COVID-19 covered the world in an oppressive shadow, forcing us inside and alone but these strifes would lead to even greater creations: virtual performances via Zoom, Facetime karaoke nights, and front-row seats to Broadway’s finest from our living room couch. And, I'm proud to announce that this week my school will be performing Mamma Mia!, our first musical since the world shut down. C'mon, Saguaro High School, let's bring down the house!

I was first involved in a devising process my senior year of high school. I'm not sure how accurate a devising experience it was because none of us had any idea what we were doing.

It’s been not a long time since I became a theater fan, even though I’ve learnt many things with my experience as part of the audience and with my perspective as a student of a career that involves art, I’ve got to reflect about theater in my city: Mexico City.

2022 marks the 10th Anniversary of the Academy’s founding. Exceptional Minds hopes to double their enrollment in the next five years. They need help from me, you—all of us—to continue providing evermore rewarding, creative and good paying job opportunities for young adults with autism.

I was stunningly aware of how each muscle in my finger moved, how precisely my elbow moved to allow for this motion. When I turned around and stared off into the space, it was strangely like playing a first-person point of view VR game; the mask was my headset and my hand in front of me was poised to press X to interact with the world around me.

It all started in November of 2021 when one of my friends was visiting New York City for the first time. Being the theatre fan I am, I insisted that we saw a Broadway show together. He suggested a show called David Byrne’s American Utopia. “Sounds good to me,” I responded, “but quick question - Who’s David Byrne?”

After going to New York for my winter break, my mom and I decided to return to see more musicals during my Spring Break. We once again did not have much of a plan for what to do while we were there but knew that we wanted to see Hadestown once again. Besides seeing Hadestown again, I also got to see Come from Away, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

Will there probably always be issues with people looking down on dramaturgs? Yes. But, do I feel better now about where I stand in the industry and with my peers? Also yes. The confidence that I've gained in my work has allowed me to find my place in this community and know that I deserve it just as much as every other person in the room. 

Picture a somewhat-windy Sunday afternoon in South St. Louis County. Can't do it? Well, I'll help you out there.

Hamilton is a GREAT musical, the lyrics, the songs, the quotes, all of it is a master piece.

Before I ever developed a distinct taste in art, a favor for certain aesthetics or genres or even method of delivery, I was still deeply and inextinguishably drawn to it.

I had no idea what I was getting into with becoming a dramaturg. But I’m enjoying the ride, and can’t wait to answer any more questions the cast might come up with. 

A letter to Theatre “With you in my life, I get to speak up, I get to share my stories, I get to channel my emotions through you. You never once criticize me or censor me, instead, you supported me. And I am thankful for that.”

It all started in November of 2021 when one of my friends was visiting New York City for the first time. Being the theatre fan I am, I insisted that we saw a Broadway show together. He suggested a show called David Byrne’s American Utopia. “Sounds good to me,” I responded, “but quick question - Who’s David Byrne?”

The first term of my last year is almost over. I thought I would catch you up on how my final year of my undergrad has been going!

On March 12th at eight in the evening, the Munsey Park Auditorium hosted a musical performance named Illegal: A New Musical by theater graduates of Yale University. With Skyler Chin as its writer, Olivia Facini as its producer, Sita Sunil as its co-composer, Iris Liu as the student producer, and Annissa Gao as the photographer. The show gathered more than 1,000 audience members from 3/11 to 3/12 and received an uproaring reaction from its audience who gave standing ovations for both days of the performance.

Dance is the function that movement flows into. The former innately harbors connotations of restricted and formed movement, while movement itself is the relinquishing to true movement. This thought process and constant practice of the release that movement provides me allowed the space and time to truly fall back in love with movement and myself.

The masks, in some way, strip the viewers of their identities, solidifying their role as spectators rather than audience members. From behind the mask, we forget that the performers can see us just as much as we can see them. Face coverings give us false anonymity, cloaking our reactions and forcing us to view the piece with a more critical lens.

This quarter, I enrolled in a graduate dramaturgy course at my university -- UC San Diego. Being the only undergraduate student in the class was definitely intimidating at first, but I’ve also grown and become more comfortable with myself as a student and dramaturg in ten short weeks. In a class filled with UC Irvine Ph.D. students, UC San Diego Ph.D. students, and MFA stage managers, there are many perspectives and levels of exposure to dramaturgy in the class that provide insight and diversity.

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. Finding the joy in rejection, favorite theatre moments, a letter to college friends, New York Fashion Week, a love of Shakespeare, learning to say no, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

In February, I was lucky enough to see former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson on his first world tour after being rescheduled several times due to the ongoing pandemic. And while Tomlinson himself put on an outstanding performance that left the audience speechless in the best way, the opening act for the tour stood out to everyone as well and I can easily say I'm a new fan of the band for a multitude of reasons.

Swift's statement in her song 'peace' rings true for my generation, but it will not define us moving forward. My twenties will be a time in my life that I'll remember forever no matter what happens or what I do during this time. We all deserve those incredible experiences no matter what, so let's go get them.

I am ordering my cap and gown today for the Baldwin Wallace University commencement in May. Leaving this great theatre community is a sobering thought, but the spring semester is so busy there are plenty of distractions.

Kanarie has one of the most iconic opening sequences I’ve ever witnessed. It starts with Johan wearing a wedding gown in the middle of the street, as he lip syncs Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown Boy”, having a musical dream sequence until he’s interrupted by a reality check, when he’s informed he has to join the army.

I put my cold email writing skills to the test, and I ended up getting three yeses. The first fashion show I went to was a fashion show collaboration between Hekka (a fashion brand) and Uplive (a social media app). The second was a fashion show for the designer Corey Woods and his new eyewear line. Both were quite the experience!