Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Lady Gaga Saves the Music
Monday, November 9, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Brush Up on Stage Makeup

Certainly anyone who has been in any type of performance has had a “brush” with stage makeup. What looks like clown makeup at a normal distance is meant to look just right to every audience member, including that person sitting in the back row. There are some essential techniques every performer should know. For the average performer, it is not always necessary to buy a ton of professional-grade makeup. Instead, keep a makeup bag stocked with a few trusty essentials, including a makeup brushes, brown and black eyeliner pencils, and a few different shades of blush, eyeshadow, and lipstick. It is also useful to have some type of cotton swabs and makeup remover. To apply basic stage makeup, start with a simple foundation (cake foundation is usually best) and continue to apply as if applying everyday makeup, only more of it. To create shadows and highlights on the face, purchase a basic highlighter and apply to the contours of the face. The brightly colored eye makeup seen on Broadway is done using professional makeup products, which can be found and purchased fairly easily. One thing is for sure: with a little practice and a few makeup tools, anyone can create a look worthy of the stage.
For more information on stage makeup products and techniques, check out this site:
http://www.essortment.com/lifestyle/applystagemake_szgw.htm
Thursday, September 17, 2009

While many people experience the thrill of Broadway every year, what these audiences might not realize is just how much work goes into each performance. While there are many aspects to Broadway-the acting, costumes, and set-one of the most important factors is the music that makes musical theatre what it is. Many actors and actresses spend years perfecting their voices, training for the nerve-wracking audition, and acquiring the strength that is required of performances that span over at least an hour. With all this in mind, we decided to uncover exactly what is put into training for a Broadway performance, or any musical theatre performance for that matter.
This week, we turned to Mr. Keith Walker, a native of south Georgia, who teaches music at Darton College and offers private voice lessons for students and aspiring actors. Walker always knew he wanted to be involved in the arts; however, his parents discouraged him from choosing such an unpredictable career and instead encouraged him to major in chemistry. While Walker gave the medical field a try, he always felt as though music was calling, or rather, singing, his name, "I didn't start with music right out, so following it often gives me a better appreciation for what I do. And I get paid for it!" Walker felt his calling was to share his love for music with others and inspire in them the same passion he feels for musical theatre. Walker says "Seeing a student 'get it' or having a break through where things fall into place and working is very exciting." So Walker began his own business, teaching everyone from young passionate students to aspirant Broadway hopefuls the art that is music.
Walker teaches his students the basics every singer should know, but also makes sure to incorporate fun and helpful techniques that will give them a leg up in auditions and performances. For instance, Walker begins each lesson with "breath support and vowel placement practice" and encourages his students to keep practicing and working hard. Walker believes there are some essentials to warming up and preparing an actor’s voice, which he instills in his students.
While Walker’s passion for teaching does stem from his own passion for music, he also attributes this passion to his own Broadway aspirations. He reflects "Going to New York for auditions gave me different perspectives of the business. Also, it helped me to understand more clearly the work and dedication it takes to make it on Broadway." Using his own experiences, Walker prepares each student for every experience they might face-from the panic of stage fright every actor faces upon approaching the stage to avoiding the songs that every casting agent has already heard.
Walker believes "talent will only get you so far", a sentiment most actors and actresses would agree with. While getting a lead on Broadway may seem a daunting task, its one that can be better achieved with the help of voice lessons and practice. Walker is a firm believer in "following dreams but not inflating expectations" for success on the stage.

Thursday, September 10, 2009
Q & A With Amy Baker


This week, we decided to interview a local high school Thespian, Amy Baker. A sophomore at Deerfield-Windsor high school, Amy has a lot of experience with theatre performance. She has performed in many DWS productions, such as Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, and Cinderella. We sat down with Amy to discuss musical theatre and her own future career.
JW: How long have you been interested in the performing arts?
AB: I have been interested in the arts since I was six.
JW: Do you think you’ll want to continue with the performing arts once you leave high school? If so, what would you do?
AB: Yes, I plan to be on Broadway. Specifically, I would love to be in Phantom of the Opera.
JW: What do you think of the musical Little Women versus the adaption the school is doing for the One Act Play?
AB: Ours is better because it is us doing it!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
"I Want to Be a Part of It, New York, New York!"

Also, it is important to plan ahead in regards to accommodations and eating, taking into account show times and curtain calls. According to Jase Wingate, avid musical expert, "the most important detail of a trip to Broadway is the transportation" because it can get very crowded, especially on an opening night.
http://ppc.broadway.com/tickets/landing.aspx/broadway?sicontent=0&sicreative=3402029455&siclientid=2885&sitrackingid=62844533
[A blog dedicated to finding cheap tickets for Broadway shows]
Hairspray to Hairspray: The Movie Musical Adaptation
Strike a pose, smile, and convey all possible emotions in five seconds. These are all elements found within an actor on Broadway's repertoire. In a musical, an individual's actions must be big and loud to gain the watcher's attention and keep it. A movie adaptation of a musical is much different. In a movie, the actor does not have to be as loud and open as, say, a Broadway actor, but must occupy a much smaller area than on a stage. In addition, so many musical numbers are dropped because they do not meet strict time constraints to occupy two hours. The musical numbers usually kept are the ones that are the most popular with the public; the reprises of songs are usually dropped for the movie.