BWMT09

For those of you who have been accepted you should have or will be getting an invitation to the Senior showcase. I highly recomend that you come to see it, as you should have seen from the masterclasses this years seniors are very good. Also if you can make it you should come out a day in advance so you can see our freshman cabaret that we are just starting this year. It's sort of like what UMich does with their freshman I'm assuming. That's at 5-6 that sunday night. Also if you come on that Sunday you'll probably get a chance to shadow a student and see what a typical day is like. Looking forward to seeing some of you!

theatermom

Hi BWMT09,

Don't know how you will be doing it at BW, but thought I'd let you know how the Freshman Showcase works at UM. First of all, it is totally organized, conceived, produced, directed and performed by the students with no assistance from the faculty. And second, it is not a required performance; the freshman elect whether or not to put it on. The class before my D's (class of '07) did not do one and I'm not sure whether this year's seniors did one or not...maybe Coach knows. Last year's freshmen started organizing this several months in advance as they had to secure performance space, set up class meetings to discuss format, material, etc, squeeze in rehearsal time, hire an accompanist for dress rehearsal and performance (they could play for each other in earlier rehearsals as there are several accomplished accompanists in the group), etc, etc, etc.- no easy feat with their busy schedules. When it all came together in early April for ONE performance, it provided them with an incredible sense of accomplishment and bonded them in a special way - their affection for each other was palpable on stage. It is also the first time that they are able to really "strut their stuff" for the upperclassmen so you can imagine what it means to them.

This year's UM MT freshmen ARE doing a Showcase I have been told (the first Sunday in April) and I wish I could be there to see it. I hope you have a great time in your Freshman Showcase at BW!! Break a leg!

CoachC

Ooooh - big error!!! Actually, theatermom, the UM Class of '07 (current juniors) definitely DID do a showcase - it was in the Macintosh Theatre, as was your D's, and was on a Sunday afternoon in April of that year - and it was very, very enthusiatically received as it was a tribute to the 20th year of the UM MT department, which was that year. The students did 20 numbers, each from a show done in a different year of the 20 years of the department. The Class of '07 worked for several months, as did your D's class (and as is the Class of '09). The show was directed by several members of that class and music directed (including arrangements) and accompanied by 2 of their 3 accomplished pianists. It was SO neat, especially brief tributes to each beloved faculty person as the history of the department (and that faculty person's joining the team) was narrated. The showcase closed with a beautiful, largely a cappella rendition of "More I Cannot Wish You," a fitting tribute to students who are doing what they passionately love. (GUYS AND DOLLS was the fall show that year.)

I actually was able to see not only the showcase itself but the final dress, held the night before - quite a neat thing to hear Mr. Wagner (the head of the department for those unfamiliar with UM) see the showcase for the first time and give notes.

I would love to see BW's showcase and may actually be there... BWMT09, tell us more about it if you have time (ha - I know, you probably have NO time)!

theatermom

Thanks Coach C!!

Mea culpa! I thought I remembered a few members of that class sitting behind me last year saying that they never got it together, but maybe it was the class of '06 that didn't do it?? So sorry for the mistake. Guess I have to up my dose of ginko biloba (sic) .......

Your description makes me so sorry to not have been part of the audience for that performance. Sounds incredible!! Well, we have come to expect nothing less of these kids and they never disappoint.

Thanks again for correcting my mistake and providing the great details!

CoachC

You're right, theatermom, it was the UM Class of '06 that didn't do a showcase...

But back to BW! I thought it might also be of interest to prospective BW-ers that Vicky Bussert is directing both BUDDY at Carousel Dinner Theatre (a respected Equity house) in Akron, OH and HAIR at Cain Park in Cleveland this summer. A friend of mine who is one of 2 music directors at Carousel is music directing BUDDY and is looking forward to working with Vicky:
http://www.carouseldinnertheatre.com/season.htm

And I saw HAIR that she directed at BW in Fall 2003, and it was absolutely one of the THE BEST shows I have EVER seen - no exaggeration!!! I am assuming her Cain Park production will be similar.
http://www.cainpark.com/calendar.asp

Vicky is a great director!

BWMT09

The freshman cabaret was actually my idea. I remembered reading about how UMich did one and thought that that was such a good idea so I brought it up. Surprisingly we've been able to get it organized in very little time (about a month) all by ourselves with the help of a sophomore directing Mt major who kind of created his own degree (thats a whole different story). That 20th anniversary showcase sounds like it was amazing, we'll see if ours can compare Basicly everyone is either doing a solo or duet, nothing to special. For example I'll be singing "My Dogs" from Elegies. Maybe in the coming years if this tradition continues there will be more of a theme related to it. About Hair, I really wanted to audition for it, but unfortunatly they don't offer housing and I'm from Chicago so I couldn't audition. But I know a bunch of BW kids got in, including some freshmen! I'll definatly be driving out this summer to see it. Also CoachC couldn't be more right about Vicky. In your freshman workshop class you get the chance to work one on one with her, and when I went it was the most incredible acting experience I've ever had! I hope you can make it out to see the cabaret CoachC, I'm really proud of my class and I would love if everybody saw it!

PS - I am on break right now so I have lots of time to post and read : )