Thespian Nation Archives - Dramatics Magazine Online

How Theatre Prepares You for Any Job

Patty Craft — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 15:15:08 +0000

Whichever adult(s) in your world mentor you on how to succeed in life, chances are, at least one has said something like, “You can’t make a living in theatre!” As frustrating as it is to hear, let’s assume they mean well. They want you to be able to eventually support yourself in a comfortable lifestyle, and they fear a career in the arts is just too unpredictable — even though that may not actually be the case.

Let’s dispel the idea that reliable employment is only found outside the arts and remind our mentors and ourselves that fear isn’t always right.

The theatre skills you learn in school are vital to success in nearly every field of work, and when the time comes, you’ll find a way to pursue the arts out in the real world if it’s your true passion. Meanwhile, let’s do a refresher on the value of what you’re learning now.

5 Ways Your Theatre Skills Transition to the Workforce

The Bard must have seen into the future and discovered the current social media scene! Shakespeare’s line from As You Like It, “All the world’s a stage,” is embodied on social media every day. Now, you’re wise enough to know that the most effective social media feeds employ serious planning, staging, editing, and branding. Long gone is the notion that a person can simply hold up their smart phone, record themselves, and go viral with their clip!

Even beyond social media, successful entrepreneurs, teachers, doctors, lawyers, political leaders, and, yes, actors, use theatre skills daily. Not to mention there are plenty of theatre careers to consider and many ways that your theatre lessons can transfer to real-life roles. Case in point: Read our story of a self-proclaimed music kid who is now a successful sound designer.

So let’s explore the skills you already have that can help you land the perfect job.

1. Inspired public speaking can be learned.

First off, get your voice warmed up to do its job. Maybe this sounds silly, but warming up your vocal cords and preparing to enunciate so listeners can clearly hear your message is important for speakers as well as singers. Try these tongue-twisters for actors and have fun as you get ready to inspire.

Along with getting your body ready to speak, remember the power of pacing and emphasizing your words. You can partner up with another Thespian and experiment with this technique, taking turns speaking and listening. How does emphasizing too many words distract the listener? How does a slower or faster pace affect the message? Does it become more urgent if said quickly?

2. Clear communication matters everywhere.

Yes, we live in the age of text messaging and texting abbreviations abound. Maybe you’ve experienced miscommunications based on text messages that have left you laughing or crying.

Text messaging is often misinterpreted for several reasons. Perhaps the sender meant their words as a joke, for example, but the recipient couldn’t hear the laughter in their voice or see sender’s body language.

It may be trite and it’s true: An actor’s body is their instrument. The subtleties of facial expressions, hand gestures, vocal inflection, and even the direction in which an actor is speaking all tell part of the story. Try these exercises to improve your presence on stage or improve your general communication skills. You’ll find yourself giving new thought to how you walk, use your hands, and even how you use your facial expressions.

Investing in physical training is always worth the time and effort, especially when we remember how powerful our body is in communicating clearly.

3. Effective collaboration is vital to every show’s success.

We’ve all been part of a group assignment outside of theatre where some contribute more than others. And we’ve felt the resentment of having to carry other people’s loads for that assignment to succeed. Don’t be the one not contributing—you won’t learn anything from the experience, and you’ll be a burden to others in the group.

Theatre teaches collaboration intrinsically. Each member of the company—from the producer and director to all the cast members, technicians, and ushers—have a key job to do for the production to be successful. If even just one person’s job doesn’t get done, it affects the end result. Learning to understand your piece of the puzzle, own it, and execute it with commitment and authority while also leaving room for others to do the same is a valuable skill. Our directors are there to coach us when ideas abound or priorities collide, so learning to let go, readjust, and continue forward in a slightly new direction without derailing the process for everyone is also just as important in the real world as it is in the theatre.

4. Commitment to a collaborative effort includes everyone agreeing on the goal.

In theatre, one short scene in which a character’s greatest challenge is revealed can be the key to understanding their motives. Learning to work with others, whether in an acting scene or on the props crew, improves your value to a show.

When it comes to commitment, do what you say you’re going to do. For example, if you’re struggling to find a costume that’s on your list, speak up sooner rather than later. Maybe someone else on the crew knows exactly where to find that period piece of clothing.

Also, find the courage to say you can’t take on a particular assignment when you know it’s outside your ability or skill set. Perhaps offer to switch with someone who has the required skills. Saying “yes” when you know you can’t do what’s asked sets everyone up for failure. And the other person may have the desire to take on something else. Win/win!

5. Become more coachable and you’ll go far!

What does it mean to be coachable? There are a couple million results if you Google this query, but it comes down to a willingness to change. Yes, the willingness to set our egos aside and try new things that may (or may not) work. It’s an admission that your initial attempt might not be the best or only way to achieve a goal, and feeling safe enough to try a different approach that might not come as easily for you. Being adaptable to various viewpoints and experimenting to get the desired result is a highly transferable skill desired in almost every profession.

And it’s something you’re likely already doing with your castmates, director, or theatre teacher.

Being coachable means having a genuine curiosity about different techniques or beliefs. Communication coach John Millen has these six tips you can learn to be more coachable and ultimately more successful.

Success Beyond the High School Stage

Whether you’re taking on a leadership role and need to command attention on the “work stage,” are leveraging your years of script analysis to improve your written communication, or just working with new people and are looking to create healthy boundaries and collaboration, transferring the skills you’ve learned as a Thespian can go a long way toward helping you advance.

Patty Craft is a regular contributor to Dramatics.org.

The post How Theatre Prepares You for Any Job appeared first on Dramatics Magazine Online.

From Thespy Stage to Working Artists

Jose Triana — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 13:32:02 +0000

Becoming a Thespian can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Not only can you find community amongst fellow students, but often it kicks off a long-term artistic journey. While every student’s experience will be different, there are always Thespian alum to look to for guidance and inspiration.

Muhammad Khaerisman and Tyren Duncan are two such Thespians.

Members of Troupe 7961, their Thespian journey earned them Thespy accolades, long-lasting memories at the International Thespian Festival, college educations from University of Houston and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi respectively, and a career as working artists, where they still attend Texas Thespians – now as teaching artists.

As Kendra Willeby, their former teacher and troupe director, explains, their journey represents that “pie in the sky dream outcome” of becoming a Thespian.

Today, they run Faces Network, an artistic collective and platform for artists, with performance arts pieces hosted in Atlanta and a new film, Prodigal, premiering in 2024. EdTA caught up with them to learn more about their Thespian experience and how these lessons have helped shape their careers.

The Early Days as a High School Thespian

For Khaerisman, who like many children, aspired to be an astronaut, the path to theatre unexpectedly started with early wins. “In the summer of 11th grade, Ms. Willeby signed me up for college auditions, and out of something like 74 schools, 72 called me back,” he says. “It blew my mind. I don’t know if it’s my upbringing or because I wasn’t exposed to anyone in this space, but it didn’t occur to me that I could pursue acting as a life course.”

For Duncan, football was the main priority, playing from elementary all the way until his junior year of high school. However, his passion for football declined, and the need for a new creative outlet led back to theatre. In his freshman year of high school, he had performed in South Pacific, had a “good time,” and figured it would be a great place to return to. But his second run in theatre didn’t start as expected.

“Oh God, [the audition] was a school bus breakdown on the side of road: flames, smoke, everything,” he said. “When you’re in high school, you feel like that’s it. You feel like ‘Ah, if I didn’t do this one thing then I’m completely done in life, and I’ll never amount to anything, I’ll be a failure.’ While the audition wasn’t ideal, he still got his opportunity to return to theatre. “Ms. Willeby took a shot on me and saw potential in my ability… I thought it was really great that someone saw a lot in me.”

Finding Theatre on a Larger Scale

Growing as a Thespian often means challenging yourself and expanding your skills. One of the easiest ways to start is by attending state festivals. “I decided to go to Texas Thespians [state festival] because I really wanted to be better. A better artist; a better actor for people around me and for myself,” Duncan says. “I remember a moment specifically where we made it to the hotel, and I was with my friends, and looking out the window of the hotel. It was just so beautiful, seeing Dallas and all the lights at night, and I was like, “Wow bro, theatre took me here, and I wonder where else it could take me.”

Ultimately, it took Duncan and Khaerisman to the largest stage of all, the International Thespian Festival (ITF), where they would make lasting memories and learn some tough lessons too. Khaerisman says those annual trips to ITF are filled with memories of adventuring with friends, random jam sessions with troupes from around the country, and a chance to connect deeply with the craft.

“One of the featured artists was the composer of Big Fish. I’d never been exposed to this musical before, and he sang a song called ‘Fight the Dragons.’ It was just him on the piano – a very simple performance – but I remember crying and [feeling] so much relief and catharsis,” he says. “If this medium of art could give me that, as a human being, as a student, as a person, I really wanted to commit to be able to provide that for other people.”

Competition 101

Of course, for many Thespians, ITF isn’t just about bonding with fellow theatre students – it’s a stage for competition and an opportunity to see talent from around the county – and our reactions to that dynamic can often be varied.

For some, it’s a comforting experience. “It’s reassuring that you’re not the only person that’s really good at what you do,” says Duncan. However, that experience also opens doubts that require intentionality and mindset shifts. “There’s a lot of kids who are also very talented. And, of course, that impostor syndrome sets in because you’re like, ‘Oh, maybe I’m not good enough,’” he says. “I just had to check myself and realize it’s not about that; it’s about being a part of a larger community and knowing that these people are bringing their best, I’m bringing my best, and we should all want to make each other better.”

For others, like Khaerisman, ITF is the ultimate proving ground on the largest stage possible. Coming from a competitive background, his mindset was laser-focused, seeing fellow Thespians as an obstacle to overcome. However, after an early exit from competition, it proved to be a learning experience too.

“I remember my first time going to [ITF] I was like, ‘We got main stage. We did it all: we got the right writing, we rehearsed it, my partner’s gas, I’m gas, everything’s going to be incredible.’ There was no thought in my mind that there was a possibility we wouldn’t even break out of the room [advance to main stage],” Khaerisman says. “Being taken out of the competition early on just freed my time to do workshops, watch shows, and experience [ITF] without having to be in that challenger mindset.”

Opportunities to be surrounded by thousands of theatre fans and practitioners are few and far between, which is why one of the things Duncan and Khaerisman agree on is that the biggest reward of attending ITF is finding community. Whether that means stepping out of your comfort zone to experience new practices in a workshop, chatting with Thespians from other states, or simply enjoying a show, there’s more to ITF than competition.

Finding Community Post-Grad

Part of the challenge for Thespians continuing their journey after graduation is finding opportunities. For starters, community is often a byproduct of being in high school. Having graduated from college at the height of the pandemic, where interaction was at an all-time low, figuring out new ways to meet artists was an experience both men had to navigate.

According to Duncan, one of the places to start is with social media. “I love acting, but I also love underground hip-hop, house music, people who create fine art as far as sculptures, paintings, and things like that,” he says. “I always go on Instagram and figure out, ‘OK, what gallery is showing XYZ, how can I pull up to show support and actually get to know these artists?’”

This intentionality has helped them land opportunities like costume designing for smaller theatrical companies and expanding their network of agency contacts, making life as working artists a real possibility.

The other challenge post-graduation is understanding who you are as an artist. “For me it was unlearning that my identity – who Muhammad is and what Muhammad be doin’ – are two separate things,” Khaerisman says. “I thought my community of artists was going to be just actors, because I’m an actor and those are the people who would understand my journey. But it’s the complete opposite. Don’t just seek out actors or theatre practitioners. Go to an open mic, go to a stand-up comedy night, go to a movement workshop. Be in community with creators, cause anybody doing [art] at a DIY independent level… there’s going to be alignment.”

“Making It” as a Working Artist

Today, they’re both working artists and have founded a business to continue their passion in the arts. And while their journey is unique to them, there are some nuggets of advice they offer Thespians looking to pursue a similar journey.

“Everybody’s path is different. I might be wearing something that may not fit for somebody else, but I can assure you, the more you actually listen to your voice as an actor and as a person, the better off you’ll be,” says Duncan. “That’s the biggest advice I can give to any young artists out there. Don’t let them change you, let the world be your mirror.”

“It’s kind of silly, but all of us jumped into art because there was something we felt emotionally passionate about. But if you’re going down a path where you’re trying to build a life as an artist – a career and something that sustains you – approach it logically,” says Khaerisman. “Figure out the tools, skills, and knowledge you already have. Then create that plan for yourself. It’s only impossible if you don’t write it down.”

Stay connected with Muhammad and Tyren on Instagram @_xxfacesxx_ or their YouTube Channel.

The post From Thespy Stage to Working Artists appeared first on Dramatics Magazine Online.

A Meteoric Rise in the World of Lighting Design

Patty Craft — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 12:58:50 +0000

Jack Cannon is the principal designer at the company he founded, Cann Light. Jack is just 20 years old and the youngest graduate of the California Institute of the Arts, which means if you’re a high school or early college reader, Cannon was recently right where you are.

So how has he built a career in the world of lighting design and what advice does he have for students looking to do the same? Read on as Jack shares his story and actionable tips to chart your path beyond the school stage.

Focus Delivers Results

Jack Cannon Headshot – Photo By Meredith Adelaide

At age 14 Cannon got involved in theatre and quickly “fell in love,” and realized he strongly disliked having to turn down theatre work gigs because he had to finish high school first. So Cannon graduated early in 2020 as a 17-year-old junior.

Even before he’d graduated from high school, Cannon was focused on his dream. “I taught theatrical design for the first time when I was 15, at the Illinois Community Theatre Festival,” he said. “At age 16, in January 2020, I taught at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival and the Indiana State Thespians Conference where I also adjudicated the [state] Thespian Excellence Awards.”

During the pandemic, Cannon completed his CalArts degree plus an associate’s in Business Management and Administration.

Seeing is Believing

Students experimenting with lighting design at the California State Thespian Festival Workshops – Photo by Cann Light

While not everyone knows so early in life what they’re passionate about, Cannon knew what he enjoyed and saw opportunities that became stepping stones to his current career. If you know it’s theatre you love but you’re still not sure what you want to do, check out this post.

At the end of the 2020 Illinois High School Theatre Festival where Cannon taught six workshops, a participating teacher told Cannon, “It’s one thing when an older professional comes in to teach. Students see what they can become in 30 years. It’s a whole other thing when a student sees someone who is literally their age; a working professional and teaching.”

That experience has led to much of his success in lighting design and has also led to countless other opportunities.

Jack Cannon’s Tips for Theatre-Industry Success

1: You Be You.

“The best advice I can give to students is to never let anyone put you in a box or try to keep you in a box. You have to force yourself to push boundaries,” says Cannon. “It’s the only way you can explore your art and the art form that you enjoy most.” So be brave enough to figure out who you are and courageous enough to bring a unique set of skills to the table.

2: Think Like a Business Owner.

“Another piece of advice is that you must learn the business side of entertainment. Art programs struggle to effectively teach the business of being an artist,” he said. “It’s important that you take the time early in your career to understand business management, client development, accounting, and contracts.”

3: You Must Network. Period.

NBC Universal Virtual Production – Photo by Cann Light

Cannon admits, “All of my work can be traced back to asking and having coffee with an industry professional.” Who you know, who knows you, and who knows what you can do, makes the difference in getting gigs. In a world full of so many choices, it’s human nature to choose someone you know – or at least think we think we know. Introduce yourself and talk to people at every gig you do.

Choose the social media platforms where your decision-makers are hanging out; you don’t have to have a profile on them all. Then present a polished, on-brand profile with clear and easy ways to communicate with you. Interact in a general way on social. That is, don’t leave your profile to gather dust from inactivity.

Go to trade shows and meet people; leave a positive impression on them along with a way for them to remember you and contact you. And believe it or not, email is still one of the most effective ways to connect with people. Grow your email list and use it wisely. Reach out via email with a clear reason for someone to respond and have a conversation with you.

Jack Cannon teaching lighting design at California State Thespian Festival Workshops – Photo by Cann Light

4: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.

“Photography of your work is key. Start building a portfolio as soon as you have work to showcase,” Cannon says. Become friends with photographers that you meet, because it takes a special skill to capture the right image in a theatrical environment. Make genuine connections so photographers can also get to know you and what you’re trying to convey through your photography.

You can contact Cannon who said, “I’m open to everything and can be reached for engagements via email at education@cann-light.com.” Find him on Instagram and LinkedIn, too.

Patty Craft is a regular contributor to the Educational Theatre Association.

The post A Meteoric Rise in the World of Lighting Design appeared first on Dramatics Magazine Online.

3 Ways to Get Your Back-to-School Theatre Goals on Track

Patty Craft — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 15:35:48 +0000

We’re well into the school year, and you’re way past prepping for back to school—you’re living the reality. Your days may seem beyond full; been there, done that. But all that business could leave you feeling like your back-to-school theatre goals have fallen by the wayside.

Luckily, there’s still plenty of time to get back on track. Here are three tips to help get organized and make time to do more theatre.

Tip 1: Learn to (Respectfully) Say No

It’s trite because it’s true: There are only so many hours in a day. While we want to spend plenty of time with our “want to” activities, like theatre, we’re often left with a lot of “have to” chores—it’s hard to enjoy anything when we’re over-committed.

We suggest you make time to talk with your theatre teacher or Thespian troupe director. Why? They want to see you succeed and have some fun doing it. Be brave enough to ask for help organizing (or reorganizing) your days so that you can balance your responsibilities with your passions.

Until you get the chance to have that important conversation with your teacher (and if no one has told you yet), it’s OK to say no.

How? Practice the pause. That is, every time you’re asked to volunteer for a cause, participate in a group project, or are invited to an event, learn to say, “Let me check my calendar and get back to you.” With a bit of time to consider the offer, ask yourself if saying yes supports your goals and passions.

It’s not too late to get your schedule under control, and honing the “just say no” skill will help you manage well in all aspects of your life.

Tip 2: Get Back to Basics

People who stand out in their chosen fields often possess a small amount of natural talent, but those who find lasting success developed discipline. They all know that practice makes progress and understand the proven value of preparation and repetition.

What that means for you: Right now is a great time to get back to basics.

With auditions in your future, you can regain a sense of control by revisiting what you’ve been taught from the very start. Audition coach Laura Enstall put together this easy-to-follow audition etiquette guide. “Act like you’re auditioning the minute you arrive,” she advises. “Maybe the stage manager is holding the door for you, or maybe you run into the choreographer in the hall. It’s important to be aware of your surroundings.”

Maybe you’re already cast in the first show of your school’s season and you have a table read coming up. Arrive well-prepared and you’ll help the entire process flow a bit more smoothly. Do you know that you should read the whole script ahead of time, and not just your parts? Plus, here’s a separate post if you’re the playwright running a table read.

Tip 3: Get Curious with a Purpose

To be the kind of actor who transforms into a character so authentic that the audience suspends disbelief, you must understand people.

And to meet a variety of people, you’re going to need to go where you don’t normally go; talk with people you may not normally talk with. Get to know people outside the theatre. Yes, the musicians, the STEM gang, the 4-H crew, the athletes, and whomever else you can interact with.

Talking with new acquaintances opens doors into worlds you’ve not explored. For example, be curious and ask the first chair trumpet player in the marching band how they honed their skills. Ask about their practice routines or performance-day rituals. Connect with students in the STEM program and listen to what motivates them to be part of those activities. Even find out how the kicker on the football team stays ready to play when they’re only on the field for a few opportunities in each game.

And when it comes to your theatre skills, now’s a great time to explore new parts of every production. Instead of auditioning for an acting role in the next production, join the tech crew and experience what goes on behind the scenes so the show can go on. You may even discover talents you haven’t tapped into yet.

Remember that it’s not too late to begin again. Schedule a meet-up with your theatre teacher. Return to the basics and practice, practice, practice. And light a fire under your curiosity so you can achieve all your theatre goals.

Patty Craft is a regular contributor to the Educational Theatre Association.

The post 3 Ways to Get Your Back-to-School Theatre Goals on Track appeared first on Dramatics Magazine Online.

From Dreams to Stage

Dylan Malloy — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 18:41:21 +0000

As a double major in playwriting and business at Emory University, seeing my work onstage is always a dream come true. This summer, my full-length play The Groundwater won the Blank Theatre’s 31st Annual Young Playwrights Festival, producing the play in Hollywood in July 2023. The play is the final installment of a five-play series about human connection and the climate crisis.

This was my second production with the Young Playwrights Festival, and it was also the company’s first in-person festival since 2019 (due to the pandemic). Any playwright between the ages of 9 and 19 can submit work to the festival, and 12 winners are chosen from the nationwide submissions every year. I can’t recommend the program highly enough!

Bringing The Groundwater to the West Coast was an exciting challenge, and while the play was first performed as a staged reading by Emory’s Oxford College theatre department in September 2022, the Blank Theatre produced the first fully staged production.

Here’s a peek into the festival experience and the playwriting lessons I learned along the way.

Mentorship and Edits

The Blank Theatre assigns every playwright a mentor as they edit their script. I worked with Aliza Goldstein, a playwright who is also an alumnus of the Young Playwrights Festival. She and I met over Zoom multiple times to reread the play and discuss how to make it stronger.

Because I tend to overwrite, this meant cutting down the script and removing unnecessary lines of dialogue. The mentorship process also gave me the opportunity to explore different facets of the characters and include an entirely new scene.

Lesson: Keep it short

From these meetings, I learned that brevity makes a script stronger and dense paragraphs of dialogue are difficult for the audience to follow. When writing, ask yourself how the characters can communicate using as few words as possible.

The Rehearsal Process

We began rehearsals in early July, where I met the cast and creative team for the first time. Madison McLaughlin (Arrow on CW, Chicago PD), Jorge-Luis Pallo (The Secret Life of the American Teenager), and David Bloom (American Born Chinese on Disney+) starred in the production. I learned so much about the craft of theatre from watching them work!

The actors all brought an incredible amount of enthusiasm, talent, and dedication to the play. As we analyzed the characters, I discovered even more about the story, which I’d been working on for two years. We all grew very close during late-night rehearsals and became fast friends. The new relationships formed over the summer are one of the most transformative parts of the Young Playwrights Festival!

Lesson: Make space for creativity and rest

Our director, Laura Stribling, wanted the actors to feel free to make bold decisions onstage, so she let them improvise certain movements to see what felt natural. From this experience, I learned that stage directions should work for the actors, not the other way around. If you’re working on an original play and notice that a certain direction is uncomfortable or unnatural for the actors, it helps to step back and see if there is another way to approach this movement.

Though we usually rehearsed at night, I spent the rest of the day working on other writing projects. It’s easy to become burnt out while juggling multiple stories. I realized that I had to make time for rest so that I could bring my best self to rehearsal. Going on long walks, spending time with family, reading, and taking naps gave me energy. If you’re working on a production and want to recharge, try setting aside time in your day when you are not doing anything creative. Spending time in silence quiets your mind and reduces stress levels.

The Finishing Touches

The production ran from July 20-23 and was performed alongside two short one-act plays written by other winning playwrights. The West Coast premiere of The Groundwater was magical, and I’m so excited to continue developing this script.

We performed in the Skylight Theatre, a gorgeous venue in Los Angeles with an actual skylight.

Lesson: Shows will always evolve

After multiple productions and performances, a play is never “done” until a playwright decides that it is. The world of your story is like a sandbox: You can build and rebuild different parts of the story for as long as you’d like.

Our director decided to introduce classical music mixed with sounds of dripping water, which formed the musical motif of the show. We loaded in furniture pieces and then experimented with different technical elements. Blue and purple light represented moments where the characters are dreaming or feeling distanced from reality. It was wonderful to learn more about how technical elements highlight the emotions of a story.

The Blank Theatre has changed the lives of countless young playwrights, and I’m forever grateful for the summers I spent with the company. Working in the theatre this summer taught me how to revise a script to make it punchier and more efficient. I also learned how to balance a demanding rehearsal schedule with time to write and work on other projects. Through the friends I made on set, I once again discovered the joy of telling stories with other people and watching their talent shine onstage.

The post From Dreams to Stage appeared first on Dramatics Magazine Online.

ITO Sid Gunasekaran Talks Staging Success

Sponsor — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 17:35:48 +0000

Breaking Cultural Stigmatization and Redefining Career Paths in the Arts

As the warm sun descended beyond the horizon and the first chords of music filled the air, Staging Success reaffirmed its commitment to empowering aspiring artists. Through its most recent “Serenades & Sunsets” event, the nonprofit led by high school senior and 2023-24 International Thespian Officer (ITO) Sid Gunasekaran showcased an evening of artistry, inspiration, and scholarship awards. Here Sid shares how his efforts aim to break down societal barriers for young artists.

Q. What led you to create Staging Success?

Sid Gunasekaran: You know, I’ve had the privilege to dabble in different worlds—business ventures like Dallas Shoe Plug and, of course, the arts. Each experience was a stepping stone that led me to appreciate the transformative power of creativity. But I noticed that in minority communities, particularly in my South Asian culture, pursuing the arts is often stigmatized. There’s this emphasis on conventional career paths like engineering or medicine, which led me to recognize a void that needed filling. That’s how Staging Success was born.

Q. Can you elaborate on the stigmatization in your culture around the arts?

Sid Gunasekaran: Certainly. In many South Asian communities, the arts are often viewed as a “lesser” career or something that should be relegated to hobby status. People forget that the arts are not just about self-expression they’re also a pathway to countless opportunities. Take me, for instance; I’m a high school senior interested in business. But it’s my background in the arts that has given me the unique perspective and skill set to succeed in whatever endeavor I choose. I want Staging Success to break down these societal barriers and reshape how our culture perceives the arts.

Q. So how does “Serenades & Sunsets” play into this mission?

Sid Gunasekaran: “Serenades & Sunsets” was a multi-faceted event that served as a microcosm of what we aim to achieve. We had young artists from diverse backgrounds who were not just given a platform but were also provided with scholarships. The event itself was enveloped in a rich atmosphere that celebrated their talents, making it a transformative experience. The setting sun that evening symbolized the end of an era of narrow thinking about the arts and the rise of new opportunities.

Q. Can you tell us about the role of business in your endeavors?

Sid Gunasekaran: Business is not separate but rather integral to fulfilling our mission at Staging Success. My business experience has taught me strategy, structure, and most importantly, how to bring resources together. We are in the planning stages of launching four more events this year, serving to expand our reach, get more artists involved, and ultimately generate more resources for scholarships and mentoring programs.

Q. What would be your message to aspiring artists and skeptics within your culture?

Sid Gunasekaran: To the artists, I say, let your art speak for you. Prove the skeptics wrong and pave your own path. To the skeptics, it’s time to realize that art is not just a form of expression but also a form of empowerment. By limiting our views on what is ‘acceptable,’ we not only stifle creativity but also close doors to endless possibilities.

Te debut event collected voluntary donations, all of which are slated to benefit the Educational Theatre Foundation. A blend of advocacy and art, “Serenades and Sunsets” sets a precedent for Staging Success’ plans for the 2023-2024 season, which Sid promises will be equally impactful and ambitious.

The post ITO Sid Gunasekaran Talks Staging Success appeared first on Dramatics Magazine Online.

Musical Theatre Opens Doors

Patty Craft — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 18:01:26 +0000

Members of the International Thespian Society (ITS) are #ThespiansForever in our hearts, minds, and lives here at Educational Theatre Association. Through far less than six degrees of separation, we’ve reconnected with Elizabeth Hallal, a 2015 ITS inductee. She is the current Miss Indiana and is competing for the title of Miss America. She’s used her musical theatre training, in part, to earn her current title, and she’s always a passionate advocate for arts accessibility for all.

Hallal says, “I attended the International Thespian Festival (ITF) in 2016, 2018, and 2019 when it was held in Lincoln, Nebraska. I’m very excited about the new location in Bloomington, and twice as excited that my little sister now has the opportunity to attend as well. I’m currently a senior musical theatre student at Ball State University in Indiana. As Miss Indiana, I advocate for arts accessibility and equity. The Miss America competition begins on Monday, December 12th, and I am so excited to be sharing my passion for the importance of arts education.”

Musical Theatre Training Opens a Variety of Doors!

From ITS to Miss America: Theatre training helped paved the way
As a senior in high school, Hallal was approached by a family friend encouraging her to compete in a local Miss America competition that was held in her high school auditorium. At first, she was hesitant to participate, but the opportunity to earn scholarship money helped swayed her decision. Plus, she would get to perform in the talent competition; she sang “Someday” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame which her high school had performed earlier that year.

Hallal in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”

When determining her Social Impact Initiative in order to compete, the cause that she has championed throughout her time in the Miss America Organization is arts accessibilty for all. “I won my first local title a year later, and as time went on, I found purpose in my mission of sharing the arts. I advanced to the Miss Indiana competition in both 2021 and 2022, earning the job this past June. I owe so much of this success to my time in the International Thespian Society,” Hallal explains

#ThespianForever – Where it all began

Hallal had this to say about her time in ITS: “I attended Floyd Central High School in Floyds Knobs, Indiana, and I was inducted into Troupe 1794 in 2015. My junior year, I earned the rank of International Honor Thespian, and my senior year, I served as our Troupe President. Through my time as a Thespian, and specifically as my troupe president, I learned collaboration skills and leadership skills that have followed me into the rest of my life. My time in high school theatre sparked a lifelong passion; today, I am pursuing my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre from Ball State University! I am so thankful to the Educational Theatre Association for giving me a love for storytelling and the tools needed to share this love for the rest of my life.”

It’s a Competition, Not a Pageant

Today, the Miss America competition is far different than it used to be. In 2018, the Miss America Organization rebranded, leaving the swimsuit competition in the past and reformatting the competition to highlight the talents and professional skills of young women pursuing higher education. The activities of the organization are much more than a one-night-telecast. “In fact,” says Hallal, “the Miss America Organization is the largest provider of scholarships for young women in the U.S! Throughout my time competing, I have completely paid off my undergraduate degree, served my local community, made meaningful connections, and taken professional development workshops. The women I compete with are well-rounded, talented, and passionate about using their voices to better the world around them.”

Making a Difference in the World

Hallal is the founder of The Triple A Project: Accessibility to the Arts for All. The nonprofit organization is set up to provide artistic opportunities to those of various abilities and financial backgrounds. Several pillars make up the whole: designing programs for nursing homes, care centers, and school programs; providing both material and educational resources to aspiring artists; advocating for the arts in education; and using arts equity as a baseline for communication across many different barriers. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, The Triple A Project will be able to coordinate large-scale fundraisers and events catering to special education programs, hospitalized youth, and those living in low-income areas. Hallal shares, “As I compete for Miss America, I look forward to making a global impact with the power of the arts.”

A Couple #ThespianForever Fun Facts
Hallal’s last show was “Into the Woods” at Ball State University. She says, “I played my dream role of the Baker’s Wife!”

Hallal performed at the International Thespian Festival (ITF) three times! (2016 – Troupe 1794, 42nd Street; 2018 – Troupe 1794, Newsies; 2019 – Opening Show cast) She says, “My experiences at ITF were truly life-changing, and I learned that careers in the arts are completely viable.”

Streaming information for the Miss America 2022 Competition is not available at the time of this posting but Hallal’s competition schedule is below. You can watch for details on Instagram accounts: @missamerica (for the national platform), @missamericain (for the state platform, Miss Indiana), @missindiana_org (for the state organization).

– Monday, December 12th – Preliminary Talent competition (Hallal is performing “Defying Gravity” from Wicked!) UPDATE: Hallal won the talent competition on night one!
– Tuesday, December 13th – Miss America Interview; Preliminary Red Carpet & Social Impact Pitch competition
– Friday, December 15th – Miss America Final Competition & Crowning

You can also keep up with Hallal’s The Triple A Project on Instagram at @the.triple.a.project or online at thetripleaproject.org.

Patty Craft is content manager for Dramatics.org.

The post Musical Theatre Opens Doors appeared first on Dramatics Magazine Online.

2022 Thespy Winner Nikki Wills

Natalie Clare — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 16:11:01 +0000

Nikki Wills earned the 2022 Thespy Award for stage management at the International Thespian Festival! Below, she tells us how she started her role as stage manager and what she’s planned next for her theatrical career.

Nikki Wills
Bishop Gorman Catholic High School
Troupe 4347 | Las Vegas, NV
Check Please: Take 2 by Jonathan Rand

What are your top 3 tips or advice about being involved in theatre?

The best pieces of advice I have ever received are:

“No advice is useless, some advice you use and benefit from, some advice is only useful because it showed you what not to do, or the advice shows you a third new solution.” No advice is useless, even when it seems as if it would make things worse. Trying something anyways can either prove your initial opinion wrong, or it can show you a third way — a blend of your way and the advice. Of course there are the off times where their advice really didn’t work for you, but even then you learned from it.
“Say yes to everything, you never know what’s waiting on the other side of the barrier you created for yourself.”
“Show others respect and they will respect you in return.”

Tell readers the most important steps you took to win the 2022 Thespy for Stage Management.

The most beneficial part of my process was my “burner copy” of my portfolio. For me this was a glittery pink binder that I swore was only a rough draft and that I would later completely re-make for my final copy. I tore pages up and scribbled things out with a sharpie, and by the end of mangling this tester binder, I knew exactly what I wanted my final product to look like, what I wanted it to contain, and how I wanted it to be designed.

How long have you been doing stage management?

This might be shocking, but I only started stage management less than a year ago. I’ve been in the performing arts for most of my life. However, I didn’t experiment with stage management or tech at all until recently. I sort of fell into it. I had just auditioned for a show and some of us were joking about how I loved the show so much I could direct it myself. The director overheard and offered me stage manager and assistant director, and I said yes! I fell in love and the rest is history.

Tell us a story about a major potential disaster you overcame as stage manager.

Our school always makes sure that the assistant stage manager (ASM) gets to call one of the shows. For this show, the ASM called two of the three spotlights suddenly went out mid-run. Specifically, one turned off on its own and the other started smoking, and due to safety concerns I made sure it was turned off immediately. Obviously, this could quickly become a lighting disaster. We hadn’t planned for this, as it had never happened before.

How I handled it is I asked the ASM to not call any of the spotlight cues in order to not confuse me or the last remaining spot operator. I then climbed the ladder to the last spot and used my knowledge of the show to call the spot based on importance. Sadly, the show couldn’t be perfect but I was able to make sure no actor was stuck in complete darkness.

Nikki Wills

What’s next in your theatre career?

This fall, I am attending Drexel University’s film and television program to continue my career in the arts. Film and theatre are two unique disciplines that often intersect — an example being how actors often act on stage and on camera, or in my case, a stage manager can also work towards being a film director. Theatre will always be a part of my life, and I intend to stage-manage shows through college. The film school I am attending only accepts 64 students every freshman class, which makes for a very small and tightly knit community. Because of this, I am pushed to create connections with artists in our community, which I hope I can also use to my advantage as I advance my stage management career.

What would you like to say that we didn’t ask you about?

In this position, I always get asked about where I find joy in this. And I honestly cannot blame anyone who hasn’t experienced it themselves for asking. An actor often finds joy from things such as the applause they get, or nurturing the character they created. A technical designer often finds joy in their creation — for some, that’s a set they enjoyed building, or a costume that the designer gets to watch be brought to life.

As a stage manager, I’ve always struggled to put it into simple words for it’s a little less of an obvious answer, for me at least. But after thinking on it, I’ve been able to pin it. The joy I find in this is, in part, all the little things: getting to pack a backpack and challenging myself to organize everything I could possibly ever need into it, all of my beloved sticky notes that I get to ball up after solving the issues written on it (p.s. I seriously make a massive ball for each production and see how big I can make it), or finding the best erasable pens.

Then there’s also the bigger things, such as when everything is going wrong and your heart is racing and all that time you spent memorizing the show is suddenly coming into play because unlike anyone else, you don’t need the scripts or the call sheets or the rosters anymore — you can just run with your brain and fix things in show time. Or that feeling after you have a perfect show, and everyone is just beaming with joy. And, of course, I can’t forget my guilty pleasures, such as letting the spot operators and orchestra manager go off-com early [and disconnect their headsets] to hop into the audience, helping usher people out so everyone else can get moving to close up the night and get to the after events I helped plan. Even after spending over an hour on those three sentences, I still feel as if I couldn’t do it justice because it’s such a different experience for everyone, and it’s something I encourage everyone to experience themselves and find their own points of joy within it.

View all of the 2022 Thespy Award winners, and get ready for ITF 2023! Watch for deadlines to be updated soon at itf.schooltheatre.org.

Natalie Clare is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Dramatics. Visit her work at nataliecwrites.com.

The post 2022 Thespy Winner Nikki Wills appeared first on Dramatics Magazine Online.

Troy Iwata’s Tips to Thrive

Thomas Schultheis — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 17:16:08 +0000

Meet Troy Iwata, actor on stage and screen. The Netflix series Dash & Lily in which he plays Langston, Lily’s slightly immature, hopelessly romantic, big brother garnered 12 Emmy nominations. Troy made his Broadway debut in the viral sensation Be More Chill, and can be heard on multiple musical theatre albums. Here he shares three things he wish he had learned sooner:

Troy Iwata on What I Wish I Knew

Understand that for most actors, including famous ones, acting is not their primary source of income. I wish I would have known that a career in the entertainment industry would take me into a variety of opportunities. I have dabbled in writing, directing, producing, teaching, and performing non-musically in more ways than I can count.

Do not pigeonhole yourself just because you studied one specific thing in school. Never stop learning new things and know that you are not a failure if you do not make most of your money from acting. That legit never happens.

Enjoying Yourself Helps You Shine

Have fun in auditions. Enjoying yourself is as impressive as being professional, prepared, or as “perfect” as you can be. Yes, auditioning is an interview of sorts, but I’ve booked so many jobs where I beefed so hard in the audition room. I had fun, made the flub my own, and it was entertaining.

Of course, be the standard baseline of professional and prepared but do not kill yourself over getting every detail right. Perfection does not exist.

Own What Is Yours

Your energy is yours and you get to decide upon whom and where to spend it. Over the course of your career, you are going to work with literally thousands of big personalities and egos. Do not blame yourself for not being able to schmooze with everybody all the time. Let your kindness, work ethic, and talent speak for you.

Then, if you have some desired energy to spare, schmooze away with the people you admire or feel a connection with.

Watch for Troy Iwata’s latest film project, Summoning Sylvia, an LGBTQ-horror-comedy in which he stars alongside Michael Urie and Frankie Grande. Check out his many projects at Troy Iwata and connect with him on Instagram @mrtroyiwata.

Thomas Schultheis is a teaching artist and lives in Long Beach, California. He loves his spouse, books, movies, theatre, his sons Anthony, Elijah, and Danny, and his cats Jack and Charlie. Connect with Thomas at teachingartistthomas.com.

The post Troy Iwata’s Tips to Thrive appeared first on Dramatics Magazine Online.