Curtain Call!

"What I've enjoyed most about the arts here is the level of support from Princeton friends and peers as audience members. It is the energy from incredibly warm audiences that propels performers to sing or act at their optimum levels. Two particular instances that come to mind (of which I've been lucky enough to be a part) are the Tigertones' performance last year at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, a benefit for the World Trade Center Fund and Broadway Cares-Equity Fights AIDS and my vocal recital in Taplin Hall in February.

At Lincoln Center, it seemed that we could not quiet the crowd before we started singing. We felt a Utopian high, and I would have loved to have freeze framed the moment when we entered the stage. What was even more meaningful about this performance was that it was the perfect fusion of performing and helping others through fund raising for worthy causes.

At my recital, where I performed various works in several languages by classical, modern and musical theater composers, the audience was incredibly warm and seemed to come on my one man performance journey with me. One rarely engages in a solo performance with support of such an awesome magnitude. I was so lucky and incredibly grateful. These two evenings of performance – at Lincoln Center and Taplin Recital Hall – are times I will never forget." — Robert E. Accordino, Certificate in Musical Performance and certificate in Theatre and Dance, Tigertones

"When I entered Princeton, I was not quite sure where I would find my niche. Since I had been dancing since the age of two, I decided to audition for Expressions. That was honestly the best choice I could have made. During my four years in Expressions, I not only learned more about dance technique, I also expanded my own creativity and leadership capacities, both onstage and off. In addition, I met an amazing group of people. The Expressions girls have become some of my best friends. Whether during very late-night rehearsals, movie nights, social outings, dinners or random conversations, we always have a wonderful time.

As I graduate, I will never forget how belonging to Expressions has shaped such an important time in my life. Performing with Expressions has even inspired me to pursue an entertainment-oriented career. After spending a bit of my summer dancing, I ultimately plan on working as a television broadcast journalist.

My experience with Expressions has given me confidence in my abilities to accomplish any of my goals. Furthermore, it has provided me with an incredible group of friends for which I am forever grateful." — Lisa Keels, Expressions Dance Company, Artistic Director

"I have been performing with the Triangle Club ever since I came to Princeton. I performed such roles of Sacajawea, a nun, "Bunny" in a parody called Upper East Side Story, an a capella singer in the group "The Peter Singers," Janina Montero, a crazy Chiquita Banana-esque woman named Maria in the folk group "Peter, Paul and Maria," and a cucumber, among other roles. I have performed with Triangle in Frosh week shows for three years, singing "What a Morning!" at Richardson Auditorium and I have also performed with the Ding! troupe. I was also Social Chair and Advertisement Sales Director.

There are so many Triangle memories for me. Triangle really defined my freshman year when I first came to Princeton and pretty much defined my four years here at Princeton. Through working on three shows and tours of "The Blair Arch Project," "Puns of Steel" and "Absurd to the Wise," I have sang old Triangle songs on tour with alumni, danced in the Woody Woo fountain, slept on old theater floors and ate Ramen, laughed until I cried, and made most of my best friends here at Princeton.

Performing in Triangle has really allowed me to totally break-free and act completely insane on stage, all for a laugh. I remember the first cast party I went to my freshman year, and everyone was so excited to be working on a new show. We as freshmen didn't know anyone yet, and the upper-class Triangulites welcomed us and immediately made us feel a part of the group.

I think one of the best Triangle moments I have ever had is experiencing the roaring and rowdy crowd at Richardson for the Frosh Week Show. There is nothing quite like a crowd's thunderous applause at the end of the opening number. I didn't even mind getting hit with the toilet paper. Playing Maria in "West Side Story" for sold-out audiences at Richardson was simply amazing. I found so many new friends in [Princeton University Players] and really was given the opportunity to play a more dramatic and tragic character, which was very different from a Triangle role. I even learned how to truly cry on stage.

Working with such a talented cast really made me rethink my plans for next year. Although I am still interviewing for finance jobs, I am definitely going to keep singing and performing on the side. Eventually, I may take a shot at Broadway. Who knows." — Kelly Ann Murphy, Triangle Club, Princeton University Players

"My favorite experience was directing and co-choreographing West Side Story, which combined performers from the theatre, music and dance communities. As a freshman, I only had experience in singing.

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Working with highly motivated, aggressive, talented, zealous students and teachers inspired me to grow as an artist and to truly believe that you can do anything with enough will power and obsession. I have had the fortunate opportunity to direct, choreograph, act, sing and dance on campus. Although kind words feel nice, I have also learned that criticism is the only thing that will help you improve. Thank you, Princeton – I don't know where else I can breakdance and sing an opera in the same performance. People may laugh and scoff, but there are benefits to believing (or fooling yourself) that you are capable of doing everything." — Daeil Cha, Sympoh Urban Arts Crew, President; Princeton University Players, Public Relations Chair; Princeton University Glee Club

"I still remember the morning that I awoke my freshman year to the sound of melodious voices bursting into my Butler double singing 'Flimflam Man.' I had been claimed by the Tigerlilies that morning, and my Princeton experience would thereafter be significantly shaped by the the time I would spend with the 'Lils. When a girl becomes a Tigerlily, she is instantly a 'Lil, and I think what I noticed most about the Tigerlilies right away was the way that they all embraced me as though we were longtime friends.

Over the past four years, I have shared a significant portion of my life with the Tigerlilies, whether in weekly practices, yearly tours, recording two albums and countless shows and reunions performances. The 'Lils have made me laugh with their jokes and quirks, made me cry with our stunning melodies, loved me as a sister and taught me the delicate balance that arises when friendships and business are combined.

Whenever I think of Princeton in the future, the faint tune of the Tigerlilies signature song, 'How High the Moon,' will not be far off." — Betsy Massopust '03 Tigerlilies Performance Director '00, Tour Manager '02

"Most of my arts experience at Princeton was in the theater. By the time I graduate I will have performed in 14 shows. That's not much as far as the theater crowd goes here, but I had a lot of great experiences. Some of my favorite roles were The Visitor in 'Picasso at the Lapin Agile' at Theatre Intime; Malvolio in Princeton Shakespeare Company's 'Twelfth Night;' and Bennett in Tom Stoppard's 'Travesties' at 185 Nassau.

Acting led me to assist with Arts Alive, which was also a great experience for me — I helped out with planning minimally and also enjoyed the chance to accompany NYC school kids to plays and to do dramatic workshops to enhance the experience of seeing a play for them. The best part of acting is the work that goes into it — the teamwork, the effort, the creativity from cast members, directors, technicians, everyone — the closeness of a cast really makes a show worthwhile.

I also served as president of the Shakespeare Company for a year. It was a rewarding to think about theatre from an administrative perspective is really different from being on stage and performing. I acted here because I enjoyed the creative effort and the interactions with so many interesting people. The performances were always the icing on the cake — rehearsals, learning lines, cast parties — those were the best memories. Although I don't intend to pursue theatre professionally, my experiences at Princeton will always remain with me — the fun, the acting, the challenges, and the joys of making a script come to life for an audience — it was always such a rush. — Michael Ritter, Princeton Shakespeare Company