First Year Players: The Semester So Far...

Here we go.

After months of hemming and hawing, of emergency meetings and spectacular subterfuge, of endless google docs and hastily assembled excel spreadsheets, the march towards FYP’s 2016 production of Heathers: The Musical has officially begun.

Our retreat happened. Our art budget is funded. Our fall workshops are in full swing. And, most importantly, our show was finally chosen. But we got to this point under slightly more dramatic circumstances than usual (the fall semester is a relatively routine and banal time compared to the one that follows). Logistical snafus delayed the announcement of this year’s show, and, by extension, the marquee event of the fall: Show Reveal Dinner, the FYP equivalent to a sorority formal.

But show reveal did happen, a mutiny from the staff was avoided, and our 2016 musical was announced with great fanfare (and some great wigs). Heathers beat out some fantastic choices, among them perennial contenders Spring Awakening and Legally Blonde.

The FYP Executive Board celebrates show reveal dinner.

Heathers: The Musical is based on the eponymous 1988 movie starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. It follows a clique of four high school girls (three of whom are named Heather, obviously), the majority of whom are cruel and superficial to the extreme. The exception is Veronica, played by Ryder, who loathes her “friends” and ends up falling for a mysterious, bad boy outsider named JD (played by Slater).

The emotional pressure-cooker that is the American high school pushes Veronica, JD and the Heathers to do some horrible things to their peers and one another, and the result is a bloody black comedy that would make the Coen Brothers proud.

Both the film and the stage adaptation are radical “coming-of-age” tales that examine the struggles faced by teens and young adults on a daily basis: bullying, mental health, loneliness, depression, suicide, and body image.

“Heathers is a satire,” says Co-Producer Collin Jacobs, “The over-the-top nature of the show makes the audience think, ‘do I really look like that? Do I treat mental illness like that? Am I part of the problem?’"

Not only does “Heathers” confront these issues in an unconventional way, it also offers a way for people to talk about them and help others who are struggling. Co-producer Lauren Green believes that the show gives this year’s FYP staff a unique opportunity, both on and off the stage.

“It contains real-life issues that are so prominent yet taboo on the public level. The musical shows how we as individuals have the power to help others going through these problems,” says Green.

Last years newbies, the Addams Family, attend their first show reveal.

“But outside of the issues, Heathers is also just an unreal, powerhouse of a show in every sense. It is something that has never been to Broadway, and our first-years will be able to truly hone and perfect their craft without any boundaries.”

So the season is now in full gear. Plans are being made for next semester. Logos are being designed. Rehearsal spaces are being booked. T-Shirts are being ordered. The excitement is palpable.

Once again, FYP is poised to put on a great musical. But, more importantly, we are preparing to give away what was freely given to each of us at a formative moment in our lives.

When we enter the organization, we are strangers to one another - but when the show is over, the people in our “cast” are closer to us than people we’ve known our whole lives. That outcome is the result of a whole year’s worth of careful planning, of meticulous attention to detail, and of a commitment to unconditionally loving a group of people we have yet to meet.

FYP Staff members Stephanie Lane, Megan Wilcox, Kailey Smith, Chip Weber, Marissa Maggio and Erin Reimel pose for the camera on the 2015 staff retreat.

The magic of FYP happens not only happen on the stage - it happens in the years that follow our last show. That’s why we do what we do. We received a gift when we first arrived on this campus that can only be repaid by continuing to give it away. It’s why we love this org, and why we love our newbies. We may not know their names, their faces, or where they’re from, but they’re already a huge part of our lives - and we can’t wait to show them that.

FYP isn't just for freshmen! Apply NOW!

Applications to be on the FYP Staff for the 2015-2016 year are now available! Applications can be found here!

Not sure what positions to apply for? You can find a list of staff descriptions here!

Applications are due by Monday, August 17th at 5pm! Applications can be emailed to fypstaffapps@gmail.com.

Interviews will be held August 28th, 29th & 30th from 9am-9pm! More information regarding interviews will be given to you once you hand in your application.

We love to welcome both new and old faces, so get your application in today!

Any questions? Feel free to email firstyearplayers@gmail.com!

Introducing Our 2015-2016 Executive Board!

Congratulations to our E-Board for the upcoming 2015-2016 FYP Season:

Producers: Lauren Green & Collin Jacobs
Assistant Producers: Dominique Alvarado & Max Murphy
Director: Paul Mancano
Music Director: Chip Weber
Choreographer: Kailey Smith
Art Directors: Kelly Egan & Sam Chester
Stage Manager: Erin Reimel
PR Director: Andrew Martini
Finance Director: Dominic Buccieri

Over the summer, these 12 members will already be hard at work with preparations for next year! FYP wishes everyone a safe, fun and unforgettable summer!

When You're An Addams...

...You have a very special duty. And FYP's Addams Family cast is no different. The countdown to opening night is only 16 days! That said, the entire organization has been hard at work to get this show underway. I caught up with some of the creative heads and cast members themselves to learn a little bit about the rehearsal process. [Check out the video below to get an exclusive peek into rehearsals!]




Because the show is so quickly approaching, The Addams Family cast has no shortage of rehearsals, and have even had a few performances already (they've performed at a blood drive, at an SU dance marathon, and a local library, to name a few). But from the beginning, the cast members formed an incredible bond. "I will always remember one of our first times warming up and improving as a cast," remembers Gabrielle Hughes, who plays Morticia. "Mike [the director] told us to have a three-sentence conversation between our two index fingers, and it definitely gave everyone a true sense of just how imaginative and silly we all are. Things got real weird, wacky, and wonderful real quick!"

Others have been noting the camaraderie between the "casties" as well. Bridget McGlone, this year's music director, remembers a time when she told the cast they would need to sing offstage during the overture. "They decided to all stand in a huddle [backstage] while they did it," she says. "It was so great to watch them all come together like that." The show itself is quite challenging musically, according to Bridget, and she's been impressed with the cast's progress. "There was one time in rehearsal where they really nailed it. I almost cried because I was so proud of them," Bridget says. Audience members will get no shortage of musical range when they come to see The Addams Family. 

If you ask a castie which song is their favorite, you'll get back a myriad of responses. "My favorite song to rehearse was probably 'Move Toward The Darkness,' just because I originally disliked the song a lot, but once we started singing it I started to like it—because we sound AWESOME," says Danielle Cooper, who plays Grandma Addams. "I LOVE our opening number," Gabrielle Hughes (Moriticia) says. "Even though it's the one we've rehearsed the most, it feels like the first time every time." Neil Honwad, who plays Mal Beineke, says that his favorite number is "Full Disclosure," because he loves how "every character gets his/her own spotlight during the song." Collin Brown, ensemble member, says that he's enjoyed "One Normal Night" because it features the entire cast and "there is a perfect combination of dramatic and comedic dancing and singing."

Jaylyn Noble the choreographer for The Addams Family, is so excited to see the show come together on stage and to watch each of the strong personalities in the cast shine. "This past Saturday rehearsal, I was really surprised and impressed by the cast," she says. "We were going over the tango, and they just had this passion in them to perfect the dance. They kept asking me to do it over and over and were cheering and getting excited when they did it perfectly." Collin really enjoyed this moment, too. "It was so great to see all our hard work pay off and to see the whole cast celebrate knowing that we made such an improvement," he says. As they move into intensive dress rehearsals of grueling lengths, the cast members express excitement about seeing everything they've worked hard to produce come alive on stage. "What makes me most nervous is actually performing in front of a live audience," Neil says. "But what excites me is that I'll be doing it with a great group of friends who are all trying to make the show the best it can be."
Don't forget to buy your ticket for The Addams Family on April 9th, 10th, and 11th in Goldstein auditorium. Full Disclosure: you'll regret missing this show. Tickets available here.