I thought I was done.

To preface this, most of these moments will likely come from Hadestown, and Hamilton because those are my favorite musicals -- 10. 'One Day More' - Les Misérables: One of my favorite things in musicals is when everyone sings different lines at the same time and then comes together near the end

Our student bloggers write about how they're coping with the current global health crisis, give insight on their school's performing arts programs, share their opinions on the latest theater news, and so much more. Portraying Cinderella, an interview with a theatrical producer, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

The more I learned about autism, the more I wanted to help the autistic community, especially because there is so little autism representation in media and art. I wrote a lengthy paper that proposed that special interests are the key to directing neurodivergent actors. Autists are experts in their special interests, and using specific parts of their special interest as reference allows a clear understanding of what is being asked. The step-by-step process is already complete by recalling a topic where the knowledge is already possessed. I used WandaVision as an example and explained how my method would work.

Before my days of finding my passion for being on stage, three year old me had a routine of finding my family's Cinderella VHS tape. The movie would be played on our television daily, and I would sing and dance along with it. Eighteen years later and I got to play the princess herself in Plaza Theatricals' production of Cinderella at the start of 2022. What's even more exciting is that we will be having more performances throughout May.

There were so many things about being a chair of a nonprofit that I did not understand. I knew I was hindering the other people involved in the organization. I decided to take a step back and step down from my responsibilities and just become a regular member of the organization. I could breathe again. I'm still overwhelmed, but I have more time to make connections with the people around me. Learning when to say no is a skill I am still learning to master but I think I am making progress. The question I have been asking myself in the dark of night has been answered. No. Life is about finding a balance. There are ways to make yourself feel more involved without overwhelming yourself by committing to things you don't even know how to do.

Without that little poem of mine, I would not be waking up extra early on Tuesdays to stretch before putting on a neutral mask... I wouldn’t be about to stage manage a show! I would be okay, but not happy, not satisfied with what I did in college. None of what I’m doing feels like a chore to me, and I couldn’t be happier now.

This year will not be easy, but I’m sure it will be great. If you’re a senior, congratulations, we’re almost done, but we still have ten months left, and if you’re not, you’re lucky, write your own story and enjoy every minute.

Yaya Wang is a theatrical producer, hostess, and CEO of a youth arts academy. She recently immigrated to the United States and produced the off-Broadway hit The Little Match Girl. Yaya used to host the 'Yaya Show' in China and was a TV broadcaster. She is committed to using citizen artistry for social change and empathy.

Our student bloggers write about how they're coping with the current global health crisis, give insight on their school's performing arts programs, share their opinions on the latest theater news, and so much more. An actor turned Assistant Stage Manager, planning a student-run cabaret, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

Winter is the mortal enemy of many vocalists, crushing us with those frigid temperatures that seem to seep into our bones and leave us shivering even long after we’ve gone back indoors. The cold causes our bodies to hunch over, shiver, and contract in an innate effort to keep ourselves warm, and this certainly does not help in keeping our breath flowing properly. The cold air also dries out our vocal folds, which also does not help in that we need some moisture on the vocal folds in order to sing. Not to mention- doesn’t it seem like everyone is sick in the winter? It always seems like vocalists just have to struggle through the winter season, but believe it or not, it is possible to sound (and, most importantly feel) just as wonderful in the cold weather as we do in the warmer months.

People are walking out in the storm. I envy them but I don't. I envy their willingness to look like fools. I wish I could just fail like that sometimes. But only sometimes. I don’t envy them because walking in this weather must suck. This brought me to the conclusion that I fear I have done my first semester of my BFA wrong.

Cabaret is under the umbrella of our club called Under Siege. Under Siege and Cabaret are not only for musical theater and acting majors, but also anyone of any major. I have been a part of Cabaret since the first semester of my freshman year and I have definitely enjoyed my time in this club working with other students to create great art that we are proud to put on the stage.

I had no intention of becoming an assistant stage manager for my department’s production of Into the Woods this semester. It just happened. I’d like to make it clear before I get too far into this; I am not a stage management major. I have never been a stage manager for anything, much less a production of this magnitude.

I think the spring semester is really hard, especially in the beginning because the end of the year is so close yet so far at the same time. I'm still taking it day by day and there are some days when I get so much done and then there are days when I do not. I've been trying to accept that both days are good to have and that I should not be pushing myself to exhaustion.

Anne's lasting message and the talkback that followed left each audience, and myself, with a newfound perspective on this crucial time in our history. Anne Frank reminds each of us that we must cling to our ideals and that, in spite of everything, people are truly good at heart. And, in the midst of this pandemic, that is something each of us should do our best to remember.

It may sound very cheesy, but for me *love* is the foundation of everything and at the same time it is what we are looking for in our daily lives. That is why we feel so engaged and connected with our favorite song or show. What I think is marvelous, is that there are endless love stories and each one is worth telling.

Our student bloggers write about how they're coping with the current global health crisis, give insight on their school's performing arts programs, share their opinions on the latest theater news, and so much more. The joy of Avenue Q, a return to normalcy, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

Now, as the new school year dawns on me, I have had a lot of thoughts on the approach and eagerness to return to normalcy. South Africa and my university, Rhodes are so eager to return to normalcy as are most people. I agree, it's time to start easing back into a lockdown free world. But I do not agree that we can return to the world we once knew.

I used to only see myself in the performing arts, having been in choir for the majority of my life and having been engulfed in writing for the past several years. Now, I finally find myself branching out beyond what I thought I was capable of.

I think Alice Walker is a great writer and she has gone down in history for being one of the most impactful voices that has positioned herself in favor of rewriting the identity of black women in the American social framework.

Well, it's time again to apply and audition for your summer homes. This can be a slightly stressful time - taking new headshots, recording countless auditions to send all over the country. I'm going through that exact process right now, and the most important thing for me was narrowing down my options based on my wants and needs.

Avenue Q is one of Broadway's most unique masterpieces of all time. With the simple charm, music, and felt-faced protagonists of Sesame Street and the biting humor, prolific swearing, and relatable depiction of mediocre adult life, the 2003 Tony winner for Best Musical certainly made a name for itself as it delighted the audiences of New York City for 10 beautiful, off-color years. While many feel that the concept of 'Dirty Puppets' has become tired and cliche with the production of movies like The Happytime Murderers or the success of comedians like Randy Feltface, Avenue Q withstands the test of time through its sincere storytelling and simple themes that remind us all to find joy in our lives where we can and appreciate the things we have.

Our student bloggers write about how they're coping with the current global health crisis, give insight on their school's performing arts programs, share their opinions on the latest theater news, and so much more. Seeing your first musical on Broadway, anticipated productions of 2022, all about type-casting, the impact of movie musicals, goals for the semester, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

For Winter Quarter 2022, my main project has been working on Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins with UC San Diego's Department of Theatre and Dance. Based on the 15th century English morality play The Somonyng of Everyman, this version attempts to modernize and translate the themes and story to appeal to more contemporary audiences while still keeping the core messages of the original play.