Attending Performance - 2 points

 During my trip to New York City, I attended the musical Chicago. The show is the second-longest-running Broadway show and has been playing for 28 years. Chicago takes place in a Chicago women’s jail and follows two rival murderers trying to reach fame and freedom. Its themes of corruption, fame, and manipulation still ring true today. In the age of TikTok fame and reality TV, I found myself comparing the media manipulation and corruption of the show to the realities of our everyday social media experiences. 

Even though it was my first time seeing this show, I was pleasantly surprised to recognize songs that I didn’t know were from the show. My favorite part of the show was the stage design, which had the orchestra and conductor on stage, visible to us. At some points, the actors even interacted with the orchestra, which I thought was so fun!
 

This experience connected with my course Theatre Insights. In this course, I am learning the different elements of theatre, from acting to producing and writing. Class was brought to life as I watched the show. I payed attention to aspects I wouldn’t normally focus on I recognized the work of stage hands, lighting, and sound just as much as the acting and singing. 

- Kaela Hawkins (c/o 2026)