Broadway’s Carrie St. Louis of Rock of Ages and Wicked fame stopped by LAMusArt on Monday June 26, 2017 to host a two-hour musical theater master class for the students of Camp MusArt. On the heels of her one-woman cabaret show “Something Good” at the Rockwell Table and Stage, Carrie visited East LA to give a select few LAMusArt students pointers on how to make the most of their audition songs. The students were joined by friends and supporters the organization.
The first student, fifteen year old Laura Flores (an LAMusArt Choir member), performed a vibrant rendition of “I Won’t Say I’m In Love” from Disney’s Hercules, prompting a great review from St. Louis. Eleven year old Julia Zayas, also a Choir member, gave a bright and heart wrenching performance of “Ring of Keys” from Fun Home. Zayas will play Zazu in Camp MusArt’s 2017 production of The Lion King in July. Lastly, twelve year old Choir student and Spring Concert soloist Azucena Ortega sang a haunting version of “Burn” from the Tony award-winning musical Hamilton. All fifty five students of Camp MusArt watched on as the three crooners were given notes by Miss St. Louis on how to improve their performance by making emotional choices throughout their songs.
“You have to find yourself in every character you play,” St. Louis directed. The girls went over their songs at least three times each, applying the notes they were given with each take.
After the student workshop, Carrie performed the song “Popular,” a song from her most recent stretch on Broadway as Glinda the Good Witch in Stephen Schwartz’s Wicked; a retelling of The Wizard of Oz told from the point of view of the Wicked Witch of the West. Following Carrie’s performance, Executive Director Manuel Prieto hosted a Q & A with Miss St. Louis and the students, revealing colorful stories of stage flubs, stressful auditions, and past voice instructors, including a hilarious anecdote involving bubble liquid pouring on Carrie’s head.
Students left that afternoon with more than just a great lesson in performing. The affair ended in a gift to the students from Carrie – signed Playbills from The Lion King on Broadway. Several lucky campers were chosen in a raffle to receive the special prize, some of which had never seen a Playbill before.
It was a truly special event that guests and students alike were able to enjoy.
“LAMusArt is thrilled to be able to facilitate once-in-a lifetime opportunities like these for our community. It’s not everyday you get to ask a Broadway star for advice on stage fright, and then watch her perform a Broadway hit!” Prieto said.
Carrie will also be attending LAMusArt’s largest fundraising event of the year, Stars for the Arts, where she will be performing with our tuition-free music ensembles. For more information, click here.
For more information about Camp MusArt’s performance of The Lion King, please click here!
Carrie St. Louis with LAMusArt CAMP Students
Carrie St. Louis with Camp students
Executive Director Manuel Prieto, Carrie St. Louis and Camp Students
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