Theater and dance students head to Chicago for showcase

Every year the seniors of the theater and dance department have a showcase in Cape Girardeau and New York City. This year, the senior class is adding a showcase in Chicago, which they are running themselves.

The seniors approached their professors, asked if it was a possibility and are doing the work. Bart Williams, a stage combat and senior portfolio instructor, helped students with paperwork and connecting with the professionals in Chicago. The students are doing most of the work, Williams said.

"I am in the works of getting some people who are in the business to come and workshop our scenes and monologues and songs with us, and to also talk to us about what the business is like in Chicago, in LA and New York, and how they got their start and give us some insight on what's going to happen to us when we leave the place we've been for the past four years," graduate Coline Duncan said.

Seniors have to fund everything on their own and have planned a bake sales today, April 6 and 13, and a cabaret on Saturday. The cabaret will be a show with songs, dance, monologues and scenes performed by students at Cup 'n Cork. The business also will give a percentage of their profits to the seniors headed to Chicago. The showcase itself was on Monday, March 23, and was open to everyone, but the seniors invited local casting directors and agents. The experience was great for a resume and getting the seniors started in their careers.

The students will be working with directors and teachers in Chicago who will be able to look at the students and decide if they want them to take classes and work on projects with them, Williams said.

"Chicago is different from New York and LA because there is more work for non-union actors and dancers. There are not a lot of dance companies, but the theaters in Chicago are looking for dancers who can sing as well," Williams said. "Each student will have resumes and headshots to hand out to professionals that attend the showcase."

"Ideally everything we are doing is to work towards [an annual Chicago showcase] so the people behind us can work toward the same thing," senior Mike Hegger said.