The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama is notable for its stellar acting conservatory program as well as its renowned theatrical alumni (it counts Anthony Hopkins and Rob Brydon among them). But on Sept. 26, the school made a move to further distinguish itself from other U.K.-based acting schools, holding an inaugural U.S. actors showcase in New York City. In addition to end-of-year showcases in both Cardiff, Wales, and London, American acting and musical theater students were given the opportunity to perform their best material in front of American industry professionals.
“It felt good to be home,” said Leandra Del Pozo, an acting graduate from the class of 2016. “It felt comfortable being in my home base doing a showcase.” Because the event was attended by American agents and casting directors, the exposure benefited the RWCMD students planning to work stateside. “The Americans in London didn’t really have quite the exposure; it wasn’t as beneficial as it was here,” said Del Pozo.
Emmy and Tony Award nominee Kate Burton, daughter of the great Welsh actor Richard Burton, introduced the showcase. “I have been associated with the college for a long time and have been very impressed by the quality of work I have seen, so much so that I offered to introduce them to the New York entertainment community,” she said.
Among the attendees was Welsh actor and “The Americans” Emmy nominee Matthew Rhys, one of the college’s International Chairs alongside Michael Sheen and Simon Stephens. “I was staggered by the quality of the performers,” he said in a statement. “It was way beyond what I expected from a student showcase. They looked like they had been doing this as professionals for years.”
READ: “Matthew Rhys’ 1 Character and Multiple Performances”
“None of us knew what we were getting into,” Maggie Haight, acting class of 2015, told Backstage. Nerves, of course, are a natural part of any college showcase or networking event, she said, “but it was a second shot at this. It’s kind of a nerve-racking idea, but you have to put that out of your head—that’s the only way to do it without shaking the whole time.”
Haight booked an agent during the RWCMD London showcase, performing material she had written in addition to more standard showcase fare. “I had so many teachers tell me the training is important, and Royal Welsh has the training. But they encourage you to be your true self.” Head of actor training Dave Bond and her other teachers dissuaded her from putting on an English accent for her U.K. showcases, advice that clearly paid off. “They said, ‘Be yourself and do what you do best.’ People like to cast for who you are.”
Del Pozo, who after the Sept. 26 event booked a meeting with CBS Casting, has similar advice for acting students preparing for showcases. “It’s always good if you can come up with something completely yours,” she said. “Stay away from the cookie cutters! It’s not about that anymore. That’s what was so special about my time at Royal Welsh: they strip back your vanity. It’s about being true to your character and getting messy with it.... Stay true to your craft, not what you think people want.”
For more information about RWCMD, visit their website.
Done with school and ready for a job on the big stage? Check out our theater audition listings!