ELKINS, W.Va. — A group of aspiring Broadway actors are applying what they learned from some of the best in the business after a unique experience in the nation’s capital.
Ten high school students who serve as apprentices with the Old Brick Playhouse in Elkins were selected out of the near 90 that are involved in the private nonprofit to participate in this years “Broadway at the White House.”
As time moved toward the November 16 event, even they weren’t aware of the opportunity they had, presuming they would just be a small portion of a large event.
“It all had to be covert because the nature of a White House visit,” said Missy McCollam, executive director and founder of the theater on Monday’s “Talkline”. “When we got more details, they said ‘No, only 40 students,’ which was really special because we really had one-on-one interaction.”
Those interactions were with some of Broadway’s well-known names like composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth, as well as actress and singer Gloria Estefan.
McCollum was not only thrilled for her apprentices to learn from those who are living their dream, but also for them to experience it at the White House.
“They spent a little bit of time with Stephen Schwartz, the guy who wrote ‘Wicked’ in the family theater in the White House, which is a room that not a lot of people ever get to go in,” she said. “It’s where the President’s family actually watches movies and they had a little workshop in that for about 45 minutes on how to write a Broadway hit.”
A recurring theme throughout the day was that not matter where you are from, you can have a career following your passion and you don’t have to be in New York to be successful.
This value is something McCollam tries to instill in all of her apprentices at the Old Brick Playhouse.
“If you’re a graphic artist, you can use it online or try to be an entrepreneur in how you double your art with a real-world job and you really can make a living.”
The symposium culminated with a stage production of scenes and performances by of current Broadway productions and their casts. The show and the symposium were both filmed by The Learning Channel and aired back on Thanksgiving Day.
Now that the trip is over, those 10 apprentices are now applying what they learned in their performances with the theater, including the Polar Express experience Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad contracted them to perform on their trains during the holiday season.
While McCollam said this experience is once-in-a-lifetime, their time in the arts is just as valuable.
“I really do believe that if kids get involved that something that interests them and allows them to find out what they’re really good at, it diverts them from doing negative things.”
More about the Old Brick Playhouse can be found at its website.