For the past few years I have had a tradition of driving out to Manheim, Pennsylvania, to spend a day at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. It's been a way for me to forget about the stresses of everyday life during some crazy times. But now that I'm living in New York, I decided it was time to give a new Renaissance Faire a try.

Every time I felt myself spiraling into uncertainty or fear, I would re-direct my focus to what was happening right now. If I were in class and worrying about next weekend, I stopped myself. Grabbed my runaway mind and re-directed it to what was happening in that moment or what would happen right after. This sounds like the smallest technique, but I swear it helped. For those few weeks, I would just put one foot in front of the other. Take it moment by moment. It eventually worked itself out to the point where I no longer needed to repeat that phrase 10,000 times a day. I got adjusted!

For anyone who knows me, two of my favorite things are live music and spontaneous plans. Whenever there is a chance to see an artist I like, I'll somehow find a way to be there even if it's a plan that's pulled together in the matter of minutes. In my experience, the spontaneous concerts are some of the very best and there are never any regrets for going because it's worth all the craziness.

Yes, I learn many new things in school, but coming to college taught me a lot more than just what I learn inside the classroom. Just as an example, before this week, I have never dismantled a big piece of furniture or used an electric screwdriver, and even if these don’t seem like big achievements to some, knowing that I am able to do these things when I need to give me a self-confidence I wouldn’t otherwise have. 

It’s 2021 and we already have a lot of Cinderella remakes that have tried to give a modern twist, show another perspective or vision of this classic but someone decided that the world needed another Cinderella movie that could work as a Jukebox musical. I had no expectations for this movie, but I ended up enjoying it. It made me laugh, sing and had a good time with a story that even though it had been told hundreds of times, the vision of Kay Cannon made it fresh and perfect for a movie night with your family, your little cousins or your friends.

Thanks goodness wicked exists.Wicked's concert aired last week, and every performance was spectacular, it was so different to watch different actors singing these remarkable songs, they transmitted to me the passion, love and connection. Even if I've listened to every song more than a thousand times, I got to feel the sensation that it was the first time my ears were hearing these songs. When Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, showed up to present the songs and give a little synopsis, my eyes started watering, I think it is so special that they are still there, telling this amazing story and opening the road for younger generations to keep the narrative.

When it comes to video specials, the game has changed. The rules are different. It’s no longer acceptable for comedians to have a few cameras in the audience and call it good. There is now a heightened sense of performance, and endless possibilities to make comedy more than a man pacing the stage asking “Have you ever noticed…?”

Before 'Great Comet,' I didn’t have a singular favorite show. If asked, I’d list off 'Wicked,' 'Les Miserables,' 'Chicago,' 'Hamilton,' and 'Evita,' but I couldn’t give just one answer. But now, the answer is easy. This show is my absolute favorite of all time.

Disney has opened many spectacular shows on Broadway, such as Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, and The Lion King. However, it's been around four years since they opened a new show on Broadway. Here are some of my top picks for their next movie-to-stage adaptation to come to Broadway. It has been so long since we got a new Broadway production from Disney. Hopefully, now that Broadway is reopening and new shows are being developed again, Disney will open an amazing new show that will delight audiences, children and adults alike.

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 theater on Broadway and at college, parody musicals for orientation, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

Putting on shoes for class felt strange yesterday. I am accustomed to rolling out of bed ten minutes before my first class and eating my breakfast while listening to a Zoom lecture. Beyond the strangeness of preparing for in-person classes, I have to prepare for in-person auditions and rehearsals.

I have to say, I'm not a huge fan of the live action wave that has been sweeping the movie industry for the last few years. I have so much attachment to the original Disney cartoons from watching them countless times as a child that I can't seem to fairly judge or appreciate the new takes on these classic stories. That being said, I couldn't resist seeing Emma Stone tackle one of the bougiest villains to hit the silver screen, Cruella de Vil. I was greatly looking forward to seeing the arc of her villain origin story, as well as hitting the movie theatre for the first time since the pandemic began. That being said, after the movie was finished, I was just... confused? Let's jump into some of my most pressing thoughts, but reader beware, spoilers lie ahead.

The amount of times I got asked out as a joke, the amount of times I got called a nerd, and the amount of times I was the odd one out for group projects qualifies me to determine the biggest Broadway bullies. Buckle in!

We've all given up so much in the last year and a half and I want to go back to Broadway, but I think the hesitation of it all is going to last a very long time. I also believe that the way we all act in the next few weeks are going to be crucial to the survival of Broadway.

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to attend Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical and review it for BroadwayWorld. Recently, I also had the chance to speak with Nick Flatto, the director of Stranger Sings. We talked about the show, the effects of the pandemic, and even TikTok. So without further ado, let’s get into it!

I know all of us take countless classes, read plenty of articles, and listen to endless interviews about what makes a great audition 'in the room.' So, to not waste your time, I will not be discussing how to audition in-person, but rather the digital Summer Stock audition process. After you've created all your audition cuts, there are essentially 2 methods of auditioning: 1. Self-Submissions 2. Audition Conferences

As early as my sophomore year in college, I began to itemize a list of possible topics for my thesis. I was not looking forward to the whole thesis writing bit. However, things lightened up a bit as soon as I started to think of titles which I felt would excite me the most and therefore make my work easier. I came up with color-blind casting.

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. Letters to incoming freshmen, words of advice, a philosophy on dream roles, book recommendations, and more-- read the latest from our college student bloggers!

This past summer, I enjoyed the sunshine and warm weather with some theatre books. Some were plays, some were memoirs of actors and some were theory or history books. I wanted to share some of my favorites from the past couple of months as we move into the back-to-school spirit. 

I recently saw Pass Over in previews on Broadway, and I am so glad I was able to experience the energy of live theater again! Pass Over was written by Antoinette Chinoye Nwandu in 2018 and took inspiration from Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. Two young men perform in a cycle passing the time and hoping things could be different until a stranger wanders in to disrupt their pattern. Overall, the play follows the theme of making your way out through profanity and slang terms warped into poetic philosophical questions.

While debating over which sweatshirts or sneakers to bring you also have to decide what a theater major needs for a semester of performance. Thankfully, here is a list of what I consider to be some of the most important items to pack for your time in the theater. With an unprecedented year of experience, from acting classes in masks and performing in boxes, I have whittled down the necessities to what can fit in my shoebox size room.

This year, I'm a senior which means it's my last year in college. That fact is both equally thrilling and terrifying. In less than twelve months, I'll be a college graduate with a degree that will be with me as I'm out in the world working and taking on life without any fear. All of my hard work over the past four years will finally amount to something great. But this is my last first day of school, opening the door for all the big moments that will also be my last. My last move in day, last homecoming, last finals week (which I won't miss), last time spending everyday with the people who mean everything to me.

When I heard about this Funny Girl revival, my first thought was, “Oh my god, I hope it’s real this time… and I hope whoever is cast as Fanny Brice is Jewish.” Beanie Feldstein is a powerful choice for Fanny Brice not only because she is truly Jewish, but also because of all the ways in which she veers from the “traditional” Broadway leading lady.

Choosing classes for college is always difficult experience. I was able to start the process all the way back in March to be able to take the classes I want this fall. And with more in person classes than last year, I am ecstatic to learn as many new things as I can. So, with that, these are 3 out of my 5 classes that I am most excited to take.

What really strikes me about Climate Follies is the use of Brechtian-style theatre to create the atmosphere of the play as a whole. Brecht’s style, also known as Epic Theatre, relies on the Estrangement Effect. Through various tech and acting techniques, the audience remains very aware that they’re watching a play. They are not allowed to fall into the reality of the play.