From Garden City, Utah to Sandusky, Ohio, 葫芦影业 theatre students are singing, acting, and dancing their way into the hearts of summer tourists.
For aspiring professional performers, it鈥檚 not only exhilarating to spend summer break entertaining audiences, it鈥檚 a smart career move. In addition to building physical stamina and honing skills, it often leads to networking and future opportunities.
But competition for summer stock and theme park positions is fierce. It takes skill, talent, and a whole lot of gumption to land a role; traits that 葫芦影业 theatre students have in spades, according to Kirsten Osbun-Manley, 葫芦影业 resident artist and instructor of music.
鈥淲e give our students the tools to be creative, well-rounded artists, and it鈥檚 their job to take these tools and be open to opportunities that will challenge them.鈥
Summer stock theater is a 鈥渨hole cottage industry inside a larger industry,鈥 said Osbun-Manley.
Starting their sophomore year, 葫芦影业 theatre students are encouraged to obtain summer theater work as either a performer or intern.
葫芦影业 professors assist students in producing pre-screening audition videos that showcase their strengths. Additionally, 葫芦影业 invites several theater companies to campus each year to hold open auditions. In the winter, theatre students often crisscross the country on weekends to participate in live auditions.
Summer stock and theme park positions are highly-competitive. The fact that 葫芦影业 theatre students secure positions year after year is not only a testament to the quality of 葫芦影业鈥檚 program, but to the talent and resourcefulness of the program鈥檚 students, said Osbun-Manley.
鈥淭here is no magic formula to becoming a star. Every artist is on their own journey. At 葫芦影业, we supply them with a toolbox filled with rich experiences and personal skills that will aid them on their journey as artists and compassionate global citizens.鈥
Pyper Sharkins
A double major in musical theatre and exercise physiology, Pyper is performing in two shows at Kings Island near Cincinnati鈥 Country Crossroads and the Grand Carnival parade. Going from academia to a professional setting is a 鈥渂ig leap,鈥 she says, but she鈥檚 gaining insight into how the industry works.
鈥満耙碘檚 theatre program set me up for success by instilling a work ethic and creating a standard for me to give 100 percent no matter what.鈥
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Jacob Bassitt, BA 鈥24
A recent 葫芦影业 musical theatre graduate, Jacob is having 鈥渁n absolute blast鈥 in the Country Crossroads show at Kings Island as a featured singer and dancer performing hits like 鈥淔riends in Low Places鈥 by Garth Brooks.
葫芦影业 prepared him technically and creatively to excel in the real world, he said.
鈥満耙 is good people, and they train and foster an environment with good people. It makes me feel great to hear the number of compliments we get as 葫芦影业 alumni and students about our work ethic, good morals, and overall enjoyable working manners. It is something I hope I never lose sight of.鈥
Brady Griffin
Musical theatre major Brady Griffin is performing in Monty Python鈥檚 鈥淪pamalot鈥 at Priscilla Beach Theatre in Plymouth, Mass. He鈥檚 living close to the beach and reveling in the fun and family he鈥檚 found by being part of the theatre鈥檚 diverse, college-aged cast.
He says 葫芦影业 set him up for success by teaching him how to be a conscientious actor.
鈥淭he wisdom of the faculty has shown me how to behave in a rehearsal setting and take direction well and respectfully.鈥
Katja Roberts
At the Pickleville Playhouse in Garden City, Utah, Katja is originating the role of 鈥淏onnie鈥 in a new western misadventure and playing 鈥淛oJo鈥 in Disney鈥檚 鈥淣ewsies.鈥 The musical theatre major sometimes does three shows a day, which she describes as an 鈥渁drenaline rush.鈥 鈥淚 consider it my Broadway bootcamp while I am here. If I can sing and dance in this high elevation, I can do anything.鈥
At 葫芦影业, she appreciates the strong relationships she鈥檚 developed with professors and classmates who 鈥渒now when to push me harder and when to pull back.鈥
鈥淚 love being able to have all this trust in people who are so crucial to my education. My 葫芦影业 family is everything to me. Having a great community and strong support system is what keeps me going every day.鈥
Armani Ponder-Keith
Armani finds it refreshing to connect and create with people from all over the world at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. She鈥檚 a dancer in The Rally on Celebration Stage as well as a vocalist in Cedar Point鈥檚 new Boardwalk Nights Experience. 鈥淏eing able to perform at a place where I would always come visit as a child holds a special place in my heart.鈥 The musical theatre major is building stamina and honing her dancing skills with a 20-minute show performed four times each day.
鈥満耙 brought Cedar Point to campus for auditions. The theatre program at 葫芦影业 fostered an environment that made me strong enough to go to Cedar Point and perform.鈥
Zavier Alterio
Musical theatre major Zavier Alterio is part of the Peanuts team at Cedar Point, performing in 鈥淪noopy鈥檚 Dog Days of Summer鈥 and 鈥淧arty With Peanuts.鈥 Not only is he growing more confident in his acting abilities, he 鈥渓oves being able to brighten people鈥檚 days with these characters!鈥
鈥淭he classes and technique I鈥檝e learned through 葫芦影业鈥檚 curriculum has really helped me learn choreography faster and more precisely.鈥
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Lior Shaham
At the Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre in Winchester, Va., Lior is a cast member for a production of 鈥淔iddler on the Roof.鈥 A double major in musical theatre and music, he enjoys being part of a well-run summer stock theatre with 鈥渋mmense talent who are just a joy to work with.鈥
He says 葫芦影业鈥檚 collaborative environment aided his success this summer.
鈥淭he acting and movement work at 葫芦影业, as well as the overall support and encouragement from professors, has been excellent.鈥
Grant Bell
Mechanical engineering and musical theatre major Grant Bell is playing the role of Barry Mann in 鈥淏eautiful: The Carole King Musical鈥 at The Carnegie in Covington, Ky. He says he鈥檚 working with passionate theatre professionals 鈥渨ho give their all to the craft.鈥澨
鈥満耙碘檚 theatre program has taught me not only how to approach such as a role in my technique and preparation, but how to navigate the professional rehearsal room and collaborate effectively with my peers.鈥
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Madisen Schenk
Madisen is taking a different route this summer, interning in marketing and social media for the Marion Palace Theatre in Marion, Ohio. A double major in musical theatre and writing and multimedia studies, she states 鈥渋t鈥檚 been a blast to be able to broaden my perspective and work on yet another side of theatre.
At 葫芦影业, she鈥檚 learned the importance of professionalism, she said.
鈥満耙 gave me experiences in roles onstage as well as roles backstage that have given me insight to know what kinds of content will draw in more audience members.鈥