People are always saying, “You gotta break out of your comfort zone.” And I believe that is true. Growth comes from trying new things, taking risks, doing what’s outside the box. A very common graphic that is used in psychology and in personal coaching is one showing the four zones involved in growth. Source: UniqueContinue reading “Comfort Zone vs. Danger Zone”
Tag Archives: musical theater
Stephen Sondheim, 1930-2021
Last Friday, immediately completing my 5 Tips for Giving a Great Golden Age video, I opened up Instagram to see a post from Rachel Bloom with no words, just a picture of Stephen Sondheim. As I glanced down the screen, I saw more pictures posted by other people, and I said, “no, no, no, no….”Continue reading “Stephen Sondheim, 1930-2021”
Golden Age Musicals Are NOT Going Away
Golden Age musicals are NOT going away. Even if things have changed and some of the themes are problematic, they still have much to offer, vocally and dramatically.
Exploration Plus Exploitation
Recent studies show that tremendous bursts of creativity (or “hot streaks”) are the result of exploration plus exploitation. Teachers often encourage the former – but the latter is such a weighted word these days. How can you use exploitation in a positive way?
Revisiting the Why of Golden Age Musicals
In preparation for the upcoming “Finding the Emotional Truth in Golden Age Theater Songs” masterclass with James Valcq on September 2, I thought it was a good time to revisit this blogpost from two years ago. (New additions in brackets] I hear this way too often from people: “Why should I sing goldenContinue reading “Revisiting the Why of Golden Age Musicals”
B2W- Meet Heather Statham!
Continuing to work BACKWARDS, today’s blogpost highlights the clinician at the middle of our 3-day series, Heather Statham! Here’s Heather’s bio: “Man you’ve got some pipes!” may be something you feel compelled to say after hearing Heather Statham belt out a couple of tunes for the first time and you wouldn’t be alone! Based inContinue reading “B2W- Meet Heather Statham!”
B2W – Meet James Valcq!
It’s 4 weeks till Back To Whatever (aka B2W) and I’d like to take this opportunity to work backwards through the three-day extravaganza and have you meet Thursday’s masterclinician, James Valcq! James is best known as the composer of the Off-Broadway musical The Spitfire Grill (Playwrights Horizons, 2001), which won the Richard Rodgers Production AwardContinue reading “B2W – Meet James Valcq!”
Last call for registration
Registration is closing for tomorrow’s panel discussion! Have you registered yet? I auditioned for one college when I auditioned for colleges. My students in Milwaukee from 1998-2013 started out auditioning for two or three schools. By the time I left, musical theater was getting to the point where you had to audition for about fiveContinue reading “Last call for registration”
Any Questions?
As part of the registration process for What To Know/What I Wish I’d Known About College Auditions, I have had people fill out an intake form asking, specifically, what burning questions they have about the college audition process. I will be compiling those questions into some organized format to posit to the panel. Some of the questions I’ve receivedContinue reading “Any Questions?”
College Audition Panel Discussion: Meet the Panel (Part 3)
Before we meet the panel, an important announcement: Now that we’re done with that…. As promised, it’s time to meet the student panelists on our June 30 panel discussion. Coming to us from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lauren Manna. Lauren Manna is a musical theatre student from Minneapolis, MN. She studies voice with [my Speakeasy Cooperative colleague]Continue reading “College Audition Panel Discussion: Meet the Panel (Part 3)”