Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– Students from Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Theatre and Dance recently returned from an immersive five-day trip into the heart of Broadway and the performing arts industry, as part of the program’s inaugural industry intensive in New York City.
Led by CC Conn, professor of lighting and sound design, and Zeke Bocklage, associate professor of acting and musical theatre, seventeen students of various classifications and theater focuses experienced the industry from multiple angles by attending performances, participating in workshops and connecting with professionals working on some of the biggest stages in the world.
“There’s a huge difference between learning about this industry in a classroom and actually stepping into it,” Bocklage said. “For our students, this trip wasn’t just about seeing Broadway shows, it was about witnessing the scale, rigor and humanity behind the work directly in the heart of our industry. They got to meet people who have built careers doing what they love, and in many cases, people who started in shoes just like theirs. That kind of exposure is incredibly grounding. It demystifies the industry and helps students see where they fit and what it really takes to get there.”
Highlights included Broadway productions such as “Boop! The Musical,” “Maybe Happy Ending” and “A Night of Brown Excellence: South Asians on Broadway,” which was followed by a talkback with the show's creative team about representation and identity in the industry. Students also saw “Death Becomes Her,” “Hadestown,” “John Proctor is the Villain” and Stephen Sondheim’s “Old Friends.” Additionally, the students attended and participated in a taping of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
The group went behind the scenes at the John Golden Theatre with Valarie LaMour of IATSE Local-1, and the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre with SFA alumnus Bobby Malbrough, who shared insight into Broadway’s day-to-day operations. They also met Chele Ware, SFA Distinguished Alumna and properties chief for “Saturday Night Live.” Ware spoke candidly about her career path and the connection between live theater and television.
In addition to cultural stops at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Broadway, students participated in workshops and info sessions with the Actors’ Equity Association, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Electronic Theatre Controls, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, and Maggie Flanigan Studio, where they explored Meisner-based training.
“There’s no substitute for this kind of firsthand experience,” Conn said. “It gave our students a vision for what’s possible, and a network of professionals and alumni who’ve walked this path before them.”
The industry intensive is part of the school’s ongoing commitment to blending academic training with real-world, up-to-date opportunities, giving students a clearer view of their future in the arts.
For more information, visit the school’s website.