From guest blogger, Marlee Forsyth
“My name in lights at Carnegie Hall, I want it all!” sings Sharpay Evans in High School Musical while describing her Broadway dreams. Sure, it’s a cheesy reference, but what Broadway-bound boy or girl can’t relate to wanting their name in lights at one of the most famous venues in Manhattan? While I haven’t reached that point of success (at least not yet!), I did have the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall with Camp Broadway last April!
I first heard about the New York Pops Gala after an email from Camp Broadway saying that they would be holding auditions. As any actress-singer-dancer would, I begged my parents to take me to audition in New York. Ever the optimist, I walked in with a smile and the energy that can only be described as “superhuman-peppy-audition-rush.” I watched intently as Tony Parise taught us a dance combination to How to Succeed’s “Brotherhood of Man.” We were then divided into groups as Tony sat behind a table with everyone’s resumes. During practice I found myself looking around at other performers, a habit I dropped during the final run through of the routine. When you’re trying to make it count, you have to focus on what you have to bring to the table as an artist: look ahead, move with a purpose, and smile! After everyone had completed the dance audition, we were lined up in the hall. One by one, we went in to sing 16 bars of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” When it was my turn, I walked in, belted out my 16 bars, then went merrily on my way (ok I’ll be honest… I went to Sprinkles for cupcakes).
About a month later, I got the phone call that I had been accepted, impairing the hearing of those around me as I screamed in excitement! The excitement was still fresh as I was handed my music folder in the rehearsal space on a Saturday months later. I took a seat next to a girl I met at a Camp Broadway summer session and started small chat with those around me (fun fact: talking about how hard you cried when you saw Les Mis at the movies is a quality icebreaker). Soon, vocal rehearsal was underway as we breezed through a medley of songs from Gypsy, our piece for the Gala, with the speed and ease of professionals. After a few hours of that, we were off to dance rehearsal. At the end of the first day, exhaustion was starting to set in as my gung-ho smile settled in to one of tired content. The second day brought much of the same, with a similar excitement and buzz as we polished our vocals and dance moves. After lunch we had a break from our usual routine and participated in a Phantom of the Opera workshop, alternating between an acting class and learning the dance to “Masquerade.” Two incredibly inspiring performers, Kara Klein and Ellen Harvey, taught us and answered our questions. After we finished the Phantom workshop, we were brought to a room where many colorful dresses and cardigans hung on costume racks. As soon as I found a dress that fit, I got it approved by the costumer, wrote my name on it, and then stored it neatly in a bag. After all of our costumes had been stored, we were advised to rest and call it a day. Sleep was certainly welcome after all the excitement and work that we had put in the past two days!
I woke up the next morning with a massive smile on my face as I thought about how, in less that 24 hours, I would be following in the footsteps of many great singers and actors before me by performing in one of the most well-know venues in the world! We met at the established meet up spot and walked into the hall together and were escorted up to our dressing room. My new friends and I could barely contain our excitement as we waited for our rehearsal time downstairs on the stage. We had about an hour to rehearse on the stage, and as we were brought down the stairs and through the stage door I whispered to my friend “I can’t believe this is actually happening!” We were given our places and ran through the number a few times when I noticed who was watching our rehearsal: Stephanie J. Block! That’s definitely something that makes you smile a little brighter and dance a little harder! After our rehearsal time had run out, we walked back up to our dressing room for dinner and then changed in to our costumes. We walked down the stairs to our spots and waited for the show to begin.
Waiting for our cue felt like a lifetime, and I began to shake with nervous excitement. The doors opened and there was no turning back! Despite the fact that I had learned it over a course of two days, every move felt as if it was in my bones. I knew messing up was not an option. I was in the presence of Broadway royalty, and nothing short of perfection would do! I didn’t have to put on my performance smile, because the joy on my face was 100% real. Yet, as soon as it began, it came to a close. Our time on the stage, while fleeting, was truly magical. While my friends were at home doing homework, I had just come off stage at Carnegie Hall! As the show concluded, we came out for curtain call in a shared moment with the night’s other special guests including (but was definitely not limited to) Megan Hilty, Rob McClure, Laura Osnes, Will Chase, Kelli O’Hara, and Nick Adams. As we walked off and back up to the dressing room for the last time, I caught Stephanie J. Block and told her that I hoped she got a Tony nomination. Sure enough, her name was read the next day on the Tony nominations telecast! As I gathered my things and walked down the stairs, I said goodbye to my friends and got in the car.
“Hold on,” I yelled out to my parents before we start on our journey home to Baltimore, “I want to make a stop before we go.” We pulled up to Juniors, and knowing that I would be going to school the next day, I bought a piece of chocolate chip pound cake and we were on our way. We got home around 3:30 in the morning, so I slept all I could then got up and went to school. Exhausted as I was, I felt I had been caught up in a Cinderella story, recalling my “Lovely Night” that happened less than 12 hours ago. As I walked into my class, my friends ran up to me swarming me with questions about my experience, to which I could only reply “It was the most wonderful thing I’ve done in my life!” I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall with Camp Broadway and all the friends I made during that weekend. It was truly magical!
Note from the Editor: Audition this Sunday to have your own chance to perform on the Carnegie Hall stage at this annual event! Camp Broadway is holding auditions on January 19th in NYC. More info.