Sorry I haven't been writing much - there hasn't been much to write about! Spring hasn't quite decided whether or not it's ready to come out and play (high of 46 today with rain and snow showers...) but yesterday was a very exciting day. Kelli O'Hara, a fabulous Broadway performer and also a very great person, came to Vassar to do a performance and master class! She starred in Light in the Piazza and South Pacific, so you might know her from either of those shows, among others. She's a very sweet, open person and has a beautiful voice. And she's six months pregnant!
She began the event by performing for 40 minutes, about 6 of her favorite songs, including one from each of the shows I mentioned above, and one that her friends, two songwriters, had written just for her. It was a hilarious song about a country singer who wants to be an opera star (O'Hara herself grew up in Oklahoma and sang country music until she went to college and studied opera, after which she moved to New York and began doing musical theater). She explained to the audience why she chose each song and performed them all flawlessly - it was so surreal to see a professional Broadway performer on a stage in the music building that I've sung on many times myself.
After the performance, she conducted a master class in which she worked with several students from the music department on theater songs they had prepared. She worked to break them of habits like flailing their arms or making fists while singing, and emphasized the importance of motivation in a song. She was very funny and kept the mood light and the audience entertained throughout. I couldn't stay for all of the students' songs, but I stayed for most. It was such a treat to see her live at Vassar!
This is South Pacific performing at the 2008 Tony Awards - O'Hara doesn't come in until about halfway through, but the whole clip is great!
AWESOME! AWESOME!!!!!!!!
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