On March 30, the Music Theatre Seniors at Baldwin Wallace University will perform their final showcase in Gamble Auditorium.
This 45-minute showcase is to be comprised of non-stop music. There will be two main group numbers for the seniors to perform: an opening dance number and a closing vocal number.
Every senior was tasked with preparing two contrasting solos to show off all that they learned in the past four years at BW. It is, as said by Greg Daniels, choreographer of the showcase, “the culmination of four years of music theatre.”
This showcase is not exclusive to the local conservatory stage. On April 7 and 8, the seniors will take over the New World Stages in Manhattan to perform in front of over 300 industry professionals.
This will be the opportunity of a lifetime for these students and will hopefully get them in touch with an agent.
“The goal for the students is to get an agent,” said Daniels, “We’ve had very good success with signing. An agent can open doors for them and get them into rooms that they can’t get into by themselves.”
Daniels also expressed his immense excitement for the professionals in New York to see this new group of talent, but not much can top the joy and anticipation of the seniors themselves.
“There’s so much pressure on it from the time that we get here as students to the time that we’re doing it,” said performing senior Kat Murphy, “Finally being able to do it is such a big release, and it’s exhilarating and exciting and I am really looking forward to the world seeing my class. I don’t think they’re ready for all of the talent.”
It has not, however, been all excitement for these seniors. Murphy expressed the real struggle in finding their two solo pieces to perform. It was an incredibly difficult task to find something that best embraced each student’s strengths and area of confidence. But the hard search proved to be worth it when they found the perfect pieces for their big showcase.
“Making sure that I have the right songs that I feel really confident in singing and performing and being in has been a bit of a challenge,” said Murphy, “But when I found the pieces that I really loved…it’s really a shining light to be able to sing these songs.”
An opportunity like this is an exciting and bright time for everyone who has worked so hard for this show. BW students are encouraged to go show their support for the senior class on March 30th before they head to New York.
While it is sad to see the seniors go, this showcase marks a new chapter for the graduates to find their own path, as well as a new step for the rising seniors to begin building their repertoire for their senior showcase.
Students like Murphy expressed how grateful they are for the opportunity to close out her four years with her fellow seniors.
“It brings me so much joy to sing that [the final number] and know that it’s our final hurrah.”
