BW's
music
theatre
program
is
enjoying
a
fresh
round
of
national
accolades,
including
recognition
as
one
of
the
"top
10
colleges
for
musical
theater"
by
Backstage,
billed
as
"the
most
trusted
place
for
actors
and
performers
to
find
jobs
and
career
advice"
for
more
than
50
years.
The
Backstage
critique,
under
the
headline,
"10
Musical
Theater
College
Programs
You
Should
Know,"
highlights
BW's
deep,
triple-threat
training
in
acting,
dance
and
voice
as
well
as
extraordinary
performance
opportunities,
including
partnerships
with
Cleveland's
professional
theatres:
"every
student
graduates
with
either
their
AEA
card
or
EMC
membership."
The
article
also
notes
the
robust
"post-college
prep"
that
sets
BW
students
up
for
successful
networking
and
auditions.
"The
school
also
offers
a
master
class
series
that
allows
students
to
be
seen
by
10
different
professionals
(agents,
managers,
or
casting
directors)
offering
critiques
and
advice
beginning
their
sophomore
year."
"To cap off their undergraduate experience, each student's senior year culminates in two days of showcases at New World Stages" in New York City.
The Backstage ranking comes on the heels of a 2017-18 Ten Best ranking by OnStage, which placed BW fourth in the nation.
For this year's list, OnStage zeroed in on the advantages of BW's partnership with Playhouse Square, noting, "BW has produced six regional premieres in partnership with Playhouse Square and received national attention for academic premieres of Broadway productions. Among its credits, BW produced the first-ever in repertory productions of La Boheme and Rent."
Currently,
35
BW
students
and
alumni
are
staging
the
Midwest
premiere
of
"The
Hunchback
of
Notre
Dame"
at
Great
lakes
Theatre,
including
Broadway's
Corey
Mach
'10
as
Quasimodo
and
Keri
Rene
Fuller
'15
as
Esmerelda.
The well-reviewed production, directed by BW music theatre director Victoria Bussert, runs through Nov. 4.
Last year, OnStage touted BW's master classes, powerhouse New York Showcase and impressive list of alumni who have or are appearing on Broadway among the many strengths of the program.
BW recently made Playbill's list of "The 10 Most Represented Colleges on Broadway in the 2017-2018 Season," even with the omission of Kate Rockwell '07 as a lead in "Mean Girls."
Making it on the Great White Way takes hard work on many levels. Current "Dear Evan Hansen" standby Colton Ryan '17 recently walked Playbill Magazine through the fitness regimen that keeps him "physically tough and mentally tougher," complete with "do-it-at-home" instructions and photos.
