From NY to Derry
The cast of Doomsday Romance backstage at the Stockbridge. |
Jose Limon Dance captivated audiences with their new work. |
And all because a group of our students and faculty
rushed from one showcase to another in a three-day whirlwind APAP
experience. This year, to add to the
excitement, Mother Nature threw in a major snowstorm that made us navigate
slush and snowbanks to see the entire spectrum of talent that is available not
only in America’s theater district, but from touring companies all across the world. The highlights for me were
certainly Elise Management’s dance showcase (for reasons that only a few of us PA
attendees can appreciate!), particularly Limon Dance Company; the Estonian
Piano Orchestra, with eight pianists playing four grand pianos; and the
spectacular Cirque Eloize, which truly lived up to its billing as a musical
acrobatic adventure. My first major takeaway, having attended a multitude of
Broadway productions in my life, was the amazing talent that lies beyond the Times
Square or Lincoln Center area. I finally
saw my first off-Broadway production, a spoof on Harry Potter that had Mrs. T
and me laughing throughout—and fascinated by the two Potter groupies sitting in
front of us. I visited talent venues
tucked away in buildings that the average tourist would only pass by on his or
her way to St. Patrick’s or Rockefeller Center—one jazz concert at the Yamaha
piano studio was particularly compelling.
Yes, I saw jazz. The second takeaway from all these experiences—especially
as a result of visiting the three floors
Mr. Gaucher made sure that the students had ample snacks for the trip. |
of talent exhibitions at the Hilton—is
that the world of entertainment offers a wide variety of career opportunities
for our students. We focused on
entertainers, but they are only the tip of the entertainment industry iceberg.
Behind the scenes, the opportunities exist for artists and writers and business
people and producers and designers and . . . the list goes on. If our students want to work in a creative
industry, there is a profession out there for them, and their experiences at
the Stockbridge Theatre—and at the APAP conference—provide a great background
for those who dream to be a part of the world of arts and entertainment.
-Peter Gaucher, English Department Head
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