There are so many “take a break from studying for final exams” activities around the Baldwin Wallace University campus that it is a challenge to study for final exams. Students with an interest in the arts are never left out.

Yet I tell the story of my artistic start over and over again, because isn’t that kind of our job as artists? Telling stories? And so, we tell stories of our lives, what brought us here and, yes, our ‘start’ in the arts. Just as all stories go, I tell mine differently every time, for every person, every instance, everything...

When I found out that this fall semester would be in person, I was so excited. But I was also nervous. This last semester ended up being what was probably the best semester I have had so far in college. It was also one of the most challenging semesters I have ever had.

In my senior year of high school, I went down the Yellow Brick Road as “Dorothy” in our production of The Wizard of Oz. As a junior musical theatre major at LIU Post, I’m putting on my ruby slippers and braiding my hair as I reprise the role this December. Here's my experience of approaching the same role again and doing it during a pandemic! 

With the new year just around the corner, many take time during the holiday season to reflect upon this past year as it comes to a close. Although 2021 has been challenging, it becomes clear that there is so much to be grateful for from vaccines to new movie musicals. While Broadway theaters began to open their doors, several streaming services opened their platforms to producing movie musicals. Unlike most years where few if any Broadway musicals were adapted into movies, 2021 was a year like no other with over ten musicals being created for the screen or being adapted from the stage to the screen. In celebration of the past year, here is a list of the best movie musicals from 2021 and where to watch them.

Go out and meet your friends. Half of my December was booked by friends, to catch up with them because I’m not able to spare time to meet them during the semester. What I also did was to catch up on sleep (not scientifically proven to work) and catch up on my favorite shows. Honestly, it’s enjoyable.

In early December, I had a chance to speak with Brian Blythe, one of the creators of the Costume Industry Coalition and the Showstoppers exhibit that ran until December 5th in Times Square. We reflected on the creation of Showstoppers and how the costume industry has been impacted by the pandemic, as well as what theatre fans can do to help the industry recover.. Enjoy!

The clues that Steven Spielberg would be a brilliant musical director were there-- the beginning of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, to name one-- but the filmmaker has reserved himself for a titanic challenge: revisiting West Side Story with an extraordinary adaptation that seeks the balance between the homage to its predecessor, directed by Robert Wise in 1961, and the need for a narrative and visual modernization with a certain historical justice.

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.