March 25, 2024
K-State theatre students spend spring break exploring NYC with Broadway pros
Submitted by the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance
Directing and costume students from K-State spent four days of their spring break in New York meeting and working with Broadway professionals. Three students were invited to shadow or follow professionals backstage during a performance.
Bernice "Bernie" Poulter trailed hair and make-up supervisor Barry Ernst at "Chicago" during the March 11 performance.
"Bernie was great to have backstage. Very professional!" Ernst said.
Lindsey Edwards was able to tour and shadow at Broadway's "The Lion King" with Stacey Stephens, international wardrobe supervisor.
Mackenzie Brown shadowed the stage management team at "The Lion King," who asked for her resume.
Other students on the trip were Ginger Harris and Rachel Kuenzi with faculty supervision by Jerry Jay Cranford and Dana Pinkston, associate theatre professors.
Cranford arranged for students to each attend two productions with the choices of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" with alumni EH Petropulus working backstage in hair and make-up; "Sweeney Todd" meeting with cast members Sutton Foster and Stephen Tewksbury afterward; and "Six the Musical."
Pinkston arranged for students to tour the Mood fabric shop in the garment district famous for its high profile thanks to America's Next Top Designer. Some of the students also met with Eric Winterling at his shop, Eric Winterling Studios, a costume construction house that brings movie, opera and Broadway designs to life. They also visited with Catherine Zehr, costume designer and shop manager for Ballets With A Twist.
On the final morning, students met at Pearl Studios, where many productions hold their auditions for a morning of informative speakers. Cranford arranged numerous guests that included Suzi Bonnet, stage manager from the hit musical "& JULIET"; Stacey Stephens, "The Lion King" international wardrobe supervisor; Tyler Eisenreich, dancer and Tommy understudy for the new revival of "The Who's Tommy"; Stacey Degolier, intimacy coordinator and director working in NYC; alumni Aubrey Mann, currently in the NYU doctoral program and working with theatre for social engagement; and alumni Brett Boline, a double major in theatre and engineering working as an engineer while performing in off-off Broadway productions in New York.