The Brooklyn College Musical Theatre Collective

“I had always been interested in conducting and music directing, but without the Brooklyn College Musical Theatre Collective, I would not be nearly the conductor, leader, or musician I am today. The entire team put their trust and confidence in me to be a leader in this program and believed that I had the skills and knowledge to be great. BCMTC has provided me with the opportunity to not only conduct three productions with a student orchestra of up to 16 players, but has allowed me to hear my own arrangements and orchestrations come to life and given me the once in a lifetime chance to conduct a fully staged production of my favorite musical, ‘Sunday in the Park with George’.” 

“As a very proud graduate of Brooklyn College's Department of Theatre, I did always feel that there was one aspect of my education that was missing. I walked into Brooklyn College having worked on a number of musicals, and did not walk out having continued that trend, despite working on numerous professional musical productions outside of school. While my repertoire in straight plays was built up, it was not adequate preparation for me to step into the entertainment industry. BCMTC is providing students with an invaluable training that the college itself is not providing. It is making students more versatile and marketable in the field of performing arts, as well as broadening their exposure to other forms of performing arts. It has truly been one of my greatest honors to assist them in this mission, and I cannot wait to continue the work with them.”

“Everything truly happened for a reason. Being forced to take a gap year led me into the arms of the most empathetic and welcoming group of friends who share the same passion for creating performing arts opportunities for students. BCMTC has truly changed my life for the better, and I truly hope that this wonderful collective of artists will continue to be supported so that students like myself can discover their hidden potential amongst a group of people that truly care about them. Thank you for continuing to support Brooklyn College Musical Theatre Collective!“

“I transferred to Brooklyn College in Fall 2022. In this same semester, I had the absolute privilege of being introduced to David Thomas Cronin and Ryan Scott Martin, who not only saw my potential in musical theatre, but didn’t let it go to waste. I watched intently for an official Instagram page, auditions, and other signs that this was something that was really in the works, and before I knew it, I was standing in front of the BCMTC Creative Team panel, singing something I actually wanted to sing. Not only was I singing something I actually enjoyed singing, but I finally felt like someone was listening with the intent of making magic happen with me. When I think of BCMTC, I think of all the students that would’ve been stuck in a box of one or two genres of music. I’ve seen classical vocalists expand their resumes and jazz instrumentalists excited to finally listen to the cast recording of the “Sunset Boulevard” revival. I think of myself for the last 7 years of my life, dying for an opportunity like BCMTC to be available to me. Could you think of anything more special?”

“I walked into the audition room and I immediately felt the excitement, confidence, and joy from every single person sitting at that table. For the first time, it felt like I was given a chance to really showcase my skills and the BCMTC team had full faith in me, which was the greatest gift I could have received. There were some rehearsal days where I did feel pushed or challenged a lot but it was for the better good of me as a performer. I am so grateful and forever thankful to have been a part of two BCMTC productions and this collective has meant a lot to me in my artistic journey.“

“I had the privilege of playing synthesizer in the musical “Sunday in the Park with George” in January and piano at the Spring 2024 Benefit Concert in May. These experiences were not only valuable for gaining performance opportunities but also for fostering collaboration and cooperation among colleagues. I learned about the intricacies of musical production, including scheduling, decision-making, logistics, and budgeting. This comprehensive understanding of the performing arts was something I could not have gained solely from my classes during my five years at Brooklyn College. 

As a student-run organization, BCMTC offers no grades, assignments, or credits, yet it is where we truly cultivate our creativity, autonomy, and responsibility as artists. From selecting show content to deciding on venues and rehearsal spaces, designing posters and playbills, managing the stage, and even selling tickets, BCMTC handles every aspect of the production process. The collective is incredibly well organized, and I have seen each student successfully fulfill their responsibilities with dedication and respect for others.“