The 2009 graduating class of musical theater majors from UC’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is preparing to head to New York City to present a showcase to agents, producers (including Kevin McCollum, the man behind Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights and the current revival of West Side Story, who happens to be a 1984 CCM musical theater grad) and others in search of new talent. They’ll also be featured at Brandon Cutrell’s weekly cabaret at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on Manhattan’s 42nd Street. (Cutrell is a 1999 CCM grad.) If you play your cards right, you can see this year’s talented crop in a local performance of the showcase — based on themes from Homer’s Odyssey set to old and new musical theater tunes — before they leave town.
On Thursday evening, it’s the annual “Not Yet Famous” Benefit at Patricia Corbett Theater on the UC campus, a benefit presented by the Friends of CCM. There’s a post-showcase celebration with dinner by-the-bite, but the big attraction is seeing the aspiring stars. In case you need further evidence that this program is one of the best in America, there will be recognition on Thursday evening of a young alum who’s already made it: 1992 grad Lauren Kennedy, who’s one of the leads in with a new Broadway musical based on the hit play Vanities. She’s already been in Spamalot, Les Misérables, Side Show and Sunset Boulevard and released several recordings. Benefit admission is $100. Get details and tickets here.
This article appears in Mar 25-31, 2009.
