News - Carnegie Mellon University: The master class at Creators Academy in Brooklyn, New York, was part of the annual Excellence in Theatre Education Award, presented at the Tony Awards by CMU, in partnership with the American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League. This year’s recipient, Gary Edwin Robinson, and his theatre students spent an October day with CMU faculty who shared their expertise in acting, musical theatre and dance.
9 comments:
As a Current Carnegie Mellon University design production freshman, I am so excited and honored that Carnegie Mellon was given this award! In the school, I truly do feel like, as a student here, I am encouraged and pushed to strive for excellence and strive for the closest thing to perfection, and the way that these teachers inspire us is by making these dreams and perfection seem within reach. Also, these children getting the opportunity to meet and ask questions and get firsthand knowledge from Leslie Odom Junior is such a wonderful experience for these children that they can sit down and actually ask questions to a working professional. It is so vital and can bring them so much inspiration to keep that going and keep fighting for their dreams. I loved reading about faculty that I see throughout the halls on a day-to-day basis. Sometimes we forget just how closeThe connections are in this industry.
I wish there were more events like this provided for students at the beginning of their theater journey, more specifically, the high school me. As a current CMU drama student, I know how I've been exploring myself through experiencing different disciplines of design. In my projects, the voice that I hold as a designer is gradually turning more vivid as I progress. Seeing how the professors guide the students in the event to release themselves and to find their own stories and responses to the lyrics they are singing, I feel how theater people have been working on this track for years and years. I am so glad to be part of this institution and industry, which is home to many people who have dedicated their lives to creating collaborative art and sharing their experiences with future theater artists. This connection between the successful theater artists and theater beginners is so vital and crucial to our supportive industry.
I remember watching the Tony’s last year and seeing this award be given. I honestly though it was just a grant or CMU providing some extra mone to high school. After reading this and realizing what it actually turn out to be is great. This shows that CMU Drama cares about educating and helping to express the next generation of the theatre community. This actor masterclass seemed to really show what is like in the day in the life as an acting student here based of there schedule and because of the conservatory type program. I also think that it is really wonderful that Lesile Odom Jr. cared enough to show up and shared his artistic experience to these high school student. I do wonder of the technical aspect of things were brought up or if the students were intrigued in the production rather then just the actor masterclass. I now realize why “Rolling ing the Deep” is booming through the walls during our drafting class.
This article was just so cool! Seeing the impact that CMU has on the drama and education worlds is just really exciting! I get so easily sucked up into all of my classes and often forget the footprint that this institution has made on the industry, and it is something that I should think about more often. It was also really cool to hear Mr. Robinson’s perspective and how big of a positive impact this experience had on him and his students! I didn't realize that this award entailed a workshop, but that makes it so much better and, in my opinion, more impactful than just a monetary and recognition award. I feel like the DP’s are so isolated from the performance curriculum, so it was really interesting to hear about that sector of our school! I also found it so cool that Leslie Odom Jr. made his debut in RENT, because that is one of my favorite musicals!
Being a current Carnegie Mellon Drama student, it’s so wonderful to be able to read articles such as this and understand the overall impact Carnegie Mellon Drama has outside of campus. These kinds of sessions being offered to high schoolers allows students to experience college theatrical education without the stress of trying to impress. Getting firsthand knowledge from the incredible faculty and alumni is a special experience, even being at the University. This goes to show that helping to create and shape the new generation of theatre artists isn’t restricted to undergraduates and can start at a younger age where students are just as curious and passionate about learning. Seeing an event like this bring the CMU community together is so special and I hope that there will be more opportunities like this to come. Furthermore, I would love to see more accessible opportunities for high school students exposing them to the kind of education CMU offers.
As a student at CMU in the school of drama, before coming here I knew it was such a big name and had such big impacts on so many people across the world but I don’t think I fully realized the impact till coming here. Since the first day of orientation, meeting all my teachers, getting a tour of Purnell the theater building, and meeting my new fellow classmates I could tell why this school is so highly regarded. Not only do the teachers care passionately about their craft as theater makers, but you can tell they care about their students and jobs as teachers. It makes me so happy to read this article because I know how stressful it is for high school seniors to be auditioning for theater colleges and as someone who went through this last year I know many schools are more aimed in finding the most talented students but I love that this article and CMU focuses on building a community and they truly care about every person auditioning or working with them or their alumni.
When I began my college search back in junior year of high school, I honestly never had heard of CMU until it came up in my research. It was pretty crazy to learn about this school’s program and its strong connection to the theater industry and I'm still learning more about it to this day. It’s really nice to see the faculty of this program give opportunities to grow not only to their current students but high-school students who have interest in working in the industry. It was really nice to read what students were able to take away from the masterclass and how they can improve with their acting skills. I think it was really great for the students to have had Leslie Odom Jr. come as the guest alumni. Having an actor as talented and hard-working as he is, it was really great to read his lessons towards the students.
I love these reminders that I am incredibly lucky to attend a program that makes such a big impact, (and that I am not the only one humming Rollin in the Deep) all the time. I hope it’s as inspirational to these students as it is to me to see these incredible stars out in the world, performing incredible things, and meeting their instructors. To walk past a wall everyday full of all of the incredible talent in the world, molded by the program I’m lucky enough to be a part of, that’s pretty amazing. Especially with this year's work load and the current dreary weather, I’ve found myself often quite bogged down by the day to day that I forget how incredible it all is being here. I look forward to seeing more ways that his program can spread a love for work in the arts, and help inspire thriving students like these.
In high school, my Technical Theatre teacher told us about this award, and I thought it was really cool! A grant, some money, or just a cool award for your high school. I had no idea that it was a full event and learning adventure for the students. As a Carnegie Mellon School of Drama student, I am very fortunate for the opportunities I have through the university and the greater name of the School of Drama. However, I do understand that a lot of people - especially in high school - don't have the same opportunities that I do. I love that the School of Drama not only cares about the art, but also the education, enough to give opportunities such as this one to schools that deserve it. It makes me really happy to see these high schoolers learning and thriving in their artistic vision and craft. I really hope they continue, and a new generation of kids are also traumatized by the Rolling in the Deep choreography (and song...)
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