Sunday, November 16, 2014

My First Edge Production


    I have been performing with Random Farms since I was in first grade and I have always had a lot of fun. I was really excited this year because I was old enough to be in my first Edge production. The Edge production this year is the hilarious show “Urinetown”. On the first day of rehearsal I was really nervous because I didn’t know many people in the cast. I knew that a lot of the people were probably going to be older than me and I found that intimidating. But everyone was extremely nice and welcoming, we even went around the room during dinner break saying our names and a fun fact about ourselves. By the end of the first rehearsal everyone was friends.
   

  I expected the music to be more challenging in an Edge production and I wondered how I would handle it. We are broken up into different voice parts to learn different harmonies. There are not that many people in each voice part so you really need to know your harmony in order for it to work. Although this is challenging, Chip (The music director) will always help you and go over your voice part, he even posts the music for us to practice. I am having a lot of fun challenging myself with the harmonies of this music. 
    
     During the dinner breaks we usually sit in a huge circle and talk about school, theatre and past productions we were in. One of the most recent things we talked about was doing a secret Santa with everyone in the cast. I think it is great how everyone in the cast is friends and everyone is always included in everything we do.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Every year Random Farms holds their annual Industry Showcase in conjunction with Broadway Workshop in NYC.  This year auditions are November 5th, 8th and 9th.  This showcase provides an opportunity for young performers, age 5-18, to show off their talents in front of agents, managers and casting directors.  The showcase takes place at an amazing NYC cabaret venue.
About 4 1/2 years ago, I auditioned for the Industry showcase.  I was thrilled to learn I was chosen for the showcase and would be given a wonderful opportunity to perform.  Prior to the showcase, Anya and Marc worked with each performer providing invaluable feedback.  During rehearsal and preparation for the showcase, I met other kids who were just as excited as I was and we bonded throughout the experience.
As a result of the showcase, I met my agent and began auditioning.  Although at times it was discouraging when I didn’t get a part, I never let that hinder me.  After a lot of hard work I was cast in an Off-Broadway show called The Butterfly.  A few months after that production, I received the incredible news that I would be playing Jane Banks in Mary Poppins on Broadway.  As Mary Poppins would say, “Anything can happen if you let it.”

Random Farms gave me the opportunity to believe in myself and begin my journey.  I am grateful that I still have Random Farms to come back to and be a part of their main stage productions and their Ambassador program.