By Kim Tang
Correspondent
TCNJ Musical Theatre brought a piece of Broadway to campus on Friday, Nov. 30. Students, family and friends filled the Library Auditorium as they prepared for a night of music and entertainment.
The audience heard songs from a collection of shows such as “Waitress,” “Matilda,” “Mean Girls,” “A Very Potter Musical” and more. The performers brought their own sense of style and mood to each piece, which gave the original songs a fresh twist. Whether the songs were upbeat and funny or heart-wrenchingly sad, each singer went beyond just singing the song by acting out the emotions of the piece and giving the song more context in terms of the musical it was selected from.
Sara Davidson, a junior communication studies major, gave a powerful and upbeat performance of “Let Me Be Your Star” from the musical “Smash.” Her performance channeled the struggles of the show’s character who longs for fame and promises her best to the crowd.
The night featured both students soloists and duets. Soloists were able to highlight their range and skills alone, while pairs balanced each other’s vocal varieties.
The audience was completely engaged as well, actively listening and enjoying the night. Several performances incorporated the audience into the piece. With the amount of talent and passion in the Library Auditorium, audiences almost forgot they were not at a Broadway theater.
Sophomore communication studies and journalism and professional writing major Lara Becker, who performed “Summer in Ohio” from the musical, “The Last Five Years,” said she enjoyed the experience and loved performing.
“I love having an opportunity to perform that’s a little less of a time commitment,” she said. “It’s also a great way to get people to keep performing.”
