The original musical is by Jonathan Larson, but you have to acknowledge all the style and heart that Lin-Manuel Miranda adds to his work in Netflix's tick, tick... BOOM! Clearly, this was a tribute Miranda paid to one of the songwriters who changed the Broadway industry. Rent is one of those heartbreaking and joyful stories about youth. This theme is reflected in tick, tick... BOOM! with good music, choreography and the excellent performance of Andrew Garfield. With many cameos from the Broadway industry and witty lines full of irony and emotion, TTB does a pretty good job highlighting the original stage show. It may even cause you to shed a few tears.

Whether you celebrate one of the holidays during December or not, it’s finally that time of year where we get a chance to take a breath and relax. You may be home from your fall semester of college, on winter break from school, or just a break from work.

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. Returning to the movie theater to see West Side Story, Broadway stars covering hit songs, a roundup of theater moments from the year, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

If you have read my previous blog posts, you will know that I love making resolutions and goals for myself. Even if I don’t accomplish everything that I put in my list, I love the feeling of acknowledging what I want to work on and how I wish to better myself. It helps to keep me focused on what is in front of me. I always try to make a resolutions/goals list at the beginning of every calendar year, and school year, to help me get excited about the year in front of me. 

We have finally reached what can be considered the most stressful and chaotic part of the school year: Finals. A time where sleep doesn’t exist and caffeine is in high demand. Going into my fifth round of college finals, I have determined that it does not in fact get easier. It gets harder and more stressful. It feels like there is never enough time for anything and it is almost as if there is a large timer counting down to the end. 

My friends, we have finally done it. In just a couple of weeks from now, we will be leaving behind the mess of a year that was 2021 and going into the hopefully bright future of 2022. Let's take a trip back through 2021 and talk about some of my favorite theater moments we experienced this year, from next-level movie musicals to the re-opening of Broadway.

Every once in a while, the two music worlds collide. A Broadway singer covers a song from your favorite artist, and it kinda feels like your school friends are meeting your camp friends: weird and amazing in equal measure. 

I've been waiting for this movie since last year and last weekend I went to the movies and it was the best way to start the end of this year. West Side Story is a musical that we've seen everywhere through the years and it's a classic that has a place in our hearts, so as a fan of musicals, watching the remake directed by Steven Spielberg was a great experience from when I saw the first teaser months ago, to the end of the movie with all the emotions that it made me feel.

I believe that it is valuable to be an informed audience member when taking in new media in the theater. There is so much to learn beyond the source material, and all of it is vital to the greater art presented. Taking that time to be more knowledgeable in content you care about can allow for deeper conversations in the arts and a greater level of analysis within classic works.

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. Remembering Sondheim, performing Songs for a New World, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

Hamilton, the rap musical about founding father Alexander Hamilton which won 11 Tony Awards, a Grammy, an Emmy, and a Pulitzer Prize, isn't your typical Broadway musical. I will even go as far as to argue that Hamilton isn't just a musical about history but changed history both on Broadway and in the United States.

Last Wednesday, Christmas came a little early for me, as I found myself lunching at Below 54 while listening to Broadway legend Brian Stokes Mitchell. He was on hand to accept a $100,000 donation on behalf of the Actors Fund from the Tabernacle Choir.

Getting to be part of 'Songs for a New World' specially in the reality we are experiencing today, has such a deep meaning for me, my cast and creative team... like all of the rest of the world, we were locked down for more than a year doing everything online and now standing in front of an audience singing about how this characters feeling the impulse to change their lives and pause for a second to reflect on their relationships, dreams and hopes and have a lot of realizations during these songs, was the perfect way to be back on stage.

The loss of one of the brightest lights of the Great White Way has been terribly challenging to accept. I think everyone within the theatre community can share a story related to Sondheim that led them to where they are. For me, it was the production of West Side Story and the album of Sunday in the Park with George. The South African production of West Side Story, reminded me of the magic of theatre and it solidified my dream of being part of a story made for the stage. While the Sunday in the Park with George revival with Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford is my go-to album for inspiration.

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. Focusing on body image, taking on a dramaturgy role, tackling finals week stress, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

Another way we can honor Sondheim’s legacy is by supporting new, up-and-coming writers. Donate to that program that’s writing original work! Go see the little off-off-off-Broadway show! You might hate what you see, but then again, there’s also a very strong chance you’ll love it.

You’re hard pressed to find a college student who doesn’t have any sort of issues with their body image, let alone a college student studying theatre. It’s sad but true. Society has set such toxic body standards that we particularly feel as actors because we’re literally representing society in our work, and this can have a major effect on our performance in classes or in rehearsals. It’s no secret that we need to be taking care of ourselves, like it or not, and that thin bodies aren’t the same as healthy bodies, but hey- all of us have days where it’s harder than usual to care for the bodies we’re in. Bad body image days (or weeks, it’s okay) happen, and they can be awful, but they’re nothing that can’t be conquered.

Please remember to take care of yourself. Take breaks while studying, drink lots of water and schedule in time to actually rest at the end of the day. No grade is more important than your physical or mental health so give yourself some grace and realize how much you are accomplishing each day without pushing yourself to the limits. If you need help, don't be afraid to reach out. There are many people around you all experiencing the same thing and are always willing to support you in any way that's possible. Take advantage of that, remember you are not alone ever especially during this time of the semester.

Every four years or so for the past...probably twenty years, MBU has been performing Handel's Messiah. This year is one of those years. Needless to say, it's not an easy work. It is several hundred years old, after all, and some things have been lost in translation, so to speak, but it's still a fun work nonetheless.

After viewing my Spotify Wrapped, I noticed how much my music tastes changed from the beginning of the year to now. Up until July, I was primarily listening to songs from musical soundtracks, but after that, I began to listen to other styles of music.

We made a cabaret! No, not the musical, but the performance style of cabaret. If you are wondering what a cabaret is, according to Wikipedia, Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, a casino, a hotel, a restaurant, or a nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, does not typically dance but usually sits at tables. Think Feinstein's/54 Below.

The love of storytelling continued throughout Edoardo’s life, and it continues now as he finishes his first half of his senior year at NYU Tisch Drama’s Experimental Theatre Wing. Today, Edoardo identifies as primarily a playwright and director, but he also enjoys acting, dancing, and choreographing. He just put on his first show, Vanity, in NYC!

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. Favorite Sondheim shows, the impact of Sondheim and Larson, returning to live theater, getting into the holiday spirit, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

No matter what someone does in the theater, respect them. We are all working people trying to do what we love. No matter if it is the dramaturg or the technical director or the lead actor or the front of house manager: we are all here. Every single person in the theater has put their life-blood into making it work and there is no reason why anyone should feel like they do not deserve to be there or that their work is not useful to the company.

When somebody creates something so magnificent, so beautiful, so full of emotion and humor and, yes, color and light, there is never enough time. Whether your hero is 35 or 91, their passing will come far too soon for everybody’s taste.