2008 Woodie Awards
Seniors showcase musical talent in New York City
By: Sarah Schuch
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News
When West Bloomfield senior Jayna Jones leaves Central Michigan University, she may already have a headstart in the musical theater business.
Jones and four other seniors performed the Musical Theater Showcase on March 10 at the Sage Theater in New York City in front of 30 agents.
Jones earned a first at the showcase - an agent who said he wanted to represent her.
"I was super shocked to have agents tell me that I was what they were looking for and I have the voice they wanted," Jones said. "It was amazing to hear that."
Jones is planning to move to New York in June, where she will meet with other agents before she decides whom to hire.
"This is the first and only time in their careers they will perform to an audience of agents, casting directors and managers," said Tim Caldwell, a music professor.
All senior musical theater majors must put together a showcase. It allows them to combine everything they've learned in the past three years and polish it, Caldwell said.
Caldwell said an agent in New York City goes to about 80 showcase performances from February through April.
"The goal for every performer is to stand out in that showcase and in the agent's mind," he said.
Saginaw senior Sarah Ittner said the final product of the showcase was 24 minutes long.
The showcase started and ended with group performances. Then each student performed two more pieces.
The most difficult part was putting the group numbers together, Ittner said. They hired a choreographer to help with the dance moves.
The students were required to take a capstone class in which they spent their time preparing for the showcase.
"We tell our performers you are your own corporation," Caldwell said. "Your voices are your instruments."
Sarah Ledtke, Saginaw senior, said it was a valuable experience.
"It opened doors for us when we move out to New York," she said. "Most musical theater majors' goal is to sometime in their career to move to New York."
Jones and four other seniors performed the Musical Theater Showcase on March 10 at the Sage Theater in New York City in front of 30 agents.
Jones earned a first at the showcase - an agent who said he wanted to represent her.
"I was super shocked to have agents tell me that I was what they were looking for and I have the voice they wanted," Jones said. "It was amazing to hear that."
Jones is planning to move to New York in June, where she will meet with other agents before she decides whom to hire.
"This is the first and only time in their careers they will perform to an audience of agents, casting directors and managers," said Tim Caldwell, a music professor.
All senior musical theater majors must put together a showcase. It allows them to combine everything they've learned in the past three years and polish it, Caldwell said.
Caldwell said an agent in New York City goes to about 80 showcase performances from February through April.
"The goal for every performer is to stand out in that showcase and in the agent's mind," he said.
Saginaw senior Sarah Ittner said the final product of the showcase was 24 minutes long.
The showcase started and ended with group performances. Then each student performed two more pieces.
The most difficult part was putting the group numbers together, Ittner said. They hired a choreographer to help with the dance moves.
The students were required to take a capstone class in which they spent their time preparing for the showcase.
"We tell our performers you are your own corporation," Caldwell said. "Your voices are your instruments."
Sarah Ledtke, Saginaw senior, said it was a valuable experience.
"It opened doors for us when we move out to New York," she said. "Most musical theater majors' goal is to sometime in their career to move to New York."
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