Day 1 - West Des Moines Community Schools

DAY 1
Lincoln, Karoline, and I left the airport at 4 a.m. (oof!) today, headed for the big city! When we got to New York,
we made our way to Times Square and ate at Junior’s.
Then, we made an early stop at the Minskoff Theatre:
the Broadway stage that houses “The Lion King,” and
where we will perform at the end of the week. We both
had butterflies and jitters just looking at the building.
It’s crazy to imagine we will conquer the stage with the
other nominees!
After our arrival, we went to
“Fun Home” at the Circle in
the Square Theater. It’s a theater in the round, which means
the audience encircles the stage. “Fun Home” was one of
the best shows I have ever seen! It was incredibly beautiful,
full of life, and teeming with real, genuine love and passion.
I have never been more impacted by theater.
After the show, we rushed to the New York University (NYU) Founders Hall to unpack in our
new dorm rooms. I met my roommate: Marla
Louissaint, from New York City. We spent time
meeting new friends, learning the opening music, and familiarizing ourselves with the Tisch
School of the Arts at NYU/National High School
Musical Theatre Awards faculty.
the whole NHSMTA group
with Frank Wildhorn!
DAY 2
My group with our coach, Telly Leung.
We started off this morning with yoga, and then got right to work on music! Our word of
the day was “openness,” which helped us open ourselves to new experiences.
We also started our coaching groups today, which has
been one of my favorite parts of the week! My coach was
Telly Leung, who was born and raised in NYC, and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama.
Telly made his Broadway debut in “Flower Drum Song” in
2002. He was in the final company of “RENT” on Broadway, originated the role of Boq in “Wicked” in Chicago,
appeared on TV as Wes of the Dalton Academy Warblers
in “Glee,” and is now involved in the opening of the new
musical “Allegiance” on Broadway.
At lunch, we met Frank Wildhorn — the composer of “Jekyll & Hyde,” “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” and “Bonnie and Clyde.” If you look at the photo closely, you can see me in the
back.
We got cre
dinner afte pes for
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DAYS 3&4
We started full-day coaching Friday, preparing for
auditions Sunday. I brought two songs, and we picked
“Stranger to the Rain” from “Children of Eden.” We
are working a lot on physical storytelling. The most
important thing I’ve learned this week is less is more.
Less movement, arm motion, and facial tension are
all more in a performance.
Friday was a big day for our group. We took Times
Square by storm with dinner at the famous Sardi’s
and saw “An
American in
Paris” at the Palace Theatre. It was the most
beautiful show I have seen in my life. While “Fun
Home” was heart-wrenching and thoughtprovoking, “An American in Paris” gave me
butterflies as two young lovers told the story of
their love through dance and song. This balletinspired musical full of Gershwin songs deserved
its Tony Award nomination for Best Musical.
Afterwards, we had a talkback with the cast.
They told us about entering musical theatre, their
education, and their daily lives.
All of us in Times Square!
DAY 5
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There were full-day rehearsals again today before auditions. We auditioned in a room
of our peers, chaperones, teachers, and casting agents. YIKES! But the atmosphere
was so welcoming and kind. The whole week I felt right at home with these 50 other
kids from across the nation. I couldn’t have expected it to be that inviting, inspiring, and
exciting, but it was! I made lifelong friends this week.
New friends!
Two different Dorothys!
DAY 6
It’s finally show day! We were all full of anticipation
for our performance. They took us out onto the
Minskoff stage this morning, and I can’t explain how
emotional it was. People were in tears because this
is what we want to do for the rest of our lives.
For the performance, we
each participated in the
opening and closing numbers and a medley. My
roommate Marla was the
winner. She is the kindest
and most beautiful and talented girl I know, and I was lucky to
be her roommate! We all celebrated with an afterparty.
This was the most inspiring week of my life. I
will never forget the connections I made, the
techniques I learned, and the love I felt. This is
exactly what I want to do with my life, so to take
a week to be uplifted through theatre was more
than I could have ever asked.
With Michael Cerveris
With Kiesha Lalama
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I would like to thank my directors at Valley: Stacy Hansen, Ryan Penning, Megan
Helmers, Haley Gibbons, and Ryan Deignan. Thank you for giving me wings to fly!
Thank you to Eric Olmscheid, Karoline Myers, Sarah Bannon, and the rest of the wonderful Des Moines Performing Arts staff for organizing the Iowa High School Musical
Theater Awards and Triple Threat Award — you are changing children’s lives. Thank
you to Doug and Debbie West for supporting Lincoln and me in New York with your
astonishing donation! You have given us more than you’ll ever know. Thank you to all
involved with NHSMTA, including Van Kaplan and Kiesha Lalama, who showed us
what it takes to become an artist in this field.
Last but not least, thank you to my family who has supported me every step of the way,
to my friends who are always cheering me on, and to God for gifting me with these
incredible talents. Thank you, thank you, thank you!