Falmouth Academy Drama and English Teacher Elizabeth Munro Ledwell invited Patti Murin, American stage actress, singer, and dancer, to work with her students in the Theater Majors elective on May 20th. Murin taught an interactive virtual master class to students who presented short songs or monologues for her professional feedback. Juniors Ethan Pratt and Sarah Plotkin, Freshman Alexa Hartman, Adele Francis, and Fiona Gully, Eighth-grader Dillon Fondren, and seventh-graders Sophie Gaughan and Arden-O'Neil participated.

 

Murin originated the title role in Lysistrata Jones on Broadway in 2011, played Princess Anna in Frozen in 2018, and Dr. Nina Shore in the NBC medical drama, Chicago Med from 2016-2108. “Performing for Patti Murin was a wonderful way to help me build confidence auditioning,” said junior Sarah Plotkin. With a few quick suggestions from Murin such as “plant yourself and make it a conversation” to “deliver the line as if you’re processing the information for the first time,” the students’ performances were transformed when asked to deliver the lines again. “Her constructive criticism on visualizing the song really helped me to audition and perform on a new level,” said Plotkin, who sang “Once Upon a December” from the play, Anastasia. Murin suggested to Plotkin, “Instead of telling a story, live in the moment.”

 

Murin reminded the students that the audience wants to lean in to know more about what is happening on stage and in the actor's head. The more the actor can visualize the scene and connect with it emotionally, the more authentic and engaging the performance. Murin cautioned the actors not to be one-dimensional. “Find those moments of pain amongst the joy,” she said. “It is our jumble of emotions that make us interesting so give yourself the freedom to feel as many as you want.” 

 

Ninth-grader Alexa Hartman, a seasoned young actress who stars in an Amazon Prime original, Luna, the Witch, sang “Somewhere Beyond My Wildest Dreams” from The Little Mermaid. Murin immediately tapped into her experience playing Ariel when she advised Hartman to infuse a little conflict into her performance. “This song expresses joy, excitement, and relief,” said Murin. “ I firmly believe there can’t be excitement without a little bit of fear and that is how to keep songs, all songs, interesting.”

 

The mood shifted when ninth-grader Aubryn Dubois sang the part of Evan Hanson’s mother in “So Big So Small” from Dear Evan Hanson. It is a poignant song meant to convey comfort after loss and Murin affirmed Dubois’ performance and choice to keep her movements simple. “You don’t need to do big things with your body to convey emotion,” said Murin. When asked why she chose this piece, Dubois said it was one of her favorite musicals but most of her favorite songs were sung by Ben Platt, the lead male role. Murin encouraged Dubois not to be hindered by gender roles and said that the field is becoming more open. She said it is acceptable now to change the key signature to fit your range. What matters most is whether the performance is believable. Murin pointed out that Dubois is awfully young to be playing someone’s mother so asked her to consider singing the song again as an older sibling. “I definitely connected to it differently as a big sister, “ said Dubois. “It made a big difference for me and it was so freeing.”

 

The class wrapped up with Murin encouraging the students to keep acting if they’re having fun whether it is for a career or a hobby. She said when they look back at this time in their lives, they should be proud of themselves for finding ways to keep doing what they love and not just surviving but thriving. As she told Dillon Fondren who recited a monologue from Our Town. “It is the ability to play make-believe until you are a million years old that carries us through.”