Tag: Broadway

Herstory on Broadway/My Spring Break in NYC

Post author By rcahcommunications
Post date 10 Mar 2020
No Comments on Herstory on Broadway/My Spring Break in NYC

I had a fantastic spring break leading 12 MSU students to New York City for a theatre marketing retreat through the Wharton Center Marketing Student Organization (WCSMO). This was my 3rd time on the trip and my 2nd year co-leading the group. Being WCSMO’s Professional Development Chair, it was my responsibility to organize panels for our group to meet with in the city. This year, our group got to meet with professionals from Disney Theatrical, The Public Theater, Situation Interactive and Jack Meyer (an MSU alum!), Vice President at the Nederlander Organization.

In addition to our panels, we had lots of free time to explore the city. I had a lot of fun taking photos with my friends in Central Park, consuming lots of delicious cuisine, and of course, seeing Broadway shows. On this trip, I got the chance to see five shows, and I couldn’t help but notice that my three favorite (new) shows all happened to be directed by women (a rare feat on Broadway, where women make up only 17% of creative team positions). Here are my thoughts on these favorite shows, and since it’s National Women’s History Month, why I believe women deserve to be represented on Broadway’s creative teams:

Jagged Little Pill

This is a new, cutting-edge jukebox musical featuring songs from Alanis Morrisette’s 1995 album, Jagged Little Pill. Admittedly, I have never been a fan of jukebox musicals because I prefer original scores, but this is the absolute best jukebox musical I’ve seen. It covers so many relevant social issues, including sexuality, addiction, sexual assault, and racial identity. The character that stuck with me most was Mary Jane (MJ) Healy, played by Elizabeth Stanley. MJ falls in the same category of deeply complex, complicated mother figures alongside Heidi Hansen from Dear Evan Hansen and Diana Goodman from Next to Normal. These emotionally rich roles for middle-aged women are difficult to find, but they are an actress’s dream. With direction by Diane Paulus, (one of my favorite female directors), this musical beautifully demonstrated that everyone is fighting their own battle and that you can never guess what someone is going through internally just by looking at them.

Our entire group saw Jagged Little Pill together.

My friend Ellie (left) & I at Jagged Little Pill.

Six

Out of all the shows I saw, this one was my favorite. Not only is it written and directed by 26-year-old Lucy Moss (the youngest female director in Broadway history), it also features an entirely female cast and band. This musical tells the story of King Henry VIII’s six wives through a pop/rock score. I love it because it is reclaiming history in a similar way as Hamilton, and the queens remind the audience that the only reason anyone remembers King Henry VIII is not because of his policies or anything he accomplished, it’s because of those six women. I haven’t been able to stop listening to cast album since I saw it, and Six is quite possibly the most female-empowering show I’ve ever seen.

Six’s Broadway Theater

I always have to take a Playbill picture.

Company

Lastly, I got to attend the first preview of the Broadway revival of Company. In case you’re not familiar with the show, it was one of Stephen Sondheim’s earliest musicals, and it premiered on Broadway in 1970. This revival is unique in that many of the characters are gender-bent, including the show’s protagonist, Bobby, who has always historically been played by a male but is now being played by Katrina Lenk. I really love that the show’s director, Marianne Elliot, took the liberty of casting Bobby as a woman because it allows you to look at the show’s plot and Bobby’s relationships with others in a different way. I wish more shows would gender-bend their casting because in many cases, gender is not central to the show’s plot. By attending the first preview, I also got the chance to watch Marianne Elliot’s pre-show speech and I happened to be sitting only five rows in front of the legend himself, Stephen Sondheim. Plus, I got to see one of Broadway’s most-beloved queens, Patti LuPone, onstage for the first time and meet her at the stage door. It was a very special night all-around.

Company gave out balloons for their first preview.

Patti LuPone started crying when she saw all the support from fans at the stage door… which in turn made me cry.

In the 2019-2020 Broadway season, there were 37 new shows and only four had female directors. That’s why I’m thankful that this season I’ve already gotten to see three women-led and women-created shows. The topic of women’s representation on Broadway’s creative teams has been close to my heart for a while now and is something I am passionate about advocating for. Women are barred from leadership positions for a variety of factors, but part of it comes down to the belief that women are too emotional to hold leadership positions. While I don’t think this is at all accurate, isn’t Broadway one of the few environments where emotions are actually encouraged? I fully believe that in order to see truthful, realistic portrayals of women onstage, these characters need to be created by women. Each of the shows mentioned demonstrates this perfectly, and I honestly don’t think I would have enjoyed these shows or been able to relate to the characters nearly as much if they weren’t created by women. I’m hoping that the success of these shows will mean that more than one woman will be nominated for Best Director at the Tonys this year (something that hasn’t happened in eight years), and that more women will continue to be hired for Broadway’s creative teams in the future.

Tags Broadway, Jagged Little Pill, MSU, musicals, New York, NYC, Pattie LuPone, Six, theater, theatre, travel

Cami Hancock

My Favorite Theatre Moments of 2019

Post author By rcahcommunications
Post date 31 Dec 2019
No Comments on My Favorite Theatre Moments of 2019

Yep, it’s true—2019 is almost over and I can’t believe it. As always, this year has flown by. I have recently seen theatre critics releasing articles about their favorite shows of 2019, and I decided I wanted to do the same thing, but with a twist. I didn’t feel as if simply showcasing my favorite shows would be conclusive enough of 2019. This year, I got to visit New York City three times, see dozens of shows on Broadway and off, and I started my first job in the theatre industry. This list includes my favorite theatre moments (shows, experiences, events, and encounters) of 2019.

Attending the Tony Awards And Seeing History Be Made

If you’ve been reading my blog since this summer, you already know that I attended the Tony Awards, but I couldn’t sum up my favorite 2019 theatre moments and not mention it. The Tony Awards are always my favorite day of the year, but this year I was fortunate enough to attend them in person for the first time. It was surreal. I got to get dressed up, go to Radio City Music Hall, and be surrounded by the best of Broadway’s performers and creatives. There, Hadestown made history by being the first musical with an all-female creative team to win Best Musical, and Ali Stroker made history as the first actress in a wheelchair to win a Tony. It felt like I was living in a dream, but it’s a moment that I will remember and cherish forever.

Attending the Tony Awards

Meeting Lin-Manuel Miranda

If you’ve known me for a while, you would know that Lin-Manuel Miranda has been my theatre god for the past four years. He transformed theatre forever by creating Hamilton, and since then he has used his success to make the arts accessible to all people (i.e. bringing Hamilton to Puerto Rico and raising $2 million for arts programs there). He is a legend and a true gift to our world.

In November, I was attending Little Shop of Horrors Off-Broadway with my mom, and at intermission, we overheard someone say that Lin was in the lobby. We bolted out of our chairs and rushed to meet him. I can happily report that he is as great in person as I had hoped. I got the chance to thank him for his contributions to the arts, and despite the fact that I’m sure he gets bombarded by fans every day, he was so gracious. Meeting him was a moment I’ve dreamed of for years. I believe our world is unworthy of someone as good as him.

Sadly I didn’t get a picture with Lin—but he took this photo with Jonathan Groff the day I met him

Seeing In the Heights And Meeting Its Movie’s Stars

Before there was Hamilton, there was In the Heights—Lin-Manuel Miranda’s (no, I will never stop talking about him) first Broadway show. During 2019, In the Heights was one of my most listened-to cast albums, and its score has become one of my all-time favorites. In June, my mom and I located where they were filming the movie version in Inwood, New York, and we got to meet the movie’s stars and director and watch some of their filming.

In July, I saw that a professional theatre in Saugatuck was putting on a production of it, and my mom and I knew that we had to go. It was amazing to finally see Lin’s music come to life on stage. I should also note that I ended up being extremely sick on the day I saw In the Heights (seriously, I probably should have gone to the ER because I couldn’t breathe) but the show was so absorbing that I refused to leave. That’s how you know it’s an amazing show.

Meeting Anthony Ramos and Melissa Barrera, the stars of In the Heights

I Stopped Overlooking Off-Broadway Shows

For years now, my life has been completely devoted to researching and seeing Broadway shows. I did, and still do, consider Broadway to be one of the best things that exists in the world. However, 2019 was the year that I realized other great NYC theatre exists—particularly Off-Broadway. Officially, Off-Broadway means that it’s a show taking place in New York City theater with 99-499 seats (Broadway is 500+). In 2019, I attended some amazing Off-Broadway shows (including Little Shop of Horrors, The Wrong Man, The Secret Life of Bees) that rivaled the Broadway shows I saw. I’ve found that Off-Broadway as just as good as, if not better than, Broadway. Often times, Off-Broadway shows feature Broadway actors, but in smaller and more intimate spaces. In 2020, my goal is to give more Off-Broadway and even more remote theatre a try. Just because it’s not Broadway doesn’t mean that it can’t still be life-changing.

Seeing Little Shop of Horrors off-Broadway

Discovering a New Musical That Made Me Feel Seen

I was lucky enough to see Be More Chill on Broadway twice this year, first in March and then again in June when I brought my mom back with me. The first time I saw it, I was not emotionally prepared for the impact it had on me. I loved its quirky characters and catchy score, but most of all I loved George Salzar’s performance of “Michael in the Bathroom” in the show’s second act. It was a moment where I was completely absorbed by the show and the rest of the world was drowned out. I felt like Michael Mell was speaking directly to me, and it provided some healing that I’ve needed for years now. Be More Chill (unfairly) received many negative reviews, and it closed early, but it will forever remain in my heart and as a favorite on my Broadway playlist. It made me feel validated and heard, and it was the musical that had the most formative impact on my life in 2019.

Seeing Be More Chill.

I Started Working in My Dream Industry

When I entered Michigan State in the fall of 2017, I expected I would graduate in five years as an elementary education major. Although I think I would have been fine in this career, my life’s passion of theatre could not be denied. At the end of freshman year, I dropped my education major and have since been avidly working towards my goal of working in professional side of the theatre industry after college. In January, I was hired to be Wharton Center’s Marketing and Communications Intern for their Broadway series. Since then, I have been working with Wharton Center’s marketing department on every Broadway show. I’ve already learned so much, and it makes me confident that when I graduate in a year and a half, I will be fully prepared to enter the professional theatre industry. It’s been amazing to put my Broadway knowledge to use and to learn how to market to a specific community. Above all, I love that my job allows me to share the thing I love most, theatre, with others.

Interviewing Julie Jordan of Come From Away—an opportunity I got from working at Wharton Center

2019 has undoubtedly been one of the best years of my life thus far—both personally and professionally. My knowledge and experience of the theatre is blossoming every day, and I’m grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had this year. 2019 is going to be a tough year to beat, but I’m optimistic that 2020 is going to hold even more amazing theatrical opportunities.

Tags 2019, Broadway, Come from Away, Hadestown, Hamilton, In the Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Little Shop of Horrors, Michigan State University, MSU, musical, New Years, New York, RCAH, Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, Tony Awards, Wharton Center

Cami Hancock

Changing My Major to Jeanine

Post author By rcahcommunications
Post date 7 Aug 2019
No Comments on Changing My Major to Jeanine

This past weekend I saw a community theatre production of Shrek the Musical, which is a show I’m no stranger to: I performed in it in high school and have since seen it performed at professional theaters, colleges, and local theaters. It’s one of my favorite shows, and I don’t think it gets enough credit. Most would probably assume it’s just the musicalized version of the cheesy cartoon, but its creative team made it much more than that. Shrek the Musical deals with important issues such as alienation, isolation, and body image, and it makes you question the perceptions we have of others. Watching it again brought me back to when I was first introduced to Shrek in my freshman year of high school. For me, Shrek was the musical that fostered my love of Broadway. It was how I was introduced to Sutton Foster—now my favorite actress of all time—and it also introduced me to one of my biggest role models: composer Jeanine Tesori.

In addition to Shrek, Jeanine Tesori has composed the music for numerous Broadway shows, including Caroline or Change, Violet, and the 2015 Tony Winning Best Musical, Fun Home. She’s known to be the most successful female Broadway composer of all time. She is both a trailblazer for women in the world of Broadway and an immensely talented creative. I love her music because the sounds she creates always reflect the show’s distinct setting. The sounds of Jeanine Tesori’s shows are so different that you wouldn’t guess they’re written by the same person. The music of Violet is bluesy, reflecting its setting of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, while Fun Home’s music is a darker pop/rock score with an ode to the 1970’s, reflecting the funeral home in Pennsylvania where it takes place. Shrek, on the other hand, features a classic Broadway-style sound and has catchy group numbers and other heartwarming ballads.

A scene from when I did Shrek in high school

In my sophomore year of high school, my choir teacher announced that our class’s final project would be to research a composer and present a project on them. Naturally, I decided that I would pick Jeanine Tesori—that is until my choir teacher told me that Jeanine Tesori “isn’t classical enough,” and she handed me a list of old, white, dead male composers to pick from instead. I was outraged that I not only couldn’t pick the composer I wanted, but that I also had no women to pick from. I grudgingly picked Stephen Sondheim.

The following year, my teacher assigned the same project, and after my outrage the year before, she said we could choose any composer. I was finally getting a chance to present on my role model. I thought, Why don’t I reach out to Jeanine and ask if I can interview her? I figured I would probably never hear back, but it was worth a shot. I messaged her on Twitter of all places, and less than an hour later, Jeanine responded to me and said that she would be delighted to let me interview her. I couldn’t believe it.

Meeting Jeanine Tesori

Interviewing Jeanine was an unforgettable experience. It shocked me that such a successful woman (and a Tony winner!) would be so generous to share her life experiences with a high school junior. It meant so much to me, and I’ll never forget the time she took with me. She shared that she is frequently the only woman in the room when she’s working on a Broadway show, and that she feels an enormous responsibility with that. She believes that women on top need to help other women get there, so she tries to be an exemplar of that. She also has women who she looks up to as well: in the same way that I look up to her, she told me she looks up to Linda Twine, musical director of Big River and The Color Purple.

We live in a world where only 17% of roles on Broadway creative teams are held by women, but Jeanine Tesori is one of the few women who have made it to the top and is trying to help others get there too. She is using her talent and her platform to lift up others, meanwhile inspiring a new generation of women while doing it. That’s why I admire her so much: she has shown me firsthand how crucial it is to see someone like you reflected where you want to be. It’s now my goal to work on Broadway and use my work to advocate for more women and other minorities to be on Broadway’s creative teams, something first modeled to me by my role model Jeanine Tesori.

Tags Broadway, Cami, composer, Fun Home, Jeanine Tesori, Michigan State University, MSU, music, musical, RCAH, Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, Shrek

Cami Hancock

My Seven Favorite Theatregoing Experiences

Post author By rcahcommunications
Post date 21 Jul 2019
No Comments on My Seven Favorite Theatregoing Experiences

I am a firm believer in the powers of theatre. I believe theatre is capable of much more than entertainment—it can provide you an escape, lead you to ask questions, and force you to see the world from a different perspective. Playbill’s website has a series where they have Broadway performers share their favorite theatregoing experiences. I’ve had multiple theatre experiences that played major roles in fostering my love of the arts and that I truly consider to be life changing, so I figured I would share them with you. These are my favorite theatregoing experiences of all time:

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

I bought the script for this show at Target on a whim last summer, and I ended up devouring the entire thing in two days. Although I had only read one Harry Potter book at the time, I found the script to be utterly thrilling and heartwarming. I knew I had to see it performed on stage, and I got to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway last November. The show is a spectacle that uses mind-blowing special effects to create the magic of Harry Potter. To this day, I don’t know how they do some of the magic. The show is performed in two parts, each at three hours long, so it is not a brief piece of theatre. Even so, the play whizzes by. The story is like a moving train: you hop on and brace yourself for the wild journey ahead.

Ramin Karimloo in Les Misérables

Les Misérables was one of the first musicals I ever saw on Broadway, and it left me absolutely blown away. I found it to be stunning and heartbreaking. I cried (literally) six times. Although I loved the entire production, the standout for me was Ramin Karimloo as Jean Valjean. He has a gorgeous baritone voice, and he possesses a warmth onstage that made it so easy to feel attached to him and cheer him on through the show’s trials and triumphs.

Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812

The Great Comet was the first immersive, experimental piece of theatre I had seen, and it completely changed my idea of what theatre can be. The show transformed every inch of Broadway’s Imperial Theatre into a 19th-century Russian supper club. With the renovation, they added seats to the stage, which is where I got to sit. I had Broadway actors performing on all sides of me. In addition, the performers interacted with me and the other audience members onstage. The actors sat at our table, gave us pierogies, and hand delivered us love letters. It was incredible to witness such a beautiful piece of theatre while being right at the center of the action.

Jessie Mueller in Waitress

I completely fell in love with Waitress, which is an emotional piece of theatre that is equally charming and funny. I was most moved by Jessie Mueller as Jenna. Jessie Mueller is a unicorn on stage—seriously, she is one of a kind. Her voice has such a rich and unique tone and watching her feels magical because of how present she remains throughout the entire show. Even when she wasn’t speaking, I loved watching her reactions to the other characters onstage. Something about her is so vulnerable and honest. It’s impossible not to root for her.

Jessica Vosk in Wicked

This is the only show on this list that I saw on its national tour rather than on Broadway. When I saw Jessica Vosk as Elphaba, it was my fifth time seeing Wicked. I was just looking forward to basking in one of my favorite musicals all over again, but as soon as Jessica began singing “The Wizard and I,” I was floored. I got chills throughout my entire body. Every time she sang, I was mesmerized by her. Her voice is stunning, and she pulled off riffs that I’ve never heard any other Elphaba manage to do before. She embodies the definition of a star, and I was not at all surprised that she moved to the Broadway company a year later.

Hamilton

I’ve already written an entire blog post about this experience, but seeing Hamilton on Broadway changed my life. I saw it at the end of one of the most difficult periods of my life, and it made me feel grateful to be alive. It is unmatched in its originality and the strides it has made for people of color. I’m thankful that we are alive at a time where you can see such boundary-breaking, genius work living and breathing on Broadway.

Dear Evan Hansen

I first saw Dear Evan Hansen in previews back in 2016, and while I loved it, it wasn’t until I saw the show for a second time in 2018 that it truly made me feel changed. Dear Evan Hansen made me feel validated and heard. I found myself able to connect with it because the show draws on the universal feeling of loneliness, something that everyone has experienced at some point in their life. To me, it perfectly verbalizes the feelings of being an outsider and not fitting in. I sat in the front row and sobbed so hard that the person next to me turned to ask if I was okay. With seeing the show a second time, I also got to pay attention to some more complex details, such as the similarities between Evan and Connor, as well as the universal experiences that link every character in the show to every person in the audience. It is a heartbreaking and healing piece of theatre that I recommend to any person that has a pulse.

Cami and her friend, Abby

Tags Broadway, Dear Evan Hansen, experimental piece of theatre, Great Comet of 1812, Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Les Misérables, Michigan State University, RCAH, Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, theatre, Waitress show, Wicked

Cami Hancock New York

NYC Part 3: Attending the Tony Awards

Post author By rcahcommunications
Post date 2 Jul 2019
No Comments on NYC Part 3: Attending the Tony Awards

Processed with VSCO with c1 preset

When you ask someone what their favorite holiday is, you probably expect them to say Christmas, Halloween, or maybe their birthday. Whenever someone has asked me that question over the last five years, I’ve always given another answer: the Tony Awards.

In case you’re not familiar with the Tony Awards, it is basically the Super Bowl for people who care about theatre instead of sports. It’s the one night a year where Broadway actors and professionals are awarded for their achievements. I’ve always made the Tony Awards into a big deal at my house—my family goes all out with voting ballots, decorations, and even baking a cake in honor of the big day. This year was even more special, though, because I got to attend the Tony Awards in person for the first time.

As usual, the Tony Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The live telecast didn’t begin until 8 p.m., but they asked the audience to arrive at 5 p.m.. Once I got inside the lobby, I expected to be led straight away to my seat in the mezzanine, but that never happened. The audience was allowed to hang out in the lobby as long as they wanted, which meant that I got to watch the nominees trickle in over the next two hours.

We all had to be in our seats by 7 p.m., and during that hour before the live show, Broadway actors Karen Olivo, Danny Burstein, and Aaron Tveit gave out the special Tony Awards, as well as the non-aired awards, including Best Choreography and Best Scenic Design.

Then at 8 p.m., it was finally time for the live show. I was particularly excited for this year’s host, James Corden, because last time he hosted in 2016, he performed one of my favorite opening numbers of all time. This year his opening number was called, “We Do It Live,” and it did not disappoint. Cast members from all of the Tony-nominated shows joined him onstage during the number, and it was a huge extravaganza.

My view from my seat.

I was especially compelled by the speeches at the Tony Awards this year. In fact, I think this year’s telecast featured the best collective group of speeches I’ve ever heard. I will admit that I teared up during the speech from Best Featured Actress in a Musical winner Ali Stroker, who happens to be the first actress in a wheelchair to win a Tony. She began her speech by dedicating her award to any kid watching who faces a disability and is looking for themselves to be represented. I also loved the speech from Rachel Chavkin, who won for directing Hadestown. Chavkin is only the fourth woman to ever win that award, and she used her airtime to call out Broadway’s lack of diversity on its creative teams, and therefore the lack of stories that are being told. This is a relevant issue on Broadway and one that I’m extremely passionate about, so I was inspired that she used her platform to address this social issue.

My favorite part of attending the Tony Awards in person had to be the commercial breaks. I always assumed that they gave out the non-aired Tony Awards during the commercials, but they did all of those before the show started. Instead, James Corden initiated karaoke with different Broadway stars. In one commercial break, Ben Platt and James Corden sang “Tomorrow” from Annie. In another, Anthony Ramos and Chris Jackson sang “96,000” from In the Heights (I just about died hearing Chris Jackson, the original Benny, sing his part). Finally, Billy Porter brought down the house with his complete performance of “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from Gypsy. What was supposed to be simple karaoke turned into a full-on concert. Porter ended up performing his song center stage with a standing ovation from the 6,000 audience members inside Radio City Music Hall.

After the show was over, I waited down in the lobby again, and that’s where I got to meet and take photos with some of the nominees. Some of the nominees I was most excited to meet included David Korins, the scenic designer of Beetlejuice (as well as Hamilton), Eva Noblezada of Hadestown, Jeremy Pope of Choir Boy and Ain’t Too Proud, Sarah Stiles of Tootsie, and newly-awarded Tony winner Sergio Trujillo of Ain’t Too Proud.

Meeting Sergio Trujillo

Meeting Jeremy Pope

I’m honestly still having trouble believing that I attended the Tony Awards in person. It was literally a dream come true. What has become a tradition of watching on TV from Michigan came to life in front of my eyes in New York City. I value the Tony Awards because it allows a chance for art and theatre to be celebrated. It’s the one night a year where Broadway is televised to a national audience, therefore exposing kids who may never have the chance to see a Broadway show in person to watch performances from their homes. Each year, the Tony Awards inspires a whole new generation of young people to get involved in the arts.

Although the Tony Awards are technically a competition, it didn’t feel that way at all. The environment in that room is so positive and supportive. You can tell that everyone there is just excited to be celebrating another season of theatre and hard work. A major reason I respect Broadway actors so much is because they don’t do their job for fame or money, they do it purely because they love performing and spreading a message through art. Although I do not believe the level of representation or diversity at the Tony Awards is where it should be (I will dive into this at another time), the bottom line is that theatre is an art form that is capable of educating and creating social change. Slowly but surely, Broadway is making strides to do better and be more inclusive. That’s why I’m grateful that this year I got to play a small part in the tradition of cheering on the Tony nominees inside Radio City Music Hall, and I look forward to celebrating Broadway and the Tony Awards for many years to come.

Tags Broadway, Michigan State University, Tony Awards