JTF From A New View with Corinna!

1. As a student choreographer, what has been your primary focus in preparing the cast for the Junior Theater Festival?

My main focus has been to make sure the choreography is engaging and will fit the JTF stage well. Preparing for JTF can be difficult as the “stage” is so different from a regular performance space.

2. What challenges have you faced during the rehearsal process, and how have you worked to overcome them?

Preparing for a performance in the Junior Theater Festival requires a lot of trial and error, specifically when it comes to making sure that everybody can be seen and the story can be translated in a small area. Many different options for choreography have been tried and discarded, but it’s all part of the process!

3. How do you keep the cast motivated and engaged throughout the preparation for the festival?

When thinking of choreography and little moments in our set, I have tried to put in ideas that would engage me with the story as best as possible. This not only makes the story more interesting but also helps the actors to have more fun!

4. What have you learned as a student choreographer working with a professional directing team?

I have learned a lot about sacrificing ideas for the sake of better storytelling; some things might have seemed great in my head, but sometimes a simpler idea can tell the story better.

5. What do you think sets this year’s performance apart from previous festivals?

I feel like this year’s performance has a lot of great ensemble moments. The cast has grown into the world of Beetlejuice very well, and all of the creepy Beetlejuice clone moments work great because of our involved ensemble.

6. How have you seen the cast grow as performers leading up to the festival?

Leading up to the festival, the cast has worked a lot on shifting between regular characters and more creepy, strange characters that require very different physical demeanors than what they are used to. I have seen a lot of growth in learning how to shift physical actions to set apart different characters.

7. What advice would you give to other student choreographers preparing for similar theater festivals or events.

I would tell them to take steps back to look at the choreography from an audience's perspective—does it make the story more engaging and add to how it is understood, or is it just plain choreography?

8. What has been your favorite part of the rehearsal process so far?

My favorite part of the rehearsal process has been seeing how much more engaging the story has become through different revisions made. It has been very fun to not only see growth in how the story is being told, but also feel it while I am performing.

9. How do you feel participating in the Junior Theater Festival will impact your growth as a performer and choreographer?

Working towards the Junior Theater Festival has helped me understand the importance of little moments and has taught me a lot about how there are many different ways to go about creating great stories.

10. What are you most excited about for the festival, both as a student choreographer and as a cast member?

I am most excited to spend the festival with some of my best friends and to be able to experience and spread JTF magic through our performance and other interactions!