A taste of the Big Apple

When the word “Broadway” comes to mind, it might conjure up thoughts of musical theatre and flashing lights on a marquee in a bustling city, but not rural Iowa. However, two former Iowans — Kelli James and Steven Applegate — are on a mission to introduce young thespians to the world’s most famous stage – Broadway.

In July, the award-winning pair hosted “Broadway Advantage,” a camp for aspiring actors and actresses. Payton Davis, 15, and Sasha Smith, 16, both of Creston, took part in the weeklong, intensive musical theatre camp at The Wilson Performing Arts Center in Red Oak.

“The camp was awesome,” said Davis. “In the three years it’s been going, I’ve been able to go each year. It’s an awesome learning experience and it’s a lot of fun.”

Smith, who hopes to perform on the big stage someday, said working with professionals in the musical theatre field was the perfect opportunity to gain real-life advice.

“They can help me prepare and train for my future career goals,” said Smith.

At camp, 26 students received instruction on auditioning, warming up, rehearsing, memorization, schools, agents, dealing with rejection, how to prepare for interviews and the real truth about the business.

“The most difficult part was dealing with not getting the parts I wanted,” said Davis.

While the industry can be grueling and disappointing, Davis said she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I get to help people feel however I want them to, and I get to give them what we all crave – entertainment,” said Davis.

Smith appreciated the private, one-on-one training with James and Applegate.

“I get to work on my own personal skills, typically things I don’t really get to focus on when I am in a group,” said Smith.

Davis, who has a penchant for fashion design, said a comment James made to her altered her professional career goals.

“She told me that I reminded her of her friend that designed the costumes for the hit musical ‘Hamilton.’ That comment has stuck with me; I now plan to pursue costume design for Broadway,” said Davis.

Whereas some might find it difficult to learn under pressure, both Davis and Smith said they loved it.

“To me, this wasn’t stressful,” said Davis. “It is a fun challenge with good motivation.”

Smith said the camp is her “Super Bowl.”

“I love it so much and get to be doing my favorite thing with people who love the same things as me,” said Smith.

Smith said they were challenged with capturing the feelings of an entire show in a short song using only their acting and song skills.

“I sang ‘Lifeboat’ from ‘Heathers,’ which is a very dark moment of the musical,” said Smith. “It is a song about a young woman that is suicidal after losing friends to death and then being bullied. You only have a couple of minutes to showcase that moment in a single song.”

Davis said the experience was overall a positive one.

“The other kids there were great,” said Davis. “They are all supportive and I’ve made some great friends.”

Smith said James and Applegate are the perfect pair to bring the program to Red Oak.

“Steven is insanely musically talented ... he can write in new harmonies and interpreting songs so we as high schoolers can best perform them,” said Smith. “Kelli is such a free-spirit and so much fun. She is so experienced with the acting and storytelling side of musical theatre. She has a way of capturing every moment needed to make a song come to life.

The Broadway Advantage Performing Arts Studio can be found on Facebook or by visiting www.thebroadwayadvantage.org. Scholarship information is available through the Tanner Foss Project at www.tannerfossproject.com.