Broadway actress Jessica Molaskey visited Milligan on Oct. 2 and 3 to work with the Musical Theatre Department and teach a Masterclass. The event had over 20 attendees, including six students who performed for Molaskey on stage.
Molaskey has starred in 12 different broadway musicals including “Cats,” “Tommy,” “Falsettos” and “Oklahoma!.” She also was a member of the original cast of the musical “Songs for a New World.”
The Milligan Theatre Department will be performing “Songs for a New World” this semester.
In an interview following the event, Molaskey spoke of how important mentors were to her growth as a performer.
“I specifically coach [“Songs for a New World”] now because I know it so, so well. There really is a science to how you break down songs; you can’t sing the beginning the way you sing the end,” she said. “I was lucky to land my first show, but, you know, I worked hard for it. I really did.”
The Masterclass began with a brief introduction from Milligan professor Dr. Carrie Klofach and then Molaskey herself.
Molaskey expressed how proud she was of the students for singing and being willing to be critiqued. “Being an artist means being comfortable being uncomfortable,” she said.
Six students then took to the stage individually to perform a piece for her, and each sang their piece two or three times with critiques in between.
Sophomore musical theatre major Mareena Rodriguez was one of the performers at the event.
She found her piece, “Out of My Head,” online. “I found Diamond and Kooman through the internet, and my professor suggested a specific song from their work for me to sing,” she said. “I fell in love with it, I really relate to the character.”
Other performers at the event included Kevin Odom, Hannah Meyers, Margret Siglin, Maggie Booher and Dustin Odom.
Students in the musical also worked with Molaskey the day before the Masterclass. Getting to know her ahead of time made the on-stage interaction a little less nerve-racking for the evening’s performers.
“It was an amazing experience,” said Rodriguez, a stage manager for the upcoming musical. “I think my favorite part was being able to hear what someone with her expertise has to say. I’m just a second-year music student and hearing a big-time performer from New York tell me ‘Hey, you’re good.’ gives me a ‘wow I can do this feeling’.”
The Milligan Musical Theatre Department will be performing “Songs from a New World” Oct. 24-27 in the McGlothlin-Street Theatre in the Gregory Center. Tickets are $10 at the box office or $10 plus additional fees online.
Check out the latest Stampede TV to see some of the musical performances from the evening plus a full interview with Molaskey.