Passaic Prep’s Thespian Troupe competed at the New Jersey Thespian Festival in South Jersey on Jan. 18, when one student stood out and came home with a major prize.
Prep sophomore Angel Santana received a Superior Award for his performance of “Michael in the Bathroom” from “Be More Chill.” Angel earned the right to continue competing, with the Nationals phase in Indianapolis.
Mrs. Morinho, Prep’s Theatre Pathway teacher, said Angel’s award was extremely impressive.
“I’m extremely excited and happy that we received a Superior Award in my first year taking the troupe,” she said. “I think attending Nationals is going to be a great experience for Angel. He’ll be able to attend workshops and meet other students from around the country, so hopefully he will learn a lot throughout this experience. I’m excited for him to share his work with everyone there.”
The Festival included both technical and performance categories including Monologues, Solo/Duet/Group Musical Theatre, Group Acting, Costume Design, Makeup Design and Scenic Design, among others. Angel shared more information and his opinions in an interview with The Boulevard Online.
What piece did you perform, and why did you choose it?
- “Michael in the Bathroom” from “Be More Chill.” Honestly, when I first picked the song it was because it was recommended by Ms. Morinho, but after performing it many times and listening to the lyrics, I understood the character I was playing and how he connects to me.
What was the most challenging part of preparing your piece?
- The most challenging part was trying to be able to find the right song because at first, the notes were too high and I started losing hope for the song.
What feedback did you receive from the judges that really stuck with you?
- One of the judges pointed out a habit of mine during my performance and recommended me to be careful with conducting my hands to the song and make my hand movements purposeful.
What was your favorite part of attending Thespians?
- My favorite part of attending Thespians was probably performing my duets and being able to watch other performances.
How did it feel hearing your name called for a Superior rating?
- When the awards were being called, I felt really lost so I didn’t think I would win anything. Everyone was screaming my name and I was still lost but when I saw it, I was shocked. I didn’t know how to feel because I didn’t think I would’ve won anything, but I was really proud of myself.
Do you see theater playing a role in your future, either professionally or personally?
- Yes, I see theatre playing a big role in my future whether it’s professionally or personally.
Are there any roles or shows you dream of performing someday?
- I dream of performing as Nick Carraway from The Great Gatsby, Pippin from Pippin, Percy Jackson from Percy Jackson, Seymour from Little Shop of Horrors, Orpheus from Hadestown, and Evan Hansen from Dear Evan Hansen.
What motivates you to keep doing theater?
- What motivates me is the memories I make with friends both on stage and during rehearsals. It’s also really fun to be able to act as many different characters and to be able to perform on stage.
What did this achievement teach you about yourself?
- This achievement taught me that I still have so much to learn as both a singer and an actor. Although I won an award, there’s still so many things I need to improve on.
