At 7:42 a.m. on April 30, West Essex students started their classes, but the choir class went on a field trip to New York City for a Broadway Wicked workshop at the Sony Hall Theatre. Students worked with Ian Weinberger, a music director for Broadway, on a song from Wicked. They also learned show choreography from a Wicked cast member, Micaela Martinez. The workshop was followed by a performance from some of the Wicked cast with a show medley and duet from the song “For Good.” The cast of professionals held a Q&A for the students at the end of the workshop and gave plenty of insight to the young, aspiring performers. The eventful day for the students concluded with a matinee show of Wicked on Broadway.
“I learned from the workshop to never give up because one of the actors in the Q&A said that they’ve been auditioning for the shows for over a decade and she finally made it,” sophomore Danny Viola said. “I think it’s just important to never give up and always follow your dreams if you’re really passionate about them.”
The spring musical at West Essex was the Wizard of Oz, and due to the Wicked movie’s popularity, music teacher Marion Drew decided choosing a Wicked workshop would be an exciting experience for everyone.
“It was just a really unique experience because when other people go to Broadway to watch the show, they don’t get to meet the cast or have them perform for us,” senior Stuti Patel said. “But we got to do that, which was really cool.”
The choir class has been preparing the popular song “One Short Day” from Wicked since the beginning of February. The challenge for the class was learning choreography for the song in April to coordinate with their vocals. After working on the song for months, they were able to perform it in their Spring concert and work on it at the workshop.
“It was a little glimpse of what Broadway actors go through on a day to day basis of different tips that they learn so it was really cool,” Patel said.
Wicked has been running on Broadway since October 2003 in the Gershwin Theatre, and students on the trip were able to watch the matinee show in the very same theatre.
“When the students see a Broadway show, I think it inspires and excites them about the work we do in school everyday,” Drew said. “Sometimes it’s hard to remember that there are some really big venues where singing is on display, and some outstanding performers who worked really hard to get to perform in shows like Wicked. I want them to remember that what they are doing is super special to a lot of people, and something that not everyone can do.”
Many West Essex students have never seen Wicked on Broadway before, and getting the opportunity to not only see it, but also attend a workshop, is a very special and inspiring memory that definitely fosters creativity for the students.
“My favorite part of the trip is when the students are sitting in the workshop, having taken over the front three rows, and they are working hard, having fun and showing off all their hard work,” Drew said. “They look so proud, which makes me so proud of them.”
