<p>Anybody know when this year’s freshman showcase is? I hear usually late march/early april, but does anyone have the exact info?</p>
<p>It's Sunday, April 2nd - 11:30 am I believe - I will verify the time and place and post again.</p>
<p>I was lax in not returning to this thread to verify the date of UM Freshman Showcase, and I truly apologize - and after having seen the Showcase this past weekend, I apologize even more! It was really wonderful, highlighting the vocal, dance, and acting abilities of an incredibly diverse group and also their sophisticated senses of humor. UM Freshman Showcase is planned and produced entirely by the Freshman Class, so it's truly a reflection of the sensibility of the class. (They do not reveal it to anyone other than their production staff - accompanist/MD and lighting person - until the final dress rehearsal, when they invite upperclassmen who can't attend the regular show and also the department head, Brent Wagner, who gives them notes just that once.) </p>
<p>This particular showcase was centered around the theme of doubt and insecurity (mostly as it relates to being a college freshman and a performer) and was entitled "Will You Bring Me to Light." It featured some amazing gospel-type ensemble numbers - holy ensemble singing, Batman!!! ;) - including "How Shall I See You Through My Tears" from the movie Camp and "Will You Bring Me to Light" from VIOLET - as well as fierce solo singing of every style. There were great lyrical dance pieces while others sang "Easy to Be Hard" and the Billy Joel song "Summer Highland Falls," and there was also a really clever Stomp-style number in the middle of "Food, Glorious Food" from OLIVER (done as a tongue-in-chek reflection on cafeteria food), complete with trays, utensiles, and Nalgene bottles! :) Other comedic highlights included all of the boys performing "What Would Brian Boitano Do" from the South Park movie musical, with great "athletic guy" choreography a la Newsies; "A Penny for Your Thoughts" from the community theatre spoof film Waiting for Guffman (complete with bad dialogue and awkward choreography;)); and an encore called "MT: UM" set to the tune of "La Vie Boheme" from RENT, which was packed full of UM-specific jokes (many of which brought the house down). Each performer's unqiue strengths were featured, and as I always do when I see these Freshman Showcases, I left thinking, "I can't WAIT to see them when they're SENIORS!!!" The Showcase really reflected the complete diversity of types in each class at UM, the intelligence and diversity of talent each performer brings to that class (the material selection and interp was SO smart), and the supportive, family environment that exists among faculty, upperclassmen, and freshmen. I wish you all could have seen the show! :)</p>
<p>Thanks for the wonderful description Coach C! My D was one of the students who had watch the dress rehearsal because she had tech class responsibilities all day on Sunday so couldn't go to the "real" show. She hasn't had much time to chat recently as the last few weeks of classes, Seussical rehearsals and preparation for sophomore evaluations and vocal juries have her busy (and happy) beyond belief. But she did have time to tell me that having seen the showcase, she thinks that the freshmen are "an incredibly talented group." I remember last year at this time how the upperclassmen fussed and cooed over the freshmen after their showcase and made them feel like a million bucks - such support! such school spirit! The department is so bonded. I have to say that I think that this is a real advantage of having a smaller program. The kids all know each other and learn from everyone.</p>
<p>I'm counting the days until we leave for Ann Arbor to see Seussical next weekend.</p>