The Wolf Magazine

Issue date: 3/13/09 Section: Music and Entertainment

Dody Nolan came to Loyola looking to sharpen her distinct singing voice and hone her theater skills. But without a musical theater program, she couldn't do both at the same time.

"I always knew I wanted to be in music and theater," she said. "It is tough because my heart is in it, but Loyola doesn't offer me an outlet."

Because Loyola lacks a musical theater program, many students like Nolan find themselves waffling between a theater and music degree. Hoping to provide an outlet for those students, the Broadway junkies of Loyola have formed the Musical Theater Organization. The organization, officially chartered in the fall of 2008, welcomes interested students from all majors.

The group takes advantage of the music department's Recital Hour class held Thursday during the window. Recital Hour gives them an opportunity to showcase their talents to fellow students and faculty. The group also holds monthly performances at Satchmo's in the Underground.

Each performance has a theme that guides content choices. A week after the famed musical "Rent" closed its doors on Broadway, the group held "A Tribute to Rent" to celebrate their love for the show and remorse over its departure. For Halloween, they performed selections from more macabre musicals like "Wicked" and "Phantom of the Opera."

Patrick Gendusa, faculty advisor for MTO, has watched this budding organization come into fruition. "Audience turn-out has been excellent. We just want to continue making our presence known on campus and let the university know we are here and we are strong," he says. "There is a need and desire for and from students."

Member Gabriela Rivera, mass communications junior, has found a home in MTO. "Being involved has helped me with my voice, my confidence, and overall understanding of performance. We are a close knit group," she says. "It is so great to be able to perform for others and do something I love. It's so stress-free because I'm not getting a grade on my performance. I do it because it's a way to express myself outside of the classroom."

With limited musical theater classes, MTO provides an outlet for students looking to expand their repertoires. Musical Theater I and II classes were taught by Gendusa in Spring '07 and '08, but the class is no longer offered. American Lyrical Theater is currently the only musical theater class. "With the music classes, there's no acting portion and acting classes are straight theater. They have different aspects. The way you move your body and speak to your audience is different [in both mediums]," says Nolan, who is vice president of MTO. "It would be great to form classes that teach best of both worlds."

Continued...

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