NewsFine ArtsSummer ProgramsTheater
Senior participates in prestigious musical theatre program
Sep 15, 2008 12:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Each summer, students from around the United States and the world audition to participate in Oklahoma City University’s prestigious Performing Arts Academy, seeking the training that has produced Tony, Grammy and Emmy award winners such as Kristin Chenoweth, Leona Mitchell, Edgar Cruz and Mason Williams. This summer, Darlington senior Stephanie Schecter was one of only 50 students selected to be a part of the academy’s three-week musical theatre program.
“I was so happy and excited when I found out I was going to be a part of this amazing experience,” Schecter said. “I auditioned because I wanted to get more experience as a performer. Looking back, it was a lot of hard work, but I loved it. Our final performance was awesome.”
Schecter’s schedule began each morning with classes in music theory, piano, acting and dance. Afternoons were spent in vocal performance master classes, musical theatre workshops and music rehearsals. Then, in the evenings, she attended staging rehearsals to prepare for the final performance, which was the musical “Sweeny Todd.”
“My jazz dance and acting classes were really fun, but as we got closer to our performance, the staging rehearsals also got to be very exciting because of the intensity,” Schecter said. “I learned so much from really great teachers … it was helpful get feedback from college professors. In one master class, I even had the opportunity to sing for Florence Birdwell, a well-known voice instructor whose former students include now-famous Broadway stars.”
In the final performance, Schecter was part of the ensemble, playing various roles from barmaid to angry townsperson. “The ensemble had lots of intricate songs and tightly choreographed scenes,” she said. “At the end of the performance, we had such an adrenaline rush. It was so much fun to see our hard work pay off. We had all become such a family, and we were very proud of each other.”
Schecter said she plans to continue her passion for music and vocal studies in college. She has played a role in each of the Darlington musicals since she was a freshman, and said this year will be no different. She has also studied voice with Dr. Linda Lister at Shorter College for the past three years and taken various acting classes outside of school. She is the daughter of Gina and Jay Schecter of Rome.
“I was so happy and excited when I found out I was going to be a part of this amazing experience,” Schecter said. “I auditioned because I wanted to get more experience as a performer. Looking back, it was a lot of hard work, but I loved it. Our final performance was awesome.”
Schecter’s schedule began each morning with classes in music theory, piano, acting and dance. Afternoons were spent in vocal performance master classes, musical theatre workshops and music rehearsals. Then, in the evenings, she attended staging rehearsals to prepare for the final performance, which was the musical “Sweeny Todd.”
“My jazz dance and acting classes were really fun, but as we got closer to our performance, the staging rehearsals also got to be very exciting because of the intensity,” Schecter said. “I learned so much from really great teachers … it was helpful get feedback from college professors. In one master class, I even had the opportunity to sing for Florence Birdwell, a well-known voice instructor whose former students include now-famous Broadway stars.”
In the final performance, Schecter was part of the ensemble, playing various roles from barmaid to angry townsperson. “The ensemble had lots of intricate songs and tightly choreographed scenes,” she said. “At the end of the performance, we had such an adrenaline rush. It was so much fun to see our hard work pay off. We had all become such a family, and we were very proud of each other.”
Schecter said she plans to continue her passion for music and vocal studies in college. She has played a role in each of the Darlington musicals since she was a freshman, and said this year will be no different. She has also studied voice with Dr. Linda Lister at Shorter College for the past three years and taken various acting classes outside of school. She is the daughter of Gina and Jay Schecter of Rome.
