Date of Defense

3-2-2020

Date of Graduation

4-2020

Department

Music

First Advisor

Jay Berkow

Second Advisor

Ed Walker

Abstract

On March 2, 2020, Western Michigan University’s graduating class of Music Theatre Performance majors traveled to New York City to perform and ultimately complete their BFA capstone project: Senior Showcase. In preparation for Showcase, Emma Wineman and her cohort of thirteen trained in both music and dance, and honed their acting and individual performances under the guidance of Director of Music Theatre Performance, Jay Berkow. In the fall of 2019, Wineman participated in a Showcase Prep course, where she worked closely with Tony Award-winner Cady Huffman to develop a well-rounded package that would be marketable in the theatre industry. Wineman and her cohort then performed Showcase for Michigan audiences in early December under the title, “Next Stop Broadway,” complete with a student-choreographed opener and closer, solos, and duets.

As Assistant to the Head of Music Theatre Performance, Wineman was in charge of creating the Showcase website ( www.wmushowcase.com ), organizing and communicating all Showcase-related information with students and the department, as well as contacting industry professionals in NYC inviting them to attend and reminding them to RSVP. In addition, Wineman created her own website to use as a marketing tool and share her work (www.emmawineman.com). Showcase in New York was ultimately a success, helping Wineman build relationships and giving her potential agency connections. Senior Showcase exemplified the individual growth of each student and proved that the past four years of intense training has prepared Wineman to work professionally in the theatre world. Additional materials include photographs and a recording of Wineman’s solo titled “Me & Ricky” from the musical The Theory of Relativity by Neil Bartram.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Restricted

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