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From left, Reneé Rapp, John Pope and Sean Mason
On The Rise RENEÉ RAPP
Even though she graduated high school only two years ago,
Blumey Best Actress Winner 2018
playbill.com/person/renee-rapp
@reneemj @reneemjrapp Renee' MJ Rapp
Reneé Rapp has wasted no time taking the
industry by storm. Best Actress winner in both the 2018 Blumeys and the 2018 Jimmys®, Reneé is currently starring as Regina George in Mean Girls on Broadway, which she booked after living in NYC for only two months! Known for her confidence and vocal ability, she performed at the 2018 Supergirl Pro Surf and Musical Festival and The Educational Theatre Foundation's Broadway Back to School event prior to her casting offer for Mean Girls. While growing up in Charlotte, Reneé began writing her own songs, taking inspiration from classic pop and R&B. This year, Reneé says her biggest goal is to launch her music career further.
Though his time at Blumenthal Performing Arts placed him on the theatrical stage,
John Pope
has now
transitioned to the big screen. His most recent release is A Deadly Legend, but this casting was connected to his work on an earlier project, She Came from the Woods. John is excited to attend an upcoming film festival tour that will also feature another project he has been working on titled Animal Heart. Not only is John acting in this 20-minute dark comedy, he is credited with writing and directing it as well. He said working as an actor has been invaluable for his spirit because “it teaches people patience, determination, self-honesty, and most importantly, how to listen to someone else.” John believes that all students deserve a chance to study and pursue things they are most passionate about and for those that do, "just keep going!"
SEAN MASON
Mary Doctor Scholarship Winner 2016 & Loonis McGlohon Young Jazz Artist Competition Winner 2014
www.seanmasonofficial.com
@_SEANMASON @SEANMASONOFFICIAL SEAN MASON TRIO
JOHN POPE
Mary Doctor Scholarship Winner 2013 http://imdb.me/johnpope
@itsjohnpope @imjohnpope @Imjohnpope
Having recently moved to New York City to follow his passions as a pianist and a composer,
Sean Mason
keeps very busy. He is studying at Juiliard, doing some “side man" work, and his jazz band, The Sean Mason Trio, has a residency at Smalls Jazz Club. Sean created this group so that he could play his own music about his experiences; one of his favorite pieces is “Southern Suite,” which addresses Southern culture. As an individual artist, Sean worked with his mentor Branford Marsalis on the soundtrack for the feature film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020). Sean’s most recent work has been as the musical director for Center Play by Vie Boheme. Sean’s goal in 2020 is to book his band for more live performances around the world and share the musical suites that he wrote to further enhance the lives of his audiences, impacting them in a positive way.
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Blumenthal Backtrack
SPOTLIGHT ON: ARTISTS & ADVOCATES Hannah-Kathryn Wall:
“HK”
is
a
sophomore
at
Western
1
Carolina
What is your favorite Blumenthal memory?
University and has already been involved in well over 10 theatrical events on campus — from main stage productions to student productions and
"Performing at the Blumeys!" —
auditions. This spring semester, she was cast in Hamlet as Polonius, and in February 2020, HK attended SETC, the Southeastern Theatre Conference. She really enjoyed the idea of unified professional auditions because she feels it has the performer's best interests at heart.
"Charlotte Squawks, haha!" —
Emily Kohn
Mark Nichols
"When I saw the helicopter used for Miss Saigon up close." —
Lexi Tooker
Blumey Best Supporting Actress Winner 2017 & Mary Doctor Scholarship Winner 2018 "Showing my portfolio for the Gordon Hayes Scholarship" —
Sophie Feher
"Watching the Barber of Seville" —
Jennifer Balaj
"Petting a tiger and a lemur in the news station, getting a tour of Snug Harbor at 9 a.m., and ending up in a Facebook Live video on press" —
Ryan McKeel:
Greensboro, Ryan spends a lot of time supporting those acclimating to university life in their identities as queer students. Part of Ryan’s research includes
how
Kitty Janvrin
In working with Queer Student Support Services at UNC
trauma-informed
art
therapy
can
benefit
the
healing
"When I took my older sisters to see The Lion King in 2018 for the first time!" —
Jennifer Tisdale-Gherardi
process of these students as they use their art form and art therapies to reclaim their stories and identities. One of Ryan’s goals in this field is to
"Mr. Beck meeting me and my mom for coffee to
bring a full-time art therapist to trauma and violence response centers on
discuss 'what I need to do to take his job.'”
campus.
—
On
the
horizon,
Ryan
hopes
to
achieve
a
Ph.D.
in
Cultural
Caitlin Herlihy
Foundations of Higher Education!
Blumenthal Intern Summer 2018
Getting to play with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra! - Veronica Leahy
Zane Nettles Theron: Zane
quickly
learned
Though he was first interested in sound design, that
his
passions
were
in
the
Baldwin
Wallace
University prop shop. Now, he has prop mastered over 15 shows! What he loves
most
about
working
in
props
is
finding
the
balance
between
detailing, while working on a wide breadth of objects and projects. Every day is a new challenge. After graduation in May 2020, Zane hopes to
#2020GOALS Apply to grad school -
Caitlin Herlihy
Learn a fourth language Travel to Europe -
return to the Williamstown Theatre Festival this summer.
Gordon Hay Scholarship Winner 2016
Amore Allen
Pass the N.C. Bar Exam -
Zeinab Caskey
Khalil Cabble
Write and record an album Make the Dean’s List -
- Sam Gatlin
Camillia Ligon
Get out of my comfort zone -
Abigail Brown
Volunteer at the local symphony Engage in local politics Get my writing out there-
- Ana Dell
Eric Figueroa Talia Buksbazen
Admission into the Teacher Education program -
Dequarius Jackson
Have an interesting story to share?
Send it, along with a photo, to
TPrudenti@blumenthalarts.org.