<p>Yesterday evening, I had the opportunity to attend with my daughter the 2007 Barrymore Awards in Philadelphia. For those not familiar with it, it is the preeminient theater awards program in the Philadelphia region established by The Theater Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. Over 125 professional theaters, theater companies, casting agencies, and area colleges and conservatories particpate in the Alliance and the Awards program is a celebration and recognition of area actors, directors, music directors, theater designers and theater techs in a program that can only be described as an elegant local version of the Tony’s.</p>
<p>As I enjoyed the night’s festivities of awards and entertainment, surrounded by over 1000 theater professionals, philanthropic supporters of the arts and guests, I was struck by the breadth and depth of theater in the Philadelphia area. From large scale productions at major professional venues to experimental theater at small local companies and theaters, the diversity and vitality of theater in Philadelphia and the support it receives in funding and other resources was striking.</p>
<p>Equally striking was the role and relationship University of the Arts has in the world of professional theater in Philadelphia. Faculty members who were nominees for awards, UArts students performing a song from Les Mis with one of the most acclaimed actors from the Philadelphia area. Two UArts freshmen receiving scholarhips from charitable trusts, one going to a MT student and one to a theater arts student, which include internships and mentoring from The Theater Alliance in the students’ junior and senior years.</p>
<p>It was a thoroughly enjoyable as well as interesting night.</p>
<p>Michael, I think UArts's PR dept ought to put you on its payroll! :) I hope the powers that be there know that you are their "secret weapon" as far as recruiting. ;)</p>
<p>Michael,</p>
<p>How wonderful that you and your D got to experience the Barrymores together. :) There was a wonderful selection of amazing actors nominated for the awards this year, including a family friend who was nominated for Nerds: A Musical Software Satire. Not sure if he won or not but we're very proud of him for being nominated. He's giving a wonderful performance currently in Assassins at the Arden. Go see him if you can! </p>
<p>p.s. I envy you not only seeing the awards but being in the Crystal Tea Room. I have fond memories of my grandmother taking me there when I was a child. :)</p>
<p>alwaysamom - We recently saw Assasins and loved it! Which assasin does your friend play?</p>
<p>NMR - I always wanted to be a cheerleader but never thought pom-poms were the right look for me :) . Putting aside my personal joy as a parent observing my daughter so happy with the choices she has made, I think the reason I have continued to post is that I remember just how stressful things were this time last year. So many students get fixated on one particular school or location or another. It's also easy to get fixated on a particular definition of "professional success". I think it's important for students and parents who are just starting out in this process to know that there are many very substantial and meaningful options and opportunities out there both in terms of schools with great programs and locations with a very strong and dynamic professional theater community.</p>
<p>Michael, I hope you took what I said as the compliment that it is/was! I know that my D and I very much appreciate hearing the indepth reports that you are kind enough to post about your D's experience at University of the Arts.</p>
<p>Michael, Jim plays Giuseppe Zangara. He's had a tremendous career in theatre at his young age, including a couple of years as Mark in the Broadway cast of Rent, Bobby in Urinetown (Rochester, NY), Huck Finn in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Broadway), Younger Brother in Ragtime (Weston Playhouse, VT), Ariel in The Tempest (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), Seymour in the national tour of Little Shop of Horrors, Henrik in A Little Night Music (Music Circus in Sacramento), Vince in Convenience (Rochester, NY and Dayton, Ohio), in addition to many readings, workshops, Off-Broadway shows and regional productions. I agree with you that there are a myriad of opportunities out there in many different locations and Jim's career has epitomized this!</p>
<p>NMR - not to worry, I understood and appreciate your thoughts.</p>
<p>alwaysamom - He and the actor who played John Wilkes Booth were stellar standouts in the show!</p>
<p>Just a little tidbit: Aaron Cromie, who won for Best Music Direction is also a faculty member of UArts. He teaches Acting and Applied Theater Arts Majors in a masque class, though the actual name of the course is escaping me right now.</p>
<p>Not only did we have a few faculty members on the nominees list, but at LEAST one alum/former faculty member as well (Peter Pryor) and probably more that I'm unaware of. </p>
<p>Yay UArts!</p>
<p>MichaelNKat, I absolutely agree with how easy it was to get fixated on one particular school during the crazy bfa audition process.....i think back to 2 years ago and how stressed i was because i was so worried about the outcome of my auditions.....so worried that I wouldn't end up at a college I would be happy at...how reassuring it is to know that a school that wasn't even necessarily high on my list ended up being even more than a dream come true for me....I can't imagine having gone anywhere else, and I'm just so happy that I did NOT get into the school that i thought i wanted to go to more than anything...as cheesy and cliche it sounds, things do work out, even if they're not in the ways we expected them to....While it's true that I would have been devastated had i not gotten into any bfa programs, life would have gone on. I would have figured out ways to work things out...I would have sung again and it would not have been the end of the world permanently....and I hope this year's seniors can remember that as they go through the process...It's scary and stressful, but just hang in there!!...So many of my friends didn't end up where they thought they wanted to go and almost all of them still loved how things turned out....i'm glad that your daughter is so happy at UArts as well. My sophomore year at UArts is also going spectacularly well and I'm stunned that it is already October. If anyone has any specific questions in regards to the program, please feel free to contact me.</p>