My performing arts study abroad trip to London in 2018 was so life changing and career-path affirming that I went again this year with 22 students. Of our eight masterclasses and workshops, numerous West End shows, and explorations of the historical city of London, here are my top 10 experiences:

West End On Demand

masterclass workshopsAs a dancer, my favorite classes were the dance-based Aladdin and Wicked workshops. The wide variety of 2-hour masterclasses and workshops gave a little bit to everyone on the trip — including musical theatre, acting, and technical theatre majors.

  • Waitress workshop of the finale and several scenes with cast member Charlotte Riby
  • hip hop class with Leah Gregorczyk
  • Aladdin workshop of “Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim” with original cast member Bianca Cordice
  • Q&A session with the UK associate director of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Pip Minnithorpe
  • Les Miserables workshop of the song “One Day More” with cast member Jo Loxton
  • puppetry masterclass with Chris Thatcher
  • singing audition masterclass with casting director Jim Arnold
  • Wicked workshop of “One Short Day” and “Dancing Through Life” with cast member Scott Sutcliffe
  • Watch masterclass video >

Chelsea In Bloom

chelsea in bloomThe Chelsea area’s free Chelsea in Bloom display of floral artwork covered numerous blocks and storefronts with an “Under the Sea” theme that spread awareness about plastic pollution in the oceans.

My favorite was All For Love London’s piece in Sloan Square that featured a 10-foot jellyfish, a sea turtle, an elephant-sized octopus, and various species of coral and plant life.

 

Les Miserables at the West End

Les Miserables workshopAt the current home of the mega-musical Les Miserables at Queen’s Theatre, we got to see costumes, walk onto the stage, and see the history etched in the walls backstage — including signatures by icons such as Samantha Barks, Carrie Hope Fletcher, and Eva Noblezada.

It was a privilege to see a matinee performance, one of the final shows featuring its revolutionary revolving stage.

 

Harry Potter Day

Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross St Pancras StationOn an open day, two of my friends and fellow classmates, Ian Patterson (B.F.A. musical theatre ‘21) and Chelsea Jensen (B.F.A. acting ‘20), decided to make a Harry Potter-themed day of it. We got amazing tickets for a low price to the Tony Award- and Olivier Award-winning play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. We got our pictures taken at Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross St Pancras Station and spent the rest of the day with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’s 42-person cast: five hours of magic, beauty, and heart onstage.

Roaming the City

Abby in LondonOne of the most wonderful and intimidating parts about London is the massive number of things to see and do, from museums and monuments to shopping and recreational experiences. This trip I decided to spend more time experiencing London’s atmosphere, so I spent time wandering around, stopping in the occasional clothing store or old bookshop, and reading along the Thames and at Pret A Manger sandwich shops across the city.

One of my favorite purchases was a first edition UK copy of a book of short stories by Jack London. It took all of my willpower to refrain from purchasing a £350 first edition UK set of Brontë sisters novels.

Broadway Star Telly Leung

Naz group with Telly LeungThanks to the connections of Nazareth faculty member Nicolette Hart, we got to work with Broadway star Telly Leung (@TellyLeung), famous for In Transit, Rent, Godspell, and Aladdin, among others. We attended Telly’s cabaret Sing Happy at The Crazy Coqs, located inside Brasserie Zédel near Piccadilly Circus. Telly generously gave us a chunk of an afternoon for a masterclass. A few of us students, including me, got a chance to sing or perform a monologue for him. Telly was as inspiring and knowledgeable as he is talented.

Food and Drinks

food and drinks collagePortion sizes in London are significantly more reasonable than the ridiculous sizes in America. A meal takes hours because they appreciate the food and the company they’re sharing it with more than our rushed and on-the-go culture allows. The food I had was superb, from fresh gelato in bubbly waffle cones in Chinatown, to fresh lobster risotto in Borough Market, to a delicious little wild mushroom sandwich from an outdoor restaurant in Covent Garden called Buns and Buns.

 

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

Shakespeare's Globe TheaterWilliam Shakespeare’s group of actors and stagehands built the original Globe Theatre in London in 1599, but it burned down in 1613. We got a guided tour of the reconstructed theatre — learning about its structural history, Shakespeare, and the time period — as well as sword fighting demonstrations, costuming demonstrations, and a tour of the Rose Theatre, the first theatre where Shakespeare’s work was performed. Like in the 1500s and 1600s, audience members can sit in the seats for a higher fare. But I liked being a groundling for The Merry Wives of Windsor, standing in front of the stage for three hours, because you get to be right up close and even interact with the actors. From stage, lead actor Pearce Quigley spit beer on us and dumped water on us from a shoe! This is the last summer that the small museum connected to The Globe will be open, so I was happy to have another walk-through before it’s gone.

The Immersive Great Gatsby

Gatsby’s Drugstore

A gem among London’s unique theatrical experiences is the immersive The Great Gatsby (@ImmersiveGatsby) in a warehouse-like building appropriately called Gatsby’s Drugstore. For 2½ hours, you become a character at one of Jay Gatsby’s parties — drinking, dancing the Charleston, laughing, and living with the famous characters created by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Cast members break up the audience into small groups, sometimes even singles, pairs, and trios, so each person has an individual experience.

The Tube

Naz group in the tubeExcept for the occasional disorderly patron, which is to be expected, the Tube (subway) system in London is a million times more comprehensive, clean, and efficient than the New York City system most of us were used to. Get yourself the Tube version of a MetroCard and download the free app City Mapper, and you’ll never get lost in London.