Jumping Right In!

I am a sophomore musical theatre major at ONU and sometimes it can be a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, only some of my classes are academically challenging. On the other hand, my major has an extremely rigorous time commitment. From the first day of school, I've been in rehearsals almost every night. I've been learning new songs and memorizing lines for a show that plans to go up with less than two weeks of rehearsal. This particular show is exciting because it is different from your typical ONU production. It's what is called a director's lab. A director's lab is a show that is entirely put on by a student director. In this case, our show was also written and choreographed by that same student. Due to this, it is a very different experience and a larger time commitment than I am used to.


Another thing we've jumped right into is auditions. This week is our second week of classes and our big audition week. “The ONU Holiday Spectacular” is the Christmas show that ONU puts on every year. The shows are in November, but due to the large cast, the auditions are usually the first or second week of school. We all prepare a song to sing in front of the directors before we go to our dance call the next night. After that, it is a waiting game for a week or two as we hope for good news on the cast list. It's a lot trying to balance a new routine while navigating a period of competition and preparation. My friends and I have been consistently in the gym, eating healthy and practicing our skills in the studios after class. It can be a lot of fun, but I struggle with this time of year slightly because my brain is all over the place

However, that doesn't mean I haven't loved every minute of it. I would much rather be in rehearsals every night than have a normal college experience because this is what I love to do! I get excited to spend my nights being creative in a dance room with my best friends. The theatre program here at ONU is a family. There's no other group of people I'd rather be navigating this very stressful time of year with.




Comments

  1. Lucie ArnottSeptember 3, 2024 at 12:14 PM

    Hi! I used to be super involved in the arts back in high school so I totally get where your coming from. I loved doing theater because I feel like it takes you to other places. I'm so happy for you that you are getting to make these memories and doing what you love because that's what college is about.

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  2. Indistinct ChatterSeptember 5, 2024 at 11:48 AM

    It’s amazing to hear how passionate and dedicated you are to your musical theatre major despite the intense time commitment! It sounds like you're fully immersed in the creative process, and it's inspiring that even though the schedule can be overwhelming, you still find joy in rehearsals and auditions. The director's lab sounds like an incredible opportunity to collaborate on such a unique project with a fellow student. Auditioning for the Holiday Spectacular right at the start of the semester must be stressful, but it’s great that you and your friends are supporting each other and finding balance through the gym and studio practice.

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  3. Ella FooseSeptember 5, 2024 at 12:06 PM

    I bet the D-lab is such a cool experience, working with other students and putting a show together in such a small amount of time is such a valuable experience. You guys are going to be great when you perform this weekend! And it is crazy how stressful the start of the year is. My brain is all over the place too! I feel like I have to get used to having wayyy too many things going on again. Especially since we have so much work this year. But I loved being in the dance call with you, it was so fun. Manifesting for us!!!

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