WIU Theatre Students Have Opportunity to Audition for Broadway Actress on Campus

October 31, 2019

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Broadway actress Taylor Louderman met with WIU musical theatre students this week.
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MACOMB, IL – Students in the Western Illinois University musical theatre program had an incredible opportunity Tuesday to have their work critiqued by Broadway actress Taylor Louderman.

Louderman, whose father, Roger, is a 1981 WIU alumnus, was on campus for a workshop with about 40 musical theatre students, and then held a question and answer session with students and faculty from the department.

Louderman was nominated for a Tony Award for best leading actress in the Broadway production of "Mean Girls." She also performed on Broadway in "Kinky Boots," following her Broadway debut in "Bring it On" and on television as Wendy in "Peter Pan Live," and HBO's "High Maintenance."

Tuesday afternoon, eight WIU theatre students, mostly seniors, performed their audition pieces for Louderman. She then offered suggestions, and the students incorporated her ideas into a second performance.

Louderman talked with students about projecting a positive attitude and preparing themselves to play emotional parts.

"We have to make sense of every single moment, just like in life," she said. "The music can really help us understand how we can communicate a story."

Louderman also offered advice for moving around on the stage and transitioning in a performance from singing to dancing.

"On a campus that is quite isolated, to have a Broadway performer come and spend time with our students is a huge opportunity," said WIU Theatre and Dance Chair Tammy Killian. "For our students to be one-on-one coached by her is such an honor and something they will never forget."

Since leaving "Mean Girls" in August, Louderman has been working on television and teaching.

For more information about the WIU Department of Theatre and Dance, visit wiu.edu/theatre.

Posted By: Jodi Pospeschil (JK-Pospeschil@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing

Louderman is pictured with some of the senior WIU theatre students who performed their audition pieces for her while she was on campus.
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Louderman is pictured with the students who attended her workshop this week at WIU.
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