This year, Elon’s unique version of their “New York Showcase” resulted in 100 percent of the Class of 2017 being called in for Broadway shows and Tours or being signed by top New York agents.
In 2009, the Music Theatre program created the Senior Casting Director and Agent Masterclass Series with casting directors and agents from New York. The series acts as the program’s “Senior Showcase,” where the senior class auditions for the casting directors and agents by flying them to Elon on separate days, housing them in hotels, and hosting receptions after a day of individual vocal appointments, workshopping, and an extensive dance call.
During the past eight years, the Casting Director and Agent Masterclass Series has grown. Every year, the senior class raises money through various events, cabarets, sales and fundraising efforts. This year, the Music Theatre Class of 2017 raised enough money to bring representatives from numerous casting offices, covering the casting offices for every single Broadway show and almost every National and International Tour happening right now. Representatives from Telsey + Co., Tara Rubin Casting, Roundabout Theatre Company, Jim Carnahan Casting, Binder Casting, Stewart Whitley Casting, Joy Dewing Casting and Wojcik/Seay Casting all spent days at Elon auditioning the students and workshopping with them, with several top New York agents in attendance as well.
This year was particularly successful, with every member of the class of 2017 being called in for Broadway shows, national and international tours and being contacted by top New York agents. Members of the class were called in for self-submissions, invited calls, and callbacks for principal roles and ensemble roles in ‘Hamilton’ on Broadway and on Tour, ‘Waitress’ on Broadway and on Tour, ‘Les Miserables’ on Tour, ‘Elf’ Equity and Non-Equity Tours, ‘Book of Mormon’ on Broadway and on Tour, ‘Cinderella’ on Tour, ‘Rent’ on Tour, ‘Motown’ on Tour, ‘The Lion King’ on Tour, ‘The Color Purple’ on Tour, ‘The Sound of Music’ on Tour, and ‘Frozen’ on Broadway.
Members of this year’s senior class also have received offers to sign with prestigious top New York agencies, such as CGF Talent, DGRW Agency, Harden-Curtis Associates, BRS/Gage, The Roster Agency, The Price Group, CESD and Bloc.
After graduation, many of the members of the Music Theatre program’s Class of 2017 have jobs lined up or are planning to make the “big move.” Members have earned job offers this year and last year from prestigious theatres such as The Muny, Wagon Wheel Theatre, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse/Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, Flat Rock Playhouse, Maine State Music Theatre, Cortland Repertory Theatre, Theatre Raleigh, Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Legacy Theatre, Interlakes Summer Theatre, McLeod Summer Playhouse, Arkansas Shakespeare Festival and many others.