Next Stop, Broadway 2024

Welcome to Next, Stop Broadway! Every year the graduating seniors of the WMU Music Theatre Performance program travel to New York City to perform a showcase for theatrical agents, casting directors and other industry professionals in order to get a jump-start on their careers in the business. After working passionately for four years, this is an exceptional opportunity to audition in the big time. Many of our past graduates have in fact booked agents and gigs directly from their performance in this showcase. Nineteen years ago, we began the Next, Stop Broadway performances to feature our graduating seniors performing their showcase as the opening act for an exciting Broadway performer who in turn would be in residence on campus for a week, working with the seniors on their songs and giving them invaluable advice about entering the professional field. Previous Broadway artists that have come to Kalamazoo include Faith Prince (Guys and Dolls), Lauren Worsham (A Gentleman’s Guide…), Darius de Haas, Cady Huffman (The Producers), Brenda Braxton (Chicago), Patrick Cassidy (42nd Street, Aida, Joseph), Beth Leavel (Drowsy Chaperone), Jeff Blumenkrantz (Sweeney Todd), Lillias White (Dream Girls, The Life), Karen Ziemba (Contact, Chicago), Michael Gruber (Cats), Donna Lynne Champlin (My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Sweeney Todd), Julia Murney (Wicked), John Treacy Egan (The Producers), Leah Hocking (Mamma Mia!), Nancy Anderson (Kiss Me Kate) and Danny Gurwin (Little Women). We are thrilled to add Tony nominee and  television star Caitlin Kinnunen to this distinguished list. I know you will enjoy her performance as much as the students have enjoyed having her with us.

Will Barringer

Maile Beck

Nadya Beyar

Jayme Dills

Shea Hager

Nate Hermen

Jaden Kellman

Paige Lord

Joey Rankin

Nikita Rose

Zach Thomas

Aniya Thompson

Zachary Widner

Kemar Williams

Hannah Leah Weinraub