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Good Morning. Good Morning.
Welcome back to campus! How are you? Very Good.
Oh it's great to see you. (It's great to see you). Are you having fun?
Oh yeah, this is great. Good!
Hi there, my name is Gannon O'Brien. I'm a 2011 graduate of the Musical Theatre program
here at the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music of the Catholic University of America.
I was cast as the ensemble and also the under study to lead the character Chris of Miss Saigon
at the signature centre theatre in Arlington, Virginia. During our tech rehearsal period
our lead Chris a pulled a muscle in his throat
and it was day to day up until opening night where I got the final word that I'd be
taking over.
When I got the official word that I'd be stepping in
to take over the the roll it was so exciting and so--it was just thrilling.
Luckily I had prepared the music maybe to about 75 percent
performance ready and the rest kind of came
to the two
days before getting the final word.
Everybody else in the entire cast was so unbelievably patient and understanding
and supportive of me stepping in. They made it that much easier for me.
I was like, "Yes!"
because I knew he'd step up to the plate. He's [Gannon] very good at stepping up to the plate.
So,
I thought this is going to be awesome for him that he will step into this
do a great job which he did I got to see him in the show
and he was--it was pretty emotional actually. The Dean and I went
to see all the guys that were in the show. My sophomore year
we did "Sweeney Todd" and on top of that
being just a
one of my favorite shows of all time it was--I was cast as
a part that was like considered a dream role and it was
the part of "Anthony"
the sailor so-- and music directed by Tom and
it was just a lot of fun. This environment was
so good for the show. I mean the students were right in the audience's face
and so the audience was like terrified some of the time. I think one thing we really emphasize here
is telling the story
really telling whatever story it is and whatever show we're doing
and I think that's what these kid do well. When you see your students
you know, getting on that stage doing what you train them to do
being successful it's emotional it's like having one of your own children
step up and make it. To have the skill set that I learned here
was invaluable in stepping in at such short notice. To learn a roll by kind of
overnight doesn't come from just talent.
I mean it's from, you know, really having that rigorous training.
Catholic does really have the most renown musical theatre program of any other of the Universities in the D.C. area
It's not uncommon to see many friendly faces from your days at Catholic University
out and about working professionally. Without the skill set
that I acquired here it would've been really almost impossible to step in
to that role on such short notice. I'm just grateful for the knowledge that I
obtained here and can't wait to put it to good use it the future.