Until Next Year...

Over two months ago, we revealed our 2014 show in a flurry of fanfare and theatrics. Since, FYP has morphed and grown the idea of Rent into something that becomes more tangible every day.

Fall semester brings a variety of changes, including new leadership and new members. Our staff has taken the transition in stride.

The combination of fresh positions and people meshed quickly, and Rent took off from the time we announced it. Junior public relations director Lisa Prywes has immense expectations for the organization every year, but even so, this fall’s staff soared past them.

"This year, I really wanted FYP to make a statement on campus. I want our name to be known, as well as the important things we do on and off-campus," Prywes said. "I want FYP to be an environment where everyone feels comfortable and "Finds Your Place." I think every year FYP grows and never ceases to amaze. It is very hard for me to set expectations, because I always know that FYP WILL exceed them." 

With finals quickly approaching (or already happening) and winter break in sight, FYP has completed most of the semester’s work. But we haven’t packed it in for the semester yet.

Our graphics team will reveal Rent’s logo this Sunday, a moment Prywes has anticipated since FYP chose the show. We will also hold one more acting workshop tomorrow, the final chance for prospective cast members to receive some advice before our auditions start January 16.

Staff members look eagerly toward the spring semester and one of the most exciting moments of the FYP calendar- the selection of a new cast. But for some, like junior Jaylyn Noble, the influx of new cast members isn’t the only long awaited addition. She looks forward to the return of the members of her Drowsy Chaperone cast that are studying abroad, as well as the selection of a new cast. 

"I'm looking forward to all the abroad Drowsies to be back and I'm REALLY looking forward to getting 24 new people and making them love FYP as much as everyone already in it," Noble said.

FYP has made a semester of great progress toward our production of Rent, and we couldn’t be more excited to get back to work in January. Next time you read one of our blogs, we’ll be selecting a crop of 24 fresh new faces to join the FYPhamily.  

Have a safe and enjoyable winter break, and we’ll catch you next year!

Happy Thanksgiving from FYP

Snow has fallen. The inevitability of a miserable winter hits you in the form of a 30 mph gust, forcing you to walk backwards up a hill. We haven't hit December, but you're sliding across slushy sidewalks caked with salt and mud. This is Syracuse, NY, and winter hates you.

Cheer up. Syracuse students get a temporary reprieve from the horrors of Mother Nature as they're heading out of town (or down the street) for Thanksgiving break. Carved chunks of turkey, mounds of mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie await. Sit back, take some time off from academia, and watch a few games of football with your racist uncle.

As students prepare to leave campus for a week, First Year Players hasn't taken any time off. We're continuing our first semester push with great events, workshops and meetings. Potential cast members had a chance to polish their acting, singing, and dancing skills with FYP staff at our final workshops in the past few weeks. Students took advantage as January auditions for Rent quickly approach. We also held interest meetings for Rent's stage crew, one of the most integral parts of the production process.

Our Find Your Place cabaret on Nov. 7 was a success. Student acts rocked the stage and helped raise money for Friends of Dorothy, an organization that provides in-home care for AIDS patients. A Friends of Dorothy representative visited an FYP staff meeting to discuss the organization and the importance of its work. FYP is proud to be aiding the organization in conjunction with our production of Rent.

After break, the semester will continue to wind down, which means auditions are coming ever closer. We couldn't be more excited.

For now, go forget about school and eat until your stomachs burst. Take advantage of home cooking. I know a few Americans in Britain who would love nothing more than an enormous heap of home cooked mashed potatoes.

Fall Semester Fun

Every year, an FYP staff member "mentors" a student in the spring musical's cast. Mentors provide guidance, advice and all kinds of free swag, contributing to the cast member's transition into the organization.

Unveiling mentors has become an annual spectacle- a series of anonymous gifts leads into staff members exposing their identities with flamboyant outfits, outlandish music, or even choreography. While mentor reveal typically takes place in the spring, FYP added a new ceremony for mentors Sunday.

A number of students join FYP's staff each fall without prior staff experience. This fall's new staff members received mentors to guide them through their first year in the organization, much like the cast each spring. Mentors revealed themselves Sunday with the typical fanfare and wild clothing that accompanies any FYP event.

Mentors will help the new staff members through the frenzied landscape of FYP weirdos while they work toward producing Rent. FYP has held and planned a bevy of events in the past few weeks, including acting, choreography, and music workshops and general interest meetings for potential cast members.

Attending students learned more about the structure of the organization and its friendly faces while relishing in some musical theater time. If you missed any of these events, don't worry- another general interest meeting will take place Thursday night at 8 p.m. Another acting, choreography, and music workshop will take place in the coming weeks, so please check out our site for more details.

Last but certainly not least, our annual Find Your Place Cabaret will take place Thursday night at 8 p.m. in Stolkin Auditorium. The event showcases a number of talented acts from within our staff and across campus. The $3 entry fee benefits Friends of Dorothy, which provides home care to people suffering from AIDS. We hope you'll come out to see some live entertainment for a great cause!

FYP- A Global Institution

While Tony Award winner Sutton Foster critiqued and serenaded a handful of FYP members in a master class last weekend, other staff continued their learning at Syracuse University institutions across the globe.

FYP staff members with Sutton Foster

Every year, a number of FYP staff members spend a semester abroad at one of SU's eight center-based

programs, as well as American programs outside of Syracuse. This fall, FYP juniors and seniors traveled to Los Angeles, London, Florence, and Hong Kong to study with SU. Despite traveling, working, and studying thousands of miles away,  our jet setters find time for the organization. 

"I don't go a day- probably not even an hour, let's be honest- without a Facebook notification, email, message or snapchat from someone in FYP," Becky Shafer, a junior magazine journalism major with two fully functional arms, said from Florence. "It's great to feel so connected to the organization."

Bailey Pfohl and Becky Shafer in Florence

Others, like sculpted and rebellious creative advertising major Drew Muller, have barely noticed they've been away from the organization. Electronic communication, the presence of other FYP staff, and the culture have made him feel like FYP came to London with him.

"To be honest, I've hardly noticed that I haven't been constantly surrounded by FYPeeps," Muller said over the power chords leaving his computer, emanating loathing for the establishment. "We've been to a bunch of musicals, and everyone in London is well-dressed and super fierce."

One of the perks of living in Europe is the ease of traveling across international borders, something our FYPers have taken advantage of this fall. A contingent of organized, prompt Londoners will make its way to visit the Florence students in November for something junior art history major and Florence student Bailey Pfohl called "the biggest baddest musical reunion ever known to this side of the Atlantic (next to ABBA)!"

Aside from travel, immersion in the culture of one's host country makes up a critical part of a semester abroad. London has already changed junior students Max Webb and Carlos Miguel Cervantes, Jr. for the better.

Some of FYP London in front of the British Museum 

Webb, surprisingly, hasn't worn sweatpants or a sweatshirt once during the fall semester. He has taken a liking to the falafel wrap from British chain Hummus Bros. Britain, though, has yet to dull his love for Beyonce.

Cervantes has embraced popular English culture head on, developing an impeccable "Geordie" accent after avid viewing of England's equivalent of the MTV program Jersey Shore. Cervantes also added that he has nearly perfected the art of making peanut butter and jelly tortilla wraps, and is currently working on publishing an academic study of the uses of salad cream, a popular British condiment.

Our talented staff makes waves across a variety of majors and professional platforms at home, and it's no surprise that they've been experiencing similar success outside of Syracuse.

Junior fashion design major Shannon Gately left the friendly confines of London academia to pursue One Direction across Australia.

Bryce Garcia, a senior television, radio and film major studying at the program's Los Angeles center, works as a production intern at Dreamworks Animation, which he described as a "playground for adults." Garcia is working on the film Home, starring Rihanna, who REALLY wants to meet him. Pretty badly.

Bryce Garcia with all of Hollywood in his hand

Ben Mitchell, a junior broadcast and digital journalism major, has spent the semester at SU's center in Hong Kong attempting to stave off longing looks at his defined jaw, marvelous mustache, and perfectly symmetrical face. At the conclusion of his classes, he'll spend time interning with CNN International before returning to the states.

Mitchell reflected what each FYP study abroad member has said- the organization goes with him wherever he travels. Despite living continents away, these students maintain contact with one another, carry on inside jokes, and even contribute to the functioning of the organization back in Syracuse. Travelers could leave FYP behind when they hop on the plane, but each of these students has chosen not to. That's where the beauty of the organization lies.

Ben Mitchell with his idol Mao Zedong

"Despite being in Hong Kong- thousands of miles from the Beyonce-obsessed, chore-loving and belt-crazy members of FYP- I can't shake my attachment to the organization," Mitchell said. "I made an 'Out Tonight' pun before going to a club and everyone looked at me like I was nuts. I am nuts. But in FYP, that's just par for the course."

Renting All Over 'Cuse

Hopefully, you haven't turned a blind eye (and ear) to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, word of mouth, and frenzied, joyous screeches long enough to drown out FYP's announcement of its 2014 musical. Any students that missed it and stumbled into the Schine Atrium at 12:37 Monday afternoon were treated to a musical performance by FYP.

FYP's staff burst into the middle of Schine and danced to the raucous, defiant title track from our spring 2014 production, Rent. The number, choreographed and taught by our choreography team, stopped Syracuse students in their tracks as they walked through the student center.

The staff learned the dance at our annual weekend retreat, held September 28 and 29 at Camp Casowasco outside of Syracuse. Staff bolted to the woods for a few days of bonding, skits, vicious outdoor games, talent sharing, ghost stories, and s'mores in a yearly favorite. As staff gathered to learn the "Rent" choreography at Casowasco, it wasn't their first glimpse of what audiences will see next spring.

Staff gave passers-by a peek into the world inhabited by Mark, Roger, Mimi, and Rent's other personalities at Habitat for Humanity's Shack-a-Thon, held at the end of September. FYP painted its shack boldly with a brick exterior that evoked the urban jungle of New York City's East Village.

As Rent invades Syracuse's campus, students in every year can still get involved. Don't fret if you missed our first general interesting meeting- another is scheduled for November 7! Interested in performing? Don't miss our choreography, music and acting workshops, coming up on Oct. 21, Oct. 24, and Nov. 1, respectively. Again, you can find a complete schedule of events on our website.

Last but not least, be sure to like our Facebook page, if you haven't already. If the page reaches 1,500 likes by October 13, the PR team will reward you by stuffing their faces with hot dogs in Ernie Davis dining hall. You really don't want to say you missed out on that because you failed to move your cursor an extra few millimeters. So go click that like button!

The bloodthirsty hot dog eating contest that pitted staff members/friends against each other last spring. 

We Have a Show!

Six musicals waltzed, tangoed, and tapped into Spaghetti Warehouse for FYP's yearly show reveal dinner Sunday night, but only one emerged from the fray.

A spectacle of riffing, resurrection, shade, and murder played out in front of FYP's staff. Characters from each musical used all their wit and malice to eliminate competition and scratch their way on to the stage of Goldstein Auditorium this spring.

In the end, a camera-toting starving artist rallied from the brink of death to cast aside a bloodthirsty barber and claim his spot in First Year Players' 22nd annual production.

FYP is proud to announce that we will produce Rent for our spring musical!

After careful deliberation, our staff chose the show over other popular titles like Sweeney Todd, In the Heights, Young Frankenstein, Aida, and Side Show.

Staff selected those six from a larger list and discussed the merits and faults of each at a meeting on Sunday, September 15. Staff had the opportunity to deliberate, singing a show's praises or venomously tearing it apart. After debate that carried into the wee hours of the morning, FYP's executive board reached a consensus on Rent.

We're ecstatic to stage one of Broadway's most successful and influential musicals at Syracuse. Production is rolling already, so interested students should take note of our upcoming events.

Look out for FYP at Shack-a-Thon on the quad this week. Any member will be more than happy to talk to you about the organization. Our first general interest meeting will take place on October 7, followed by a stage crew general interest meeting on October 10. Check out our website for a full list of events, and follow us on Facebook (FYPSyracuse) and Twitter (@FYPSyracuse) for updates.

We're pumped to bring Rent to life at SU. Don't miss your chance to take part in the incredible process!

We're Back!

Students flood Syracuse's campus, Mother Nature refuses to pick a season, and First Year Players works toward producing its 22nd annual musical.

Our energetic fanny pack-toting members recently welcomed freshmen to campus, selected a new staff and started the process of choosing the show that will rock the Goldstein Auditorium stage next semester. We will announce the spring 2014 production after careful deliberation in the next few weeks.

Started in 1992 by Ed Golden, First Year Players provides an outlet for freshman and transfer non-drama students to perform through its annual musical. Undergraduate students, many of whom graced the stage in previous shows, gain production experience as part of FYP's staff.

FYP isn't all about the bright lights of the stage, though, as it offers workshops, community service events, and networking with other student organizations. Our members represent many undergraduate majors and class standings in an environment that fosters personal and professional growth.

Past FYP shows include "The Wedding Singer," "The Drowsy Chaperone," "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." Our talented staff is ecstatic to start production on this spring's show.

Check in for updates on show selection, entertaining and informative events and workshops, and audition details. For now, we're proud to announce our enthusiastic 2013-2014 staff, who will surely build on two decades of stellar FYP productions.

Co-Producer: Allie Villa
Co-Producer: Elizabeth Brydges
Co-Assistant Producer: Tyler Cunningham
Co-Assistant Producer: Erin Reimel
Co-Art Director: Ann Beyersdorfer
Co-Art Director: Alex Fernandes
Choreographer: Bailey Marks
Director: Maria Dell’Anno
Finance Director: Garrett Lee
Music Director: Meghan Flaim
Public Relations Director: Lisa Prywes
Stage Manager: Nikki Mezaros

Assistant Production Team: Dominic Buccieri, Jesse Roth, Kate Poland,
Jillian Clark, Drew Muller, Hannah Crowell, Quinntassia Worell, Allie Gendreau, Vince Loncto, Sydnee Corriders, Tori Kroll, Jessica Kiami, Zack Phillips, Michaela Peterson
Art Team: Avery Gray, Collin Jacobs, Alison Sekerak, Tyler Wolcott, Alec Reimel, Iara Rogers Benchoam, Shannon Gately, Megan Ha, Shay Frey, Lauren Budniewski, Becky Shafer, Erica Fisher, Marissa Maggio, Hayley Shelton, Cody O’Donnell, Jay Mills, Nick Shannon, Mike Landivar, Sam Chester, Nick Sessler, Gillian Monka, Sam Bailey, Ben Mitchell, Chris Flora
Choreography Team: Jaylyn Noble, Anthony Wright, Kailey Smith
Directing Team: Michael Liebenson, PJ Alampi, Matt Fernandes, Casey Kulik
Finance Team: Garrett Lee, Sami Kay, McCauley Braun, Sarah Bogden, Max Webb, Patrick Garcia, Catie Bauman
Music Team: Rachel Heyman, Bridget McGlone, Bryce Garcia, Jason Kammerer, Dan Sclafani
Public Relations Team: Leo Wong, Rachel Free, Justin Cangiano, Emma Fierberg, Leah Garlock, Kat Ferentchak, Shanice Bland, Jake Pramuk, CJ Cervantes, Will McDonald, Kristin Ross, Jeffrey Rich, Jingcong Yao, Lauren Green
Stage Management Team: Sammie Ho, Greg Boilard, Bailey Pfohl, Jon Corton, Melissa Ruh, Mackenzie Maloney, Emma Smelkinson, Rachel Marks, Lindsey Mazza, Sam McAllister