With A Doll’s House having ended in October and the next mainstage production, Twelfth Night, slated for February, one might think the Byrum Hall stage to be empty for the end of the semester. But this Friday at 7:00 p.m., the Musical Theatre Senior Showcase, A New Leaf, will take the stage in Byrum to celebrate the work that the four graduating seniors have put into this performance and the program as a whole. Those seniors are Ella English, Gracelynne Barrett, Mason Ebert, and Ben Thompson.
The naming of the showcase, as stated by the performers, is taken from the phrase “to turn over a new leaf”, and is used to represent the lives ahead of these seniors and the adventures that await them next. “A New Leaf represents seasons changing,” Barrett said. “Since our showcase is in the fall, we wanted to use this season as a metaphor for the changes that we go through in our own seasons…so as we ‘turn a new leaf’ we are telling our stories and how much we have grown throughout college. We do have roots here at AU, but now it’s time for our branches to expand to new horizons and opportunities.”
The four seniors have been incredibly active in the musical theatre program, with performances in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Guys and Dolls, and Edges: A Song Cycle, to name just a few of the many shows they have done here at AU. Edges particularly stood out to both Barrett and Thompson as a difficult yet rewarding and fondly-remembered challenge. “That show changed everything for me,” Thompson said. “Many of us in that show were also in classes together, learning tools that we then took immediately to rehearsal…I have never experienced anything like that.” Thompson also mentioned the bond that the cast had, highlighted further by Pasek and Paul’s music. “The entire thing was just super formative for me. I will never, ever forget that time of my life.”
The same sentiments about closeness with the cast and memorable experiences were shared by the Senior Showcase cast. English said, “We are lucky enough to have the incredible Michael Meadows directing as well as accompanying us, and it has been a very collaborative experience!” Barrett also cherishes the collaboration, but she especially noted the hard work put into the performance by each of the seniors. “Putting this showcase together has made all of us learn how to choreograph and coordinate together as directors for ourselves and each other,” she said. Barrett also noted the personal growth she has noticed in herself, and what she has learned about being an artist. “It’s about showing up on time, being professional, and being ready to work right away. When you are in that space, it is up to YOU how good you can make your show. Every run gets you close to where you need to be.”
When asked for a core memory of the SMPA that she will take with her, English
mentioned the support she has found, a support that was especially present when the Dance major was cut the week of the fall show. “Everyone in the SMPA was with us every step of the way…musicians, performers, and dancers alike all stepped up and created an incredible community where we could still perform for the Lord despite the challenges thrown our way.” Thompson agreed in his response. “I had a rough start at the beginning of my time at AU,” he said, “but I quickly learned the value of the community within the SMPA. Both students and faculty are all so tight-knit and you truly do feel cared for and a part of a big family in a way.”
Those attending “A New Leaf” can look forward to high emotions, captivating solos, duets, and group pieces, and a genuine care and passion from the performers on the stage. “We want our audience to know that no matter how hard it is, change is okay,” Barrett said. “It is okay for things to feel weird or uneasy, but this too shall pass. Nothing is forever and change is going to happen whether we like it or not. It helps us grow.”