For the Virtual Thespian Festival, iHeartRadio Broadway and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS teamed up to create the #ThesFest20 exclusive late night talk show Curtain Call. Curtain Call is hosted by SJ Arnegger (Director, iHeartRadio Broadway) with Michael Di Bianco (Educational Specialist) for Broadway Care Equity Fights AIDS. The second episode premiered last night and featured Shereen Pimentel, who currently stars in the revival of West Side Story. Shereen gives the Thespians some insight on what it's like being a college student at The Juilliard School while also starring in a Broadway musical and imparts really great advice to students who want a career in the performing arts. Shereen also joins the fun with the rapid fire musical theatre quiz.
Also joining Curtain Call last night was Melody Herzfeld, Drama Teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and the 2018 recipient of the Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre Education. Melody talks about why she chose a career as a theatre educator and gives current Thespians, who are looking to go in to teaching, some career advice. Melody and SJ also discuss the impact social activism is having on students right now with Melody giving Thespians advice based on her own students championing for strict gun laws and other social causes after the 2018 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Watch the full video in the player above.