Grayson James (he/him/his)
BFA Musical Theatre, Class of 2023

gcollins@mmm.edu
IG: @graysonjmes
TikTok: @graysonjmes

What is your FAVORITE thing about your program?

My favorite thing about my program is probably the variety in the classes we take. While we learn how to do the work, we’re also learning about the absolute foundations of the work (music theory, the history of musical theatre, and script analysis).

What would you change about your program? Why?

Probably the Gen Ed requirements. I do think it’s good to take some non-theatre classes to switch it up, but we have 11 different gen ed requirements. Although I’ve gotten to take some cool classes (i.e. History of Graphic Design and Illustration, Race, Class & Gender in Media, and Forensic Science), now that I’m getting to the end of my time here I’m finding it difficult to fit these in. That could be because I’m a transfer, but 11 is quite a lot, in my opinion

How would you describe your program’s vibe? Competitive? Supportive? Something else?!

I’d say my program is very supportive. I can tell every teacher I’ve had really cares about us and our futures, so even when they can be “harsh” it’s from a place of love and wanting us to grow and do better. You’re not going to get along with everyone, obviously, but those people are few and far between.

What was the biggest surprise about your program that you didn’t anticipate as an incoming freshman?

Like I said before, I’m a transfer student, so I started in my program as a first semester sophomore, and my entire first year was entirely on Zoom. I’d say the Marymount college audition process really prepares you for what you’re going to experience as a student (it’s six hours long, so you get a lot of info, lol).

What makes your program unique?

I think our Daily Dance program is something I haven’t really heard about at other schools. Instead of taking specific ballet, tap and jazz classes, you go in every year and do Daily Dance Placements, where you dance for the head of Daily Dance and a few teachers in each “discipline.” From there, you’re placed in a class with people on similar levels as you. From there, it’s up to your teacher to

create a jazz/tap/ballet schedule. I love going to dance every morning and think it’s a great way to start my morning. And because each teacher is different, you get a different experience. For example, tap is not my strong suit, so I don’t have to dread going to tap class only for an entire semester. At the end of each semester we have Dance Share, where each class performs a combo for everyone else in their year. It’s a really great and supportive experience all around.

Real talk: How do the audition & casting processes function at your program?

Each semester, Marymount has the Mainstage Play, Mainstage Musical, and then what are called the Directing & Playwriting Projects, which are student directed and written plays performed in a play-festival style. The Mainstage Play and Musical have a general audition together (so when you go in, you’re auditioning for both at the same time). At the general audition, you perform a monologue, story, or poem, whatever you feel shows you off as a performer best. After the general audition, you go in for a separate vocal audition for the musical, sometimes followed by a dance call. The requirements for the vocal audition vary by the show. After those general auditions are over, a callback list will come out. All callbacks for both shows happen on one day, and you get certain time slots depending on what character(s) you get called back for. Callback day is usually very long, and there’ll be a lot of waiting. After callbacks, the cast list follows usually the week after.

For the Directing and Playwriting projects, you go in for a Zoom audition for all the directors of every piece. Same as the Mainstage shows, you tell a story/monologue/etc. Callback lists come out, and you go in person for callbacks. Depending on how many shows you are called back for, you may be there for a while, but these callbacks are considerably shorter than those for the mainstage. The cast list also usually comes quicker for these. I’ve noticed less people audition for these because they're not Mainstage shows, but I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a really good experience.

What’s it like outside of performance classes? Is it possible to participate in extracurriculars? Greek life? Are students encouraged to create their own work? Double majors? Minors?

Honestly, double majors are strongly discouraged for MT Majors just because of how specific the course load is. Minors, however, are very common in my program. I’m a Creative Writing Minor and I find it just the perfect amount of classes/credits to balance with my major requirements. We don’t have any Greek life but we have plenty of extracurriculars/clubs! We have Apple Fest in the fall and Strawberry Fest in the spring, which are basically involvement fairs. A lot of the clubs/student organizations have tables and there’s food trucks, games, and free stuff. It’s super fun!

Does your school help you pursue professional working opportunities during the year, over the summer, and/or post-graduation? How so?

During the year, you technically have to get permission to audition for things that aren’t affiliated with the school. (I say technically because I don’t know many people who have actually done this, they usually treat it as a “cross that bridge when we get to it” situation if they get cast). Summer stock opportunities are heavily advertised here, and I know plenty of people doing Strawhats and such. If you have a professor you really like, they are usually more than happy to give you notes on any self tapes. A lot of post-grad stuff doesn’t start till Senior year, so I don’t have a ton of experience with that just yet, but seniors have told me a lot of the senior specific classes have been extremely helpful.

Are there any opportunities and/or resources that you feel are lacking in your program?

We’re getting more opportunities as new faculty members come on board, but I definitely think we should get more information on “real world” auditions and Equity before senior year.

What’s the dynamic like between students and faculty?

Amazing! I have so many professors that have shaped me so much, even if I only had them for a semester. Like I said, professors are usually open to work one on one with you outside class and are up to offer advice. In performance classes, notes are very focused on you/you and your scene partner(s) depending on the class.

What types of structures are in place for students to receive feedback inside and outside of the classroom? How about for students to give feedback?

Performance classes (Acting/Scene Study, Musical Theatre Techniques (acting through song), Scene Into Song, and Portfolio (book-building class for seniors) are obviously extremely note-based, but if you need clarification for anything or even additional notes, you can always stop your professor after class or email them and they usually get back quickly. As for students giving notes in-class, it honestly depends on the professor. My current Scene Into Song professor always asks the class for their thoughts, but I’ve had some Acting teachers who don’t like students to give notes in class, but let students reach out to their peers separately for feedback.

What steps has your school taken/is your school currently taking to promote greater representation for minority communities and to ensure greater equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of the educational environment? 

Our school often has city halls and other forums related to diversity, and we have an Office of Diversity and Inclusion. They’ve been hiring more diverse visiting professors and adjunct faculty, so hopefully more will be promoted to full-time soon! As a trans student, I’ve felt supported by pretty much all of my professors so far, especially my vocal coach, in regards to my transition and my voice. It’s very nice to have people who are open to listen and work with you as things change.

What types of resources does your school encourage/make available for students in regards to mental, physical, and emotional health?

Our health center offers mental health services, and in my experience most professors will offer solutions if you’re having trouble coming to class or turning in work for mental health reasons.

What were you most worried about as an incoming freshman that you TOTALLY didn’t need to be worried about?

Being vulnerable in front of people who at the time were strangers. I’ve always had a hard time talking about my emotions, even with my closest friends. However, since performance classes are so small (usually no more than 15 people), you form really great relationships with your classmates and they are always there to lend a hand. It feels easy now to admit that I’m struggling with a piece or when I don’t feel great about a performance.

How did you know that this was the right place for you?

Honestly, my audition. Some people don’t like how long the audition is, but I thought it was really insightful. In a lot of schools where you walk into a room by yourself, perform, and leave, you don’t really get a sense of the students, faculty, or program besides what they tell you. By spending six hours in the school going through each discipline (singing, acting, and dancing), you really feel like a student for a day. I bonded with other prospective students and really felt the positive energy from the faculty. It was in the end what made me decide to come to Marymount, and transferring here was the best decision I’ve ever made for myself.