Over spring break, Yorba Linda High School’s theatre class took a trip of a lifetime – a five-day adventure to New York City filled with Broadway, professional workshops, and unforgettable memories. The trip was packed from start to finish, giving students the chance to grow in their craft and experience the magic of the city that never sleeps! I got the opportunity to attend, and it was definitely one of the best trips of my life!
Throughout the week, students participated in four professional-level workshops, each lasting around two hours. The sessions included two audition and stage combat workshops led by a working actor, an improv workshop, and a dance workshop with none other than Mariah Reeves, the dance captain from the actual, now-running Broadway production of The Great Gatsby. Getting to take a workshop with her was an experience unlike any other, and then later that day, seeing her perform on the actual Broadway stage tied everything together!
And of course, it would not be New York without us trying the most delicious coffee and bagel places. My friends and my FAVORITE coffee shop was Blank Street Coffee. It had the most amazing strawberry and cream latte I had ever tried in my entire life. Thinking about it to this day makes my mouth just water. Andrew Gardner (11) loved Blank Street as well, saying that “[She] wishes there was a Blank Street in California, so everyone at home could get a taste of the best coffee in the entire world.”
And of course, as a musical theatre class, we got to see four Broadway shows! First up was Gypsy, starring six-time Tony award winner Audra McDonald. To say she was amazing would be an absolute understatement. Her last solo number even got a standing ovation from the whole crowd. We also saw Maybe Happy Ending, the stunning and emotional The Great Gatsby (featuring big names like Ryan McCartan and Sarah Hyland), and The Outsiders, which left a powerful impact on many of us. Choosing a favorite show would be next to impossible, as each performance offered something unique. However, many of us loved Maybe Happy Ending the most for its immaculate storytelling. Raven Hale (12) said Maybe Happy Ending was her favorite because “It felt like you were watching a movie. The storyline was so great and something I had never experienced before.”
This trip was not just a vacation, but a chance for us as young performers to dream bigger, work harder, and experience firsthand what it means to be a part of the “theatre world.” From the stage to the streets of Times Square, this spring break gave us memories (and coffee habits) that we’ll carry with us forever.
