From March 26 to March 29, members of Lambert Chorus and the Acting Troupe of Lambert (ATL) had the incredible opportunity to spend time together in New York City. While Lambert’s performing arts programs regularly go on trips, this marked the return of the New York trip, which had not taken place in several years.
In past years, the programs have offered trips to the Disney parks to participate in Festival Disney and other performance-based events. However, being in New York, surrounded by Broadway and other major hubs of performing arts, offered students a more direct connection to the professional theater world.
“We did a fantastic workshop,” Lambert junior Cady Andrews said. “He [The instructor] is on Broadway and he works in orchestration…One of the shows he had worked with was ‘Hadestown’, and we did a piece from Hadestown as a whole ensemble and worked through it. We also had one of the Persephones who had been on the national tour come in with us and sing her part of that song.”
Through such workshops, the students were able to experience what it is like to rehearse and perform at a professional level. By working with industry professionals, the performers were able to focus on technique and the level of precision required by performing arts. For many students, the opportunity to work alongside professionals made the experience feel more extraordinary.
Furthermore, another valuable experience for the students was getting the chance to meet Lambert alumni who used to be a part of ATL.
“It was really cool to see how many different paths there are,” Andrews furthered. “ Some alumni were performing, but others were working in stage management or costuming, and they were all still connected through theater.”
The opportunity to connect with alumni also gave students a clearer sense of direction for their own futures. For many, it helped them see a path in theater for their own lives, whether that meant performing on stage or contributing behind the scenes.
“I think a lot of people say, ‘I want to do theater, I want to be on Broadway,’ but there’s so much more than that,” Lambert sophomore Bella Palone explained. “There are so many behind-the-scenes roles. The stage manager had done so much and worked with a lot of people… even though she’s not on stage, she’s still doing so much to help the show come together, and it was really cool to see that.”
Beyond the learning experiences, the trip also provided students with the opportunity to simply enjoy their time in New York City.
From visiting Times Square and Rockefeller Center to exploring areas such as Chinatown and Little Italy, students were able to experience the city’s culture and energy firsthand. In addition, the group attended a Broadway performance of ‘Hadestown’, allowing them to see the level of production they had been learning about throughout the trip.
However, for many of the students, the most memorable part of the trip was getting the chance to spend time together.
“My favorite part of the trip wasn’t going to Rockefeller or going to Times Square,” Andrews explained. “It was more being there with everyone. I got to be there with my favorite people in my favorite city.”
Chorus and ATL’s trip to New York proved to be an amazing learning and bonding experience for the group, motivating them for future endeavors within school and beyond.
