New Theatre Voices

In our second year of our partnership with Booker T. Washington Theatre Conservatory, one of the ways we’ve encouraged the students in the Norma Young Advanced Acting lab to be part of the T3 family is to invite them to contribute to our blog series, T3 Writes. They can write about anything they like as it pertains to their life at BTW or just being Teens in the world. Here are the first in a continuing series of T3 Writes New Theatre Voices.

Recently I have made it my mission to try a new water everyday. With all these different water brands and various alkaline levels, I wanted to know which one was the best. I know it sounds crazy to some people that I believe all water tastes different, well not all. Some of these waters are the exact same brands just with a different label. I have found my favorite and best tasting one to be SKYRA, at least for now till I try all these other ones. – Tyrune Reed

My most recent performance experience was a little show called The Wiz. It was one of the most amazing shows that I have EVER gotten to participate in, and I will never forget the lessons and memories that I gained from it. In the show, I got the opportunity to play so many different, very contrasting, fun characters like a munchkin, a featured winkie, a quadling, a field mouse and I got the chance to rehearse as the understudy for Evillene. I have been an ensemble member many times, but I have never gotten the chance to play so many different roles and be as involved as I was in The Wiz. Throughout the rehearsal process, I learned so many dances, songs, scenes and got the chance to play opposite of so many of my friends. There was such an intensity to this show that I haven’t experienced often in other shows. It wasn’t easy in any way, but I never wanted it to end. I had such an amazing time, and I loved the rush that I had on and off stage. At the end of the day, I will forever be grateful for this experience and the memories that were created through it.
Gracie Wakefield

As college application season has been attacked and early applications have closed, I have been consumed by some form of regrets. Why didn’t I apply for some form of Theatre?
I love the art form, it has consumed my High School experience, building my skills in so many different ways. From costuming, mime troupe and of course straight acting, I have recently realized that it isn’t exactly normal for a student my age to spend so much time cultivating their creative craft. I have learned so many skills that people more than 20 years old would have hoped to gain throughout their education in the arts and I’m extremely thankful.
But am I doing myself a disservice by not using my skill set in college. Have I taken advantage of a system that many are jealous of? Will my experiences and time go to waste?
I have tried to keep a positive outlook, I still love theater, I love every part of it. It doesn’t make me an outsider by not pursuing it as a career.  Why do I still feel a form of shame?
I have called myself an actor for 4 years, and I’ve loved every minute of my experience, but I have to use my skills for a different career. Just because I may not be an actor in college doesn’t mean I can’t do it on the side, or support it from the sidelines, becoming a patron. I have and always will view theater as a form of expression, so why can’t I express myself without studying it at a University level?
As I hopefully step into my future state soon, I hope to use my education in the Theatre and creative arts to help cultivate a new kind of student. A student who pays tribute to their past while influencing my creativeness into my studies.
-Claire Taylor

I love storytelling. When I was small, my mom and aunt would develop characters for my twin stuffed animal seals, Coo and Loo, with inciting incidents, character foils, and perfect buttons to end the elaborate three act seal sagas. I would then go to my room and make a sequel with Coo and Loo to continue the story of the seals.
I soon latched onto reading as a way to escape into the stories of others and learn about the world around me as a growing girl. I would often say the dialogue out loud, with accents and tones, in order to bring the story to life. And that is when I found the theater. I could get lost in someone else’s story in a much more interactive, interesting way. Rather than sitting on my couch reading dialogue, I could fully embody the characters on stage.
After a few summers of reading and acting, I found playwriting as a way to start my own stories. At first I was worried. I thought that sitting at my desk while typing away would become dull and the plot would fall flat. But instead it pushed me to delve deeper inside the world in my head. I have found myself prepping before a writing session. I clear my busy brain by getting a glass of water, pacing my floorboards, and gazing up at the corner of my wall. That corner has seen many lives. It has been my class of imaginary students when I used to read my picture books to the wall. It has been my scene partners while preparing for a scene or impending audition. And it became a gateway for me to focus in and greet the characters locked inside my head. Because when I am focused yet at ease, the characters are no longer orchestrated by me, but rather, talking to me and telling me where their story is headed. That is when I know I am in the zone and ready to tell a good story. – Bella Ehring

We love that these students are sharing their perspectives. Tyrune reminded us all to stay hydrated and try new things. Gracie reminisced about how you can grow and learn so much from a show. While Claire looked to her future with the arts. Finally, Bella spoke to how stories bind us together. We hope you enjoyed hearing these new voices and will join us in the next installment to this series.