#79: I have to start coaching…

Thursday 10/17/24

On Tuesday, I went to teach a workshop at the Cicely Tyson Performing Arts High School. My friend Terri is a musical theatre teacher there and she’s been trying to get me over to work a bit for a while so I’m glad we made it happen! The school is only 15 minutes away so it was an easy drive. I reviewed their production of The Wiz several years ago for Paper Mill Rising Star Awards and I remember being blown away by Dorothy and the Scarecrow. Also, I remember that right after the tornado sequence, the fire alarms started going off and the house lights automatically went on. It was LOUD and lasted about 10 minutes. When I tell you those students didn’t MISS A BEAT. They were total pros and kept going. It was clear that the tornado effect triggered the alarm and people weren’t unsafe, but I still was a bit nervous. The fire department eventually made it and turned the system off but the entire time, not one student even hesitated. 


I did one of my College Audition Prep presentations but it seemed like the group of 15 weren’t very interested in pursuing it professionally or in college so I read the room and pivoted to giving live feedback. I was able to work with 3 students on their songs. I figured some of that feedback may be useful to you all!

1) First student worked on Unusual Way from 9. Great singer and good acting. I asked her what the song meant to her and she explained that she’s had an on and off relationship with her boyfriend and there have been times where she felt attached and wishes she hadn’t been. Pretty deep for high school! I challenged her to think about the final verse as finding the strength to walk away. So the last “you’ve made me whole” is less “awww i love you” and move “thanks so much for making me SO WHOLE that i can choose myself and walk away”. And wow she took that adjustment and RAN with it. It was an amazing difference. 

2) The 2nd student worked MY DAYS - the IT song of Broadway 2024. She sang it so well but was a bit disconnected from the beginning verses the end. There wasn’t too much of a difference. Where we started was where we ended. I challenged her to explore the final verse lyrics that switch from “live a life where i’m allowed to say” verses “live a life where i am proud to say”. I helped her connect the dots that these are DIFFERENT. And in that final verse after the key change I wanted her to spot someone who made her feel small or not worthy and to LET THEM HEAR HER that SHE is in charge and SHE is making the choices. She locked in and it was strong and so powerful. The students even shared they had chills. 

3)The final student sang Words Fail from Dear Evan Hansen which was great. The song is so long tho! He just seemed “sad” the whole time so I we re-did the 1st verse til “they hate it too” and I made him sing the song right to me. I spoke at him between lines to give him purpose to sing the next phrase. I made him look me in the eye and convince me he was changing. It was a TOUGH exercise but he made it and found not only more connected thought but better and stronger singing. Let the brain GO friends! 


Dreams Don’t Die

Julie


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#80: Weekly Coaching & Audition Recap

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#78: DEAR JULIE: Nothing Like My Role!