Main Street in Ada, Ohio is nearly 600 miles from Broadway in New York City. But the musical theatre program at Ohio Northern University bridges the distance by bringing renowned professionals to campus in a series of master classes.
Tim McGarrigal, assistant professor and head of the musical theatre program, organized this year’s series. He said bringing Broadway to ONU addresses the questions some prospective musical theatre students may have—specifically: “Will I get the same quality of education without access to a large city?”
The answer, according to students who took part in this year's master classes, is a resounding “yes.”
“These master classes have been a huge highlight of my time here at ONU,” said Zavier Alterio, “because it’s allowing us to make connections with people that are actively in the industry and doing what we want to do.” Alterio is a musical theatre major with a minor in arts administration.
For senior Madisen Schenk, the ONU musical theatre program has combined the best of two worlds: individualized attention and access to top-tier professionals.
Schenk spent her first three semesters at Marymount Manhattan College, but found it wasn’t the right fit. “I was looking for something a little smaller and closer to home. We just have much more personalized attention here.”
Over the past year, the master classes have featured professionals representing a broad spectrum of the industry, from actors, dancers, and singers to directors and choreographers. Students gained insights on how to make smart, bold acting choices, maintain healthy bodies and voices, and the art of storytelling while singing and dancing on stage and screen.
Beyond the craft, the sessions also covered the nuts-and-bolts of the business, such as auditions, headshots and resumes, agents, and managers.
Connecting with working professionals also helps students build networks, said McGarrigal. “It’s a valuable way to give them a new perspective on the industry.”
Schenk found a session with actress and communication expert Renée Marino, particularly impactful.
“The biggest thing I learned is to be yourself in an audition,” she said. “It’s really hard to get out of that performance headspace. You always feel like you need to be turned on and you need to be acting, but what people really want to see in an audition is you being yourself and you being genuine.”
While Broadway is a common goal, McGarrigal emphasizes the breadth of the profession, including national tours, regional theaters, theme parks, cruises, and other entertainment venues, he said.
Junior Sam Ryan, a musical theatre major with minors in arts administration, entertainment design and production, and dance, appreciates this approach. One of her goals is to bring theatre experiences to smaller communities.
“I think it’s important that we keep the arts in places that aren’t Broadway,” Ryan explained.
“We need to make it more accessible to those who can’t always make it to New York.”
Ryan and other students also highlighted the collaborative and welcoming focus of ONU’s theatre program. “It’s not cutthroat and competitive,” she said.
To prepare for the range of opportunities, many students double major or add minors, McGarrigal said. Schenk, for example, is also interested in writing and media production. She runs the musical theatre program’s social media. “If I were able to merge the performance and writing/production, that would be my happy place,” she said.
By leveraging the professional networks for McGarrigal and the faculty, ONU continues to bridge the gap to NYC.
“The guest artists love the energy on campus,” McGarrigal said. “Bringing in industry friends expands the reputation of ONU and sets our students up to feel confident and secure.”
