Facebook Instagram Tiktok Youtube
Donate

Blog

What makes the classics work?

This season, Broadway has seen a lot of its classics come back! Waiting for Godot, No Man’s Land, Glass Menagerie and others have seen their time again on stage. What makes them great? Why do they still work? And how are they different than their original (or even previously revived) relatives?

A lot has to do with the way the director decides to tell the story in the first place. For example, in a recent revival of Hamlet, Jude Law and the cast donned modern day clothing to tell the story, making it easier for an audience to grasp the language of Shakespeare. While Alan Cumming just did a phenomenal job in Macbeth, in which he played a patient in a psych hospital, and the doctors, nurses, and other patients around him took on the traditional roles in the play.

Sometimes, it’s the set being changed. A complicated, heart wrenching show like The Glass Menagerie can be told and have just as much of an impact, even if the set is done in a much simpler way, in almost a black box style. When John Goodman and Nathan Lane took the stage in Waiting for Godot in 2009, the set was full of trees, rocks, and forest-type things. But in this season’s version, the set consists of nothing more than loose trees, gravel, and an almost black brick-wall back drop. While the words and meaning don’t change, changing the scenery can make it a completely different show!

Then of course, there’s the obvious change of the cast. The 2009 revival of Waiting for Godot featured veteran TV, film, and stage actors John Goodman and Nathan Lane. This time around, it’s Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen (who is also in a revival right now of No Man’s Land).  While Macbeth and Hamlet have been played by countless men throughout history, some of the most memorable include Mel Gibson (film-Hamlet), Richard Burton (Hamlet), Patrick Stewart (Macbeth), and Alan Cumming (Macbeth). The most recent productions were helmed by Jude Law (Hamlet), and this current season has welcomed Ethan Hawke as Macbeth. This season also welcomed Zachary Quinto to Broadway in his debut as The Son in The Glass Menagerie.

Whether you change the scenery, the costumes, or even the cast, these plays and characters will always be considered classic.

Goodbye, Love – How To Say Goodbye to a Favorite Show

January is upon us! Though it’s a time of new beginnings and resolutions for some, it’s a sad time on the Great White Way as we lose a slew of shows. Dubbed “Black January,” it’s the period following the holiday season where a cluster of productions end their run on Broadway. This year’s line-up included Big Fish (December 29), Annie (January 5), First Date (January 5), Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (January 5), and off-Broadway’s Peter and the Starcatcher (January 12). Though this makes room for new productions to open, the blow of losing a favorite show still hurts. As someone who has said goodbye to several favorite shows during this time, I’ve complied a list of ways to cope:

1. If you can, go see the show for a final time. It’s hard to explain the specific feeling, but seeing a show and knowing you won’t be able to see the production again makes the experience more special and heartfelt. Final performances have incredible and bittersweet energy onstage, backstage, and in the audience.

2. Have the tissues on standby and cry. It’s like saying goodbye to a friend that’s moving far away and you’ll never know if you’ll see them again. It’s like breaking up in a romantic relationship. It feels like a sudden blow, even if you saw it coming, but releasing your feelings will help you feel better about the situation.

3. When you feel sad, surrounding yourself with comforting things tends to make you feel better. Whether it’s your favorite spot on the couch, a run around the neighborhood, sitting in the seat to see another favorite show, or sitting at a table at Schmackary’s, doing things that make you feel better will make your sadness drift away for the time being.

4. Sometimes goodbyes aren’t forever, as some shows go on to tour the country. Though it won’t be in the same venue or city, you can still get Broadway-level talent and a similar (if not the same) production design and team. So start putting the money you’d spend on seeing your favorite show into train tickets, gas fare, bus tickets, plane tickets, a passport, etc. to see it elsewhere (been there, done that).

5. The cliche states “don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” You cried already (#2), but now you can look back and remember all of the wonderful memories this show gave you. You can relive that moment you fell in love with the music, the characters, the story. You look back at your stage door pictures, notice how bright your smile is, how happy you are. You go to message a friend who you met through your love of the show.  This show has made a positive impact on your life, taught you valuable lessons — the best thing you can do to honor its memory is carry those things into your life.

6. Look ahead. Despite the sadness of closing a show, it only means a new one will take its place! Actors you’ve grown to love are talented, they’ll book other jobs and get to show versatility. Who knows, you may find another show to add to your growing list of favorites.

Is one of your favorite shows closing this month? Let us know (and grieve with us) in the comments!

Broadway Wishes for the New Year

The ball has dropped and the New Year is upon us! The New Year brings us new show, new stars, and another Tony Award broadcast. While we wait for the Tony nominations to be announced, I wanted to share some of my Broadway wishes for the next Broadway season.

Houdini’s Disappearing Act

The Broadway production based on the life of magician and illusionist Harry Houdini has had an ever-changing cast and production team. Most recently the production was shook by the exit of Hugh Jackman from the title role.  Stephan Schwartz has taken over music from Danny Elfman, and David Ives (Venus in Fur) is at the helm of the script. I’m hoping that for their next trick, this musical makes an appearance on Broadway soon.

In Court and On Tour

Who could forget the controversy surrounding the show Rebecca from Germany? This show has spent the last year in courts after producers have been found out for fraud. With the debts now settled, I’m hoping this opera-inspired show comes to Broadway next season. From the few production reels we have seen, it looks spectacular.

Also the fantastic Philly movie musical Flashdance, which has been on tour for the last year, will hopefully pull into Broadway in the coming year. With excellent reviews and audience reactions, this show is New York ready. The show was on its way last August, but the difficult task of finding the right theater took it back on the road. With Corey Mach taking over the starring role, let’s hope this show lands on Broadway and hopefully the Tonys.

Mom and Pop Musicals

Both home cooking-themed shows, Diner and Pump Boys and Dinettes, have landed on the back burner in the last couple years, yet both look very promising. The movie-inspired Diner is attached to director Kathleen Marshall and has music by Grammy Award winner Sheryl Crow. Pump Boys and Dinettes, a revival of the performance group-based show starring American Idol’s Bo Bice, was originally said to be coming to Broadway this year, yet held up their Broadway plans. With heartland and country-influenced shows like Hands on a Hardbody and Leap of Faith having closed pretty quickly in the past, I’m hopeful that this year will bring more country music to the New York stage.

Photo via MusicalWorkshop.org

When things go wrong!

It’s every actor’s worst nightmare: You’re on stage, the audience loves you, and the cast is doing great! And then suddenly, someone forgets a line! Something happened to a prop!

What happens now? The difference between film and TV and the theater, is that there is nobody there to yell ‘cut!’, and there’s no way to edit out what just happened. Relax! Here’s a few ways to work with something going wrong onstage.

The first thing to remember is that you are being watched! You now have about two seconds to figure out what direction you’re going to move in. When it comes to a prop malfunction, whether something breaks, or is missing or just won’t do what it’s supposed to do, leave it alone! Blackouts are your friend in this case. Move the broken object out of peoples’ way and tell the stage manager when you get backstage what happened, so that it can be addressed or replaced after the show. If something falls, quickly pick it back up and hand it to whoever dropped it or put it back where it belongs. There’s no shame in doing that, as long as you don’t panic.

Dropped lines are a bit trickier, but if you’re quick you can pick yourself and the other actors up without the audience ever knowing. The worst thing you can do is freeze! This is where all of those listening exercises from your classes (or past experience) come into play. Listen to what your fellow actor actually said, and try to guide them back to where you need to be with your next line. And if you’re the one that froze, take a deep breath and try to say something your character would say in the situation they’re in onstage. Under no circumstance should you break character while in the middle of a performance. The audience will see right through you if you do that!

The bottom line is, in live theater things like this happen. They happen in community, they happen in regional, and yes, they even happen on Broadway! But, if you keep a cool head, take a deep breath, and rely on your fellow cast mates in the safe environment of the stage, you can pull yourself out of anything!

Apollo Theater Collapse – Are Historic Theaters Safe?

Last week, theatergoers in London had a terrifying experience when the ceiling of the Apollo Theater came crashing down during the performance of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” Right before the first intermission, audience members heard crackling noises before parts of the ceiling fell, taking out lighting pictures and part of the balcony. At least 81 people were injured, seven critically, leaving some trapped under the rubble.  Fortunately everyone made it out of dust and debris.

The cause of the accident is still being determined by police and firefighters, but some are citing the heavy rain fall the day prior contributing to the collapse. It has happened in many cases where the buildup of water over time will rot out these older structures and eventually it will cave in. Think of it like when there’s a leak from the ceiling if you flood the tub in your bathroom. Many of the London theaters are also tightly packed seats and steep rows, Apollo being cited as one of the steepest. Employees of the theater warn patrons that some of the upper levels are not for those who fear heights.

The Apollo Theater was built during the Edwardian period in London, around 1901. That makes this theater over a century old. The same goes for a majority of the other theaters in the West End and on Broadway. Some theaters have been renovated, like the New Amsterdam Theater as the Disney Corporation made way for The Lion King, but it makes you question if more theaters should follow suit. Though the historical accuracy of these landmarks is extremely important, many of these theaters cannot seem to hold the stress of the mass quantities of people and advanced weighty technologies during the modern day performance.

Would sacrificing the authenticity of these theaters in the West End be worth the safety of theatergoers? After the accident that happened last week, I don’t think theater owners should be taking any more chances.

So what do you think? Should theaters be re-evaluated for safety and owners have these older theaters renovated?

Photo via American Blues Scene

Colm Wilkinson, Patti Lupone reign Overall Theatre Royalty

Today, I was called to the front lines to talk about who I would put for Theatre Royalty of the many amazing Theatre Adults from across the world! Without further ado….

Theatre King(s):

King Colm Wilkinson – Okay, I may be biased because I love Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera more than anything, and he’s fantastic. He’s amazing, and a legend, because he’s originated some of the most coveted roles in theatre, Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Valjean in Les Miserables, and he played the Phantom when it stayed in Toronto (who happened to inspire someone later in this list, Ramin Karimloo)

Honorary Mention:

Kings Ian McKellen and Kings Patrick Stewart – Beyond the fact that these gentleman are who I aspire to be (not necessarily talent-wise, just awesome-wise), they are basically the Kings of Broadway AND West End. Everyone bows to them, not only because their talent that has reached beyond the horizons of fandoms, past Broadway and geekdom. These two are Kings of all Kings. You can argue with me, but you will lose. Kings of all Kings.

Theatre Queen: 

Queen Patti LuPone – Of course it was going to be Patti LuPone. She’s originated some of the most famous roles in theatre, including Fantine on the West End, Evita, Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes, and won a Tony for her revival of Mama Rose in Gypsy. This woman is the queen of theatre, again, both here and across the pond. She’s a name that is synonymous with theatre and therefore is dubbed Broadway Queen.

Theatre Princess:

Princess Bernadette Peters – You’re probably saying to yourself ‘HOW DARE SHE MAKE BERNADETTE PETERS LESS THAN PATTI LUPONE’. Despite the fact that Bernadette Peters is older than Patti LuPone, I don’t think of her as a queen, I think of her as a princess (I don’t know, maybe it’s the hair?). A bit more of a diva (only in the best way) than Patti. (If we want to get really technical, she’s also won less Tonys than Patti) We know her from Into The Woods, from Sunday in the Park, from the Revivals of Gypsy and Annie Get Your Gun, but she’s never made it to the West End, another reason she’s a princess of Broadway.

Princess Lea Salonga – Lea Salonga is a princess of the theatre for many reasons, one of the reasons being that she holds an Olivier, Tony, and Drama Desk for Kim in Miss Saigon. She also can be seen in the 10th and 25th anniversary specials of Les Miserables, playing Eponine and then Fantine. Finally, name a princess, and she probably sang for them, Mulan, Jasmine, and she was actually named a Disney Legend in 2011.

Princess Audra MacDonald: With Five Tonys in the bag, you bet she’s a theatre princess. This woman is as fierce as she is kind. She can belt you off one minute and be supporting a charity the next. And she did a literal mic drop. There’s really no other reason.

Theatre Princes:

Prince Norm Lewis – This man is who I aspire to be, in fact, I think we should all aspire to be the greatness that is Norm Lewis. He graduated from my alma mater (which is a community/junior college, so rock on showing there are different ways of getting an education), played Poseidon in Little Mermaid, Javert on Broadway AND West End AND the 25th Anniversary, and then wowed everyone with the amazing Audra MacDonald eight times a week. This man is just a prince in every sense of the word.

Prince Norbert Leo Butz – I don’t even need to explain.

Prince Mandy Patinkin – This is when that “older generation” comes in. I’m not saying that only people who know older theatre know Mandy, he has numerous credits, but he’s definitely more well known by those who know 80’s/90’s theatre, Sunday In The Park and Evita, where he played Che. He has numerous other credits, television and stage. I’ve never seen him live, but my parents have, and they’re big fans. Takin’ their word here.

Duke and Duchesses:

Duke Jonathan Groff – I feel like Jonathan Groff was 2006-7’s Aaron Tveit. Everyone loved him and he had an amazing voice, but television has caught him, so we haven’t seen him on stage. We can not forget his amazing voice, so therefore he is my first Duke.

Duke Kyle Dean Massey – I’ve got to give this man credit. Beyond the fact that he is the ONLY Gabe that can make cry, he’s been Aaron’s understudy multiple times. With everyone so in love with Aaron, being his understudy couldn’t have been easy, but he does an amazing job, and in an unpopular opinion, outshines Aaron sometimes.

Duke Gavin Creel – Another actor known throughout the world, as Jimmy from Thoroughly Modern Millie, Claude in Hair, and now Elder Price in The Book of Mormon. He’s played roles so well, they’ve sent him to London to play them for British people! Now that’s how you know you’re good.

Dukes Ramin Karimloo & Hadley Fraser: These get paired up because they’re like Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart 2.0. Best friends, better known on the West End, not afraid to say they love each other/would get married to each other.

Duchess Sierra Boggess: This girl is sunshine in a tiny human body. That’s the only way to explain her. She’s and incredible actress, singer, and one of the most positive people you will ever talk to.

Duchess Samantha Barks: She’s fierce. She’s British. She sings incredibly well and showed Andrew Lloyd Webber by losing his competition and going on and becoming Eponine in Les Mis, in the Anniversary, Nancy in Oliver! (which is the role for the competition she lost), and then in the movie, and then showed us her sexy side as Velma in Hollywood Bowl’s.

Duchess Sutton Foster: First off, if we’re going by in line to the throne, Sutton’s next in line, if I knew how that worked. Two Tonys, a quirky personality, and an amazing voice to boot, she’s definitely on my list of  theatre royalty.

I could keep  going, there are so many people that personally are royalty to me that other people may disagree with. But I think this is a list many people can agree with. So I will force myself to stop there. Til next time, CBers!

Breaking News: Ceiling Collapses in London’s Apollo Theater

During one of today’s regularly scheduled performances of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime, the ceiling to the Apollo Theater on London’s West End collapsed. The theater, which was built in 1901, apparently endured a heavy rainstorm earlier today, though whether this caused the incident is yet to be determined. Other causes of the collapse are unknown.

The BBC described the theatre as “packed”, and several eyewitness statements have been released. One claimed to have heard “a crackling noise” before a “10 meters by 10 meters” piece of plaster fell from the ceiling. Some theatregoers are reported to have initially believed the collapse was part of the show, however it soon became clear that it was not. One patron was amazed by the sense of calmness she felt as other patrons respectfully helped each other to safety. “It wasn’t every man for himself”, she said. (CNN), “”Everyone was looking out for each other, and in a couple of minutes, everyone was out.”

Emergency personnel quickly responded, and rescue operations are apparently underway. The show’s run will most likely be postponed until the damage can be evaluated and fixed.

Broadway Royalty, Our Reigning King and Queen, Laura Osnes, Billy Porter

Note from the Editor: We recently tasked our bloggers with coming up with their top picks when it came to “Broadway Royalty.” Here you’ll find one entry from a younger blogger, while tomorrow we’ll have a second opinion from an older member of our team. It is interesting to see who ranks at the top of different generations’ lists and we’d love to hear your opinion on the matter. Leave your thoughts in the comments, or tweet @campbroadway!

We all worship the glorious talents of those who perform on the Great White Way eight times a week, but there are those who shine a little brighter in our eyes. They are the royalty of the stage. We’re crowning the princesses and princes of the stage, and even the King and Queen whom rule over all. These ten performers are currently shining on Broadway in some of the most popular of shows!

Princess Lindsay Mendez – WICKED
Speaking of “Popular,” the first Princess is on our list comes from the show Wicked, which is currently celebrating it’s 10 year anniversary this month! Lindsay Mendez, the most recent Green Girl, is being crowned for several different reasons. The main one being her pipes. Have you heard this woman sing? She has some serious talent! Just listen to the Dogfight cast album and you’ll be getting chills! This beautiful lady has starred in the 2007 revival of Grease, has had the leading role in Dogfight, and many other wonderful productions. Our hearts flutter for this fly girl!

Prince Derek Klena – WICKED
When you see the name Lindsay Mendez, you know Derek Klena won’t be far behind! Our first prince has been the leading man in quite a few productions! He starred as Tommy in the 2012 revival of Carrie: The Musical. Along with Mendez, he was the leading man in Dogfight, and is currently portraying Fiyero in Wicked opposite of Lindsay Mendez. Derek has a smooth voice that soothes the soul! He’s funny and charming, which you can clearly tell in the vlog series Lindsay Mendez had on Broadway.com. The friendship between these royals is just to perfect for words.

Princess Patina Miller – Pippin
Who doesn’t mimic those iconic poses that Patina Miller makes in the beginning of Pippin while listening to the cast album? And lets face it; we all wish that we could have a body like hers. I mean, just look at those biceps! But besides the buff body and the fancy poses, Patina has a whole lot more going for her! Her voice is smoother than glass! Her voice is sweet and powerful, just all around magnificent. Previously she performed in Sister Act as the lead role. She also did a production of Hair in Central Park during the summer of 2008. This is definitely a woman you’ll want to watch!

Prince Zachary Levi – First Date
This man may be new to Broadway, but he’s not new to our hearts! Zachary Levi snuggled our way into our hearts when he voiced our favorite hero/thief, Flynn Rider, in the Disney animated film, Tangled. Now, he’s made his Broadway debut in the original musical comedy, First Date. Krysta Rodriguez has a vlog series similar to the one Lindsay Mendez had in which Zachary Levi made many appearances. We saw that he had more in common with Flynn than we thought! His beautiful voice plus his sarcastic style of humor gives him a unique personality that is impossible to hate. From the giant couch in his dressing room to the dance party stage door signings, this guy is incredible creative! He’s more than a peach, he’s a prince!

Princess Annaleigh Ashford – Kinky Boots
Who didn’t see this coming? I mean, how could we leave Annaleigh Ashford off the list? She’s simply too wonderful! This chick has got the voice like no other! She played our favorite Good Witch, Galinda the Good in Wicked of course. She’s the perfect “Popular” girl. She also originated the role of Margot in Legally Blonde: The Musical. Her credits also include Dogfight, where she performed alongside Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena, which were both mentioned earlier. Right now, Annaleigh Ashford is portraying Lauren, a quirky and funny girl who falls head over heels in love with her boss, Charlie Price. Her fabulousness will definitely not be forgotten! She has a huge career ahead!

Prince Santino Fontana – Cinderella
This man is more than a prince on this list, but a real prince on the stage! He currently plays Prince Topher in Roger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. He is known for his hysterical sense of humor (are you seeing a pattern here? It seems like it’s a requirement to be on Broadway, you have to be funny!) and pranks. You can see him interacting with his costar, Laura Osnes, on Twitter, reminding her of embarrassing hi-jinks that occurred backstage. Their friendship is adorable and endearing and we fans love every second of it! Fontana has appeared in many different productions including Billy Elliot and The Importance of Being Earnest. He’s talented and extraordinarily handsome, what more could a girl want?

Princess Kara Lindsay – Newsies
How could you not love the tap-dancing, sassy, quick-thinking reporter, Katherine Plumber? Better yet, how could you not love the woman who originated the role, Kara Lindsay? This adorable little lady made her Broadway debut as the charming Katherine Plumber but she does have some other credits under her belt! She played Laura Wilder in The Little House on the Prairie with Melissa Gilbert. But the real reason we love her is her astounding vibrato! Her voice is gorgeous and magnificent, especially in her fast-paced solo “Watch What Happens.” (Which is harder to sing than most think, trust me. I know. I’ve tried it. But then again, who hasn’t?) The best part about her is how she delivers her lines. She’s incredibly feisty and not afraid to lash out at the cunning Jack Kelly whom she refuses to admit she’s fallen for.

Prince Corey Cott – Newsies
This guy stars opposite of Kara Lindsay in Newsies, performing as the wonderful Jack Kelly. He joined the cast immediately after his graduation at Carnegie Mellon, so it’s his first show in the Big Apple. His sweet voice and obsession with his puppy, Theo, who is famous among the fans, which are also dubbed “fansies.” His adorable instagram photos featuring the little dog have won the hearts of many. Like the others on this list, he also has quite the funny bone. Many of his instagram videos feature a unique mask that is a mixture of a pumpkin and Obama’s face. He’s quirky and a goofball which, of course, captures our hearts.

Queen of Broadway
Did you know that actual Disney Princesses exist? No? Well, the Queen of Broadway happens to be the one and only Cinderella herself! With a Cinderella story of winning a part from a reality TV show and going on to become a phenomenon on the stage, Laura Osnes is one of the most popular woman on the Great White Way today. And she happens to play Cinderella herself with Santino Fontana at her side. She’s had a 2 season vlog series on Broadway.com called “The Princess Diaries” and it showed the viewers how remarkably sweet Osnes truly is. She has the personality of a real Disney Princess, and her story shows that she’s closest to the girl in the glass slipper (even though she’s a brunette). People have embraced her warmly into the Broadway world after she played Sandy in the 2007 revival of Grease. She’s also been in Anything Goes, South Pacific, and Bonnie and Clyde. She’s an incredible talent with a voice like bells and a smile like the sunshine. There’s not a person who dislikes Laura. Though, it’s hard to dislike someone who’s as close to perfection as possible!

King of Broadway
The spectacular actor crowned King has just won a Tony for his performance in Kinky Boots along side Annaleigh Ashford and Stark Sands. Billy Porter holds many people captive with his feisty personality and the sweet, yet inspirational tweets. Many Broadway fans throughout the world love him and his performance, which they witnessed on the Tony Awards this past year. He plays Lola, a drag queen that embarks on a journey with Charlie Price to create a heel that only the bravest of men are daring to wear. On Twitter, he’s followed by the shows fans but gets so much more than what they bargained for. Porter posts the most beautiful quotes and inspirational sayings that makes a person ready to get up and go and take on life. In the 1994 revival of Grease he played Teen Angel, the miraculous guardian angel of the beloved Frenchy. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon, which seems to have a lot of alumni currently on Broadway.

The King, Queen, Princes, and Princesses have been chosen because of their lovability and talent. They are the top dogs in New York and I’m sure the die-hard Broadway fans agree! There is no doubting that they are the “Kings of New York!”

Photo via The Wall Street Journal

What I Wish I Knew Freshman Year: From a Theater Major

As I enter my second semester of my junior year, I thought I should look back to see what I wish I knew as a freshman wanting to be a theater major. I want to give some advice to those of you curious about studying theater in college or maybe already in your first semester at school, so you can know what to do and not to do in your next four years of college.

1. Be Productive!
I know this sounds really vague, but it’s the best piece of advice I can give you. Keep up with your classes, both theater-related and general education classes. You will be surprised how busy you get your first semester in college and how far behind you will get. If you start out strong, then you will end strong, don’t let procrastination affect your grades!

2. Group Work, Group Work, and MORE Group Work!
Theater is 100% COLLABORATIVE, so don’t think you will be leaving group projects behind in high school. From working on productions to theater classes, you will have to work with your peers in order to get your work done. With that in mind, make sure you have great communication and people skills before you come to college. You don’t want to be that difficult person who argues with other group members or never shows up to meetings, it will affect your grade.

3. Learn How to Say “NO!”
You will be asked to join shows, clubs, and student organizations on top of your classes. While it’s great to build your resume and gain some new experiences, you need to know your limits. Don’t overload yourself to the point where you are burnt out before the end of the semester. Take time to sleep and relax in between classes and shows. Keeping yourself healthy is more important than being involved in some aspects. By the end of your freshman year, you will learn your limits and find a balance.

4. Enjoy Yourself!
These are the best four years of your life! Enjoy it will it lasts! You have the chance to meet people from all across the country, make some friends and connections that will last a lifetime. Go to New York City, or some other theater city if your school provides those opportunities. See all the theater you can, within your department and student productions outside of campus. Get an internship and go somewhere new, make the most of your summer. These memories will last a lifetime along with your education.