Imagine getting writing tips from a screenwriter for Saturday Night Live or singing in front of a Broadway composer.It seems like a pipe dream but for some area high school theatre students, the dream came true as part of Oakland Community College’s Theatre Day.
Broadway composer Neil Berg (The 12, Grumpy Old Men) and Los Angeles screenwriter Ryan Noggle (The Neighborhood, Saturday Night Live TV) held workshops for both OCC students and nearly 50 high school students from the Troy, Hazel Park and Lamphere school districts on Nov. 15. The high school teens were then treated to a special performance ofHu$tle, a new musical by Berg and Neil that premiered at OCC that same weekend.
“I learned a lot and I’m grateful for the experience.”
Quin VanAmberg, a sophomore at Troy High School shared her gratitude learning from top professionals, adding, “I was honestly really honored to be here.”
In addition to Berg and Noggle, workshops were hosted by OCC Theatre Faculty Instructor Jennifer Little, a former Broadway actor herself, and OCC Theatre faculty. Here’s a look at a few of the workshops, professional insights and photos on Flickr.
Auditioning for Musical Theatre
It’s about storytelling, always.
Berg’s message was clear as he watched students sing songs they selected for their mock audition.
Omar Atasoi, a Troy High School student, was the first to give it a try. He stood in the spotlight on a high-rise platform inside the Smith Theatre and sang “Why, God, Why” from Miss Saigon. As he belted the high notes, he closed his eyes and at times used hand gestures to express the lyrics.
Berg complimented Atasoi and then asked him to sing it again, but this time with his eyes open and no hand gestures.
“I want them to simplify how they tell their story,” Berg explained. “Young actors feel they need to do more to be effective, and it’s the opposite. As professionals, we want to find the story through the eyes and tell the story through the place of truth. If they can learn those things, it’s a magical doorway to open any young actor to performing.”
VanAmberg appreciated the feedback she received after singing “Wait a Bit” from Just So.
“I learned how to be a storyteller and when you are singing, you are still telling the story and you can’t disconnect yourself,” she said.
Fierce Competition
Before aspiring performers begin auditioning for jobs, the competition to get into Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) programs in musical theatre is fierce, with thousands of students auditioning at colleges and conservatories across the country, each year. Many programs often choose only about a dozen students in the annual selection process.
“You don’t have to start your journey in a BFA program to be successful,” Berg said as he noted that he has met successful performers who have taken different pathways.
One of those pathways can be starting at OCC’s Theatre program.
“We wanted to introduce all OCC has to offer at our High School Theater Day,” Little said. “A lot of people think you have to go to a four-year university, but with Michigan now offering free community college (for those eligible), you can come here, get your core training and gen eds, and then transfer to a university, if that’s your path. OCC is a great gateway with our incredibly talented faculty and passionate students.”
“I’m looking for creativity.”
During the acting workshop, Little’s creative direction guided students as they learned how to use their bodies to tell a story. Without talking, they were asked to quickly and randomly get into different-sized groups to use their bodies to make a circle, star, the letter Q and other shapes.
Meanwhile, another group of students were putting their creativity to the test in the improv workshop, where actors make up scenes, dialogue and characters on the spot.
Lisa Melinn, OCC Theatre Faculty and actor, asked students to envision an old-fashioned, hot pink kissing booth from the county fair with a hammerhead shark inside. What happens next?
“First in line to kiss the hammerhead shark is a beautiful, tall giraffe with purple spots,” one student added.
Something for everyone
Other workshops students participated in were playwriting/screenwriting, technical theatre/stage management and monologues.
Marc Vickers, theatre director at Troy High School, said he was impressed with the workshops created for performers and crew.
“This experience gives students quality feedback from someone other than me,” he said. “When I’m directing, it’s for the whole production and OCC’s Theatre Day focused on them as individual performers. I have a lot of crew, and it’s nice they were also able to attend workshops that interested them.”
Cindy Carbone, OCC Academic Dean of Communications, Arts & Humanities, thanked students for being a part of OCC’s Theatre Day.
“We’re thrilled some of you will be coming to OCC in the fall,” she said.
Visit OCC online for information on Theatre courses and upcoming performances.
About OCC
Oakland Community College offers more than 80 degrees and certificates programs with the resources students need to be successful and advance our community. As a top transfer institution, OCC offers one of the state’s most affordable tuition rates and flexibility in scheduling. The College is nationally recognized for its high-demand career training and expert faculty in their fields. More than 1 million students have enrolled in the College since it opened in 1965. Learn more at oakland.edu.
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