Kylee C. Pastore
The Department of Theatre and Speech has achieved significant success and is amping up its game to prepare students for careers in entertainment. Many alums have found fulfilling careers, and many have been awarded and recognized for their achievements. Department Chair Professor Jennifer Tuttle continues to lead the department in its commitment to equipping students with the skills and opportunities needed to succeed. One key method for acquiring and testing these tools is experiential learning.
During the industry shutdown caused by the writer's strike, Professor Tuttle asked, "How can we better prepare CCNY students and set them up with opportunities post-graduation?" To address this, the department is continually creating more opportunities to connect students with industry professionals, including their annual Industry Night, which functions like speed dating with professionals. And, the Department of Theatre and Speech stages eight productions a year, using these not only as performance and production opportunities but also as catalysts for future industry connections.
The year-end productions are one of the main opportunities for experiential learning in various facets of the entertainment industry. The Spring 2024 productions included a cabaret, one act play festival, and senior showcase. Professor Joey Kovach, Musical Theatre Workshop instructor, attests that the theatre productions at CCNY give students real-life, hands-on experience in a safe space. Students learn the rigors and hard work of the rehearsal process, how to work as an ensemble, and the value of responsibility and communication, all while growing in their craft.
Heart and Music Cabaret
Professor Joey Kovach oversaw the Heart and Music Cabaret this year. He ran rehearsals and performances like a professional, paid production. By participating, students understand how their future shows will look throughout their careers. After casting, students are expected to show up to rehearsal with a working knowledge of their song. From there, Kovach and musical director Esther Nixon ask them, "What do you need from us?" as a way to encourage an independent critical eye on their own strengths and weaknesses. They then work on what the students feel is most important to propel them forward. Most of the students learned, directed, and designed their own pieces. "That's the beauty of a cabaret show," says Kovach, "it gives students the opportunity to use all of the skills they learn in their theatre classes at once."
Senior Showcase
With twenty-seven years of casting experience, Professor Robin Carus translates her professional knowledge into practical lessons for aspiring actors. Her course, Acting 4: The Business of Acting, covers topics such as resources, networking, resume building, selecting the right headshot, and strategies for growth after graduation. To enrich the learning experience, she regularly invites industry guests to share firsthand insights into various facets of the acting business.
This spring, Carus directed the Senior Showcase, which is performed live and sent out to agents, managers, and casting directors in a virtual form. Carus notes that they have seen exponential and immediate success from this approach. Carus believes that the lessons students learn through preparing for the showcase teach the importance of being on their "A Game" and the value of a good self-tape. After the virtual showcase was released at the end of May, two students received commercial auditions, one was contacted for a television audition, another for a Broadway audition, and a fifth signed with an Los Angeles-based talent agency.
One Act Play Festival
It is essential that students are prepared to enter the business of entertainment and hone their artistic skills, but it is equally important to the CCNY Department of Theatre and Speech to facilitate the flourishing of students' individual voices and creative telos. The department aims to provide opportunities for students to grow as artists and gain a vision.
Current student Gyandro Marselia, one of the directors of this year's One Act Festival, experienced this personal discovery. He shared that participating in the festival was a process of connecting with his authentic self. Marselia directed "Pit Stop," a 10-minute play written by his classmate Shaena Gibson. Marselia says that Directing under Professor Chan Harris allowed him to embrace uncertainty, fear, grief, introspection, and growth in a nuanced and welcoming educational space. He looks forward to recreating these experiences in his future career as a creative director, actor, and artist.
Through these various productions and learning opportunities, the Department of Theatre and Speech at CCNY continues to foster the growth of future industry professionals—equipping them with the skills, connections, and confidence needed to thrive in the entertainment world.