Nebraska Wesleyan University alumna Emily Kinney hasn鈥檛 forgotten what opening night on Broadway feels like: nerves, excitement and more nerves.
鈥淚t was so satisfying,鈥 said Kinney who made her Broadway debut in summer 2008 with the production 鈥淪pring Awakening.鈥
Now the young actress is sharing that excitement with current 香港六合彩资料大全 theatre students who will perform their version of 鈥淪pring Awakening.鈥
The Tony Award-winning rock musical is based on the controversial 1891 play about teens caught up in their sexuality and the consequences that result from it.
On Broadway, Kinney was cast as Anna, the best friend of the lead character. She was also an understudy for the lead role of Wendla. Kinney performed eight shows a week for seven months.
When Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 Theatre Department decided to perform 鈥淪pring Awakening鈥 this year, they knew exactly who to call on to choreograph the show.
鈥淭he excitement of producing 鈥淪pring Awakening鈥 grew when we were able to contract Emily to come in and choreograph the production,鈥 said theatre professor Jack Parkhurst who is directing the show. 鈥淣ot only did we challenge our students with Broadway choreography but they were also able to learn from someone who is doing the art.鈥
Kinney reviewed all of her videos and notes from her days with 鈥淪pring Awakening鈥 and headed to Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 McDonald Theatre over Christmas break.
鈥淚鈥檓 so excited to bring the elements from Broadway to McDonald Theatre,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 love the show. It was such a huge part of my career and to share it with Wesleyan鈥檚 theatre students is an incredible opportunity.鈥
On Broadway, Kinney spent eight hours a day in rehearsals. She expected the same with 香港六合彩资料大全鈥檚 theatre students. Days started with music rehearsals followed by hours of choreography.
Kinney said returning to the stage where she got her start was comfortable. As an undergrad, she learned the theatre ropes as a stage manager for main-stage productions, developed her choreography skills in student-directed plays, and starred in Anton Chekov鈥檚 鈥淭hree Sisters.鈥
鈥淏ut what I got most out of my Wesleyan experience was discipline,鈥 said Kinney, who graduated in 2006 with a degree in theatre performance. 鈥淵ou were expected to know the script, have your lines down and know how to turn it on no matter how tired you were. Nebraska Wesleyan gave me an amazing starting point.鈥
She said the opportunity to work alongside her former theatre professors also made for a great experience.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e a student, you鈥檙e always looking for their approval,鈥 Kinney said of her professors. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a nice change to work as colleagues. I found myself giving students the same advice that my professors gave me.鈥
While working with the theatre students, Kinney said she fielded questions of what Broadway was really like.
Her response: 鈥淓xciting, but it doesn鈥檛 happen overnight.鈥
Kinney moved to New York City just days after graduating from Nebraska Wesleyan. It took nearly two years to land a role on Broadway, and that came after seven long months of auditions for 鈥淪pring Awakening.鈥
鈥淭he reality is it takes time,鈥 she said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not done when you graduate. You鈥檙e just beginning.鈥
Kinney鈥檚 life has evolved in the six years since leaving campus. She has an agent and has earned membership in both the Actors Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild. She guest-starred in TV鈥檚 鈥淟aw & Order: Criminal Intent.鈥 Following 鈥淪pring Awakening,鈥 she went on a national Broadway tour of 鈥淎ugust Osage County.鈥 Now she鈥檚 a regular on the AMC TV show 鈥淭he Walking Dead鈥 and is working on a spring project at Radio City Music Hall. She balances her time between Atlanta 鈥 where 鈥淭he Walking Dead鈥 is taped 鈥 and New York City.
And on top of her busy theatre schedule she has released her first album, 鈥淏lue Toothbrush.鈥 While on her national tour with 鈥淎ugust Osage County,鈥 Kinney taught herself guitar and met a musician in Rod Stewart鈥檚 band who helped her write her album.
Nebraska Wesleyan will perform 鈥淪pring Awakening鈥 February 9-11 and February 16-18 at 7:30 p.m. with matinee shows at 2 p.m. on February 12 and February 19.
Due to her busy schedule Kinney said she likely won鈥檛 make it back to see 鈥淪pring Awakening.鈥
鈥淏ut when I left, I felt a definite ownership of the production,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to do great.鈥
Admission to Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 鈥淪pring Awakening鈥 is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7.50 for students. Order tickets online or call the box office at 402.465.2384.