3-2 Assignment and Discussion: WCC PASSAGE Play Auditions + Interviews

Good evening everyone, I hope you are all having a pleasant evening. 

In today's assignment, our group was tasked with venturing around our Campus to explore and find events that had been going on, and write a feature article on said events. Originally I had planned to do a Art Club Luncheon that had occurred on October 4th, but I unfortunately slept right through it. (Quite professional, I know. Definitely wouldn't slide in the news room, I'd already be packing my stuff because I KNOW I would be fired over something like that.)

Anyways, thankfully I was able to find an event going on the following day, as a friend of mine (Who I interviewed in this news story) told me about auditions going on for a play, so I figured I'd get that done since it was convenient. Here's what I had come up with, and I'm pretty happy with it, honestly. Definitely feels professional, and I'm happy I was able to come up with something like this for my first go at writing news.

. . . .

    In a stunning display of ambition and creativity, Westchester Community College is gearing up to stage an audacious production, putting their local spin on a Broadway sensation. The performance, aptly titled "Passage," beckons both seasoned actors and aspiring thespians to step into its complex, enigmatic world, where the lines between reality and imagination blur, and the journey takes precedence over the destination.

Christopher Chen's Broadway performance, "Passage," explores themes of identity, cultural assimilation, and the fluidity of human connections. The play is structured as a series of interconnected vignettes that span different time periods and settings, examining how individuals from diverse backgrounds navigate the complexities of identity and adapt to new environments. 

We reached out to the director of this endeavor, Professor Steve Reidel, to procure why this performance was selected over others he has considered.

“This performance stands out due to its unique and thought-provoking exploration of complex themes related to human connection and one’s identity, making it distinct from many other performances we have considered pursuing this semester.

Professor Steve Reidel took it upon himself to rally students interested in the feature production after a few crew members had to abandon the production due to scheduling conflicts. He is giving those who missed the original deadline one final shot, and no preparation for roles is needed as readings were provided on set. 

I reached out to one of those looking to audition for a role in this feature production. Fellow WCC Sophomore Aliya shed some light on why she enlisted for a role in this Broadway performance: 

“Performing in this production will indeed help me out on future endeavors, it will give me a chance to better myself, performance-wise and also will set me up for other productions as well.

Truly inspiring stuff,  It’s honestly amazing how many students have signed up for an attempt at scoring a role in this play despite it being very last notice. I myself tried to apply for a role during the original wave of auditions, but was unfortunately dismissed - Guess I’m not much of an actor, folks. 

Although auditions have closed for the moment, Professor Steve Riedel has mentioned to us that there will be auditions for the next production the following semester, so ambitious actors need not to worry if they missed out on their chance. Riedel has also stated that they are looking for individuals wanting to assist with stage management. 

I managed to meet with one of these students, who unfortunately was not able to score a role in the performance, yet still wanted to assist on set. Fellow WCC Student Kasi who shared why despite not getting the role she was looking for, chose to assist in production: 

"I love the theater. No matter if I'm behind or in front of the curtain, I'm having a great time. I'd never pass up the opportunity to be a part of a production like this"

Performances for the feature production are set to begin on November 10th, operating only on the weekends until the weekend of November 19th. For more information on future feature productions, or for a role on the stage management crew, please contact Professor Steve Reidel who is located in Room 214 of the Hankin Academic Arts Building, which is located on the Western side of WCC. All are encouraged to apply.