My name is Olivia Parker and I am currently in my senior year of my BFA musical theatre program!

Our program has presented the seniors with a fantastic opportunity to visit NYC to participate in a series of workshops and agent interviews.

Performing arts have taken over my life for a number of years now, and I always have dreamed of some day having the ability to go out and "do the thing." However, it is a very expensive thing to do. If you have ever enjoyed me in a show, or want to help support what I do, then please consider donating any amount of money to this fundraiser! The money will be used for traveling, the hotel stay, headshots, workshop fees, and general neccessary expenses for the trip. If you cannot donate (I completely understand), I would appreciate if you could share!

Thank you so much! <3 Here is some extra information from our professor:

The goal of our Theatre and Musical theatre programs as stated on our website is to be “a professional actor training program designed to prepare students to tackle the professional theatre world upon graduation.” We also strive to foster artists who are not only grounded in the Christian faith, but who are equipped with the skill and knowledge to enter the unique and competitive arena that is awaiting them as they leave our halls and embark on their chosen professions. The rigor, pace and intensity of our program and instruction all aim at this goal, however there are only so many experiences we can give them within the limitations of our geography, time constraints and resources. The musical theatre degree is really more comparable to a double major, since the necessity of studying dance, voice and acting as well as obtaining a liberal arts degree tends to fill our students’ schedules to the credit maximum each semester. The New York trip came about as answer to the question of “What do I do now?” that seems to follow the acquisition of a theatre /musical theatre degree from many institutions. Four intense years of studying their art and craft seems too often to leave the student adrift with no direction as to how to concretely move forward with turning this craft into an actual job or career. There is a vague idea of needing an agent – but how do you get one? You can audition but what about the Actor’s Union? If I want to move to a larger city with more job opportunities, how do I get my name out there? What about living in the big city? What’s it like? How do I use the subway? How much do things cost? And the list goes on and on until more than a few graduates just end up taking a “survival job” and never really pursuing the life they once imagined as a freshman. I don’t believe that our theatre graduates working at Walmart serves them or us or the artistic community. (No offense to Walmart)

I believe the theatre community desperately needs excellent, faithful, talented Christians who are just as well trained and prepared as anyone, but who are also desiring to serve God with their talents. I truly believe we have something special here at Shorter and an opportunity to provide high quality, Christian based, conservatory level training to students and send them out to be world changers. “Artists change culture, and culture changes the world” is a motto we as theatre faculty have been toying with. In order to do this, however, our students need to be able to get out there and work and thrive in that world.

In the spring of their senior year, Shorter Musical theatre and theatre students have the option to take a trip to New York where they partake in three days of workshops and classes on various aspects of the business as well as audition workshops and master classes with Broadway directors. The trip culminates in an agent showcase where the students get to perform for agents who will give them feedback and possibly interview them or sign them. In the last four years, every single one of our students has gotten some interest from at least one agent or casting director. Most have several interested. Connections have been made that

have propelled our recent alumni to professional jobs from New York to Hong Kong. We have Disney Princesses working in Walt Disney World and alumni working on and off Broadway. We now have a growing alumni community in New York City that comes to see the showcase every year and supports and encourages the seniors. The boost to their confidence and the look in their eyes that I see every year after it is over is amazing. Whether or not these fledgling performers decide to move to the city, they all come back with a realization that they CAN do this, and they have a much clearer understanding of what it takes and how to go about their “next steps” after graduation.

This trip is something our students need, and they look forward to it from the time they get here. It is their capstone and their launch all at once…

…and it is expensive. Average cost for the trip (airfare, hotel, fee for workshops) is $1500 – and this does not include the $500 -600 they will need to get decent headshots and resumes printed. (An essential tool of this trade and one that cannot be skipped or scrimped on)

We do not use any Shorter funds for this trip. The students sell refreshments at shows and try to come up with clever fundraising events each year. This year we are planning bagel bars, a fun “get to know you”/speed-dating event that was a big success in the past, and a “Princess Party” featuring our students engaging and entertaining the children in the community. This requires immense planning, forethought, time, and effort.

This years’ seniors are highly motivated, incredibly hard working and amazing, faithful young adults, and I am truly excited to help get this years’ crew up north. My hope is to engage you somehow in aiding these students (and future students) in their efforts to begin their careers and spread their lights to the world outside these walls.

Thank you,

Susan Gaukel

Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Direction

Shorter University