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[0:00] Charlie Murphy: Hello, hello, and welcome to Mapping the College Audition. I am your host, Charlie Murphy, Director of MTCA. That's Musical Theatre College Auditions. Check us out at mtca.com. And today we have got a very special Greenroom MTCA Person on the Street style episode. It's a long one, but I think a really great one. Often people have told me these are their favorite pods of all. You know, we really like doing live pods. That's certainly something, a goal that whenever we get a chance to do a kind of live pod, we're going to try to do it. You know, it tends to be tricky sort of technically, and we'll talk about some of the technical difficulties, but we have done a couple of these. We did one at PUA.

We did one for the Summer Masterclass Week. We will definitely keep trying to do whatever kind of live versions of these we can that feel exciting and different. So I appreciate doing them. I like doing them. It's been a fun success so far. And you will get to hear a lot of different voices on the podcast with this. One of the best things, you get to hear all these different voices in a short period of time. I believe we hear from like 30-some voices between students, parents, and then even a few coaches pop in. So it's fun to get to pack in a bunch of different perspectives in a short period of time. As I said, with the technical difficulties, it is worth noting we do have some imperfect audio, unfortunately.

Some of that, of course, we can lay at my feet. The difficulties of a BFA actor trying to navigate $25 Amazon audio equipment. I do my best. But, you know, maybe if you just write us a sweet rating and review about how much you love the podcast, it's going to get us that many more clicks and we'll be able to kick in for slightly upgraded equipment. But I think some of that is also just the experience of trying to record on a phone with any equipment in a very loud green room. That Chicago green room, for anyone who remembers it, is quite loud. I will just note, the reason I'm saying all this, though, is that at the top, I think literally the first two interviews, you're going to hear that the microphone is like actively dropped.

So it's really going to be a little tricky to hear me. I think you'll be able to hear the student a little bit more. But then it does correct itself. So don't give up on us quite yet. If it takes about, I think about eight minutes in, that you're going to hear it sound a little better. So if you really are bothered by the sound, you can skip ahead eight minutes. Even if it's never going to sound quite as beautiful as it does on this fancy microphone, you should be able to hear and understand everything. I think after the first two couple moments, we'll blow out the mic, but nothing that's too awful to listen to. Again, I really hope you enjoy. And I just want to say to all of our families that are listening to this now, I'm so stinking proud of these families that came on and all of you, really.

I mean, this really just represents a little microcosm of this entire class, right? I'm so proud of this class of 2026, just to say you crushed it. I wish I could tell you in this episode where everyone that you're listening to just got into school. You know, for our loyal listeners who have been listening all the many years, you will note we actually did that in the very first year of Green Room Interviews. This is not intentional. The first year we underestimated how long this edit was going to take. And I foolishly, Charlie offered to do it himself. This is back in the days when I would actually edit some of these podcasts myself before we increased our fabulous podcast team. Shout out. So it ended up taking me like months to finish editing.

And by the time we actually edited it, I decided now it was so late that we should actually hold off until Unified's felt relevant again. And we decided to release a full year late right before the next Unified's kicked off. I mean, there's something nice about that. But of course, I don't want all of our poor, vain 2026 students and parents actually to wait that long to hear themselves or to deprive all of you listeners of their wisdom for that full year. But the amazing thing that happened in this happy accident that year is that I got to tell you where all of the kids who just interviewed went to school, right? It's just was this beautiful, unintentional time capsule that you got to listen back and you got to hear us say, hey, this student who's now attending Michigan or Carnegie Mellon or Syracuse or Manhattan School of Music or whatever it was, right?

I got to say that. And it just helped what they said carry that much more weight. I mean, I remember hearing that like, oh, my God, it's so cool because I can hear the student who is at this school. But I say all that preamble to say, I know without, of course, knowing without knowing exactly which schools, but I know that all of these kids just crushed it and are going to attend great schools. Like, I can just tell you from 20 years of experience, as you listen to these students, you're listening to students who have just manifested great results. And again, I think it's worth saying that what you're about to hear is a completely random sampling of students who just happen to come to the green room.

It's not like these are the good students at MTC or anything, right? If they said they wanted to come on the pod or if they just like happened to be sitting there when I turned the camera on, they came on the pod, right? I didn't do any kind of specific recruiting of kids with any lists or any kind of agenda to who came on the pod. The most that maybe I would say in the green room is like if I spied a kid, check it out in the corner. And they kind of looked like they wanted to come. I would say like, hey, you want to come on, right? The only exception you'll hear, the only exception to this rule is that there is one family, the McHale family. I made them come on. You'll hear why. Because dad told me in the New York City green room that they applied to 60 schools and it became hashtag MTCA legend.

So I did actually ask that specific family. But in all other cases, there was no hand selecting students or families or any way, shape or form to come on the pod. And I'm telling all of you, I'm just telling this whole long preamble just to say, if you do this thing long enough, you can see and feel a group of students who just invested in themselves, invested in their processes and crushed it. And again, that's not specific to these students who came on the podcast. I was saying I'm feeling that all throughout the New York City, Chicago and LA green room. So I would just say that, you know, as you listen to this, I wish, of course, that in this case, I could say this student will be attending CCM in the fall or whatever it is.

And I know you don't all need that extra layer of, hey, these people must know what they're talking about because they got into this specific school. But I just wish I could give that to you because I can feel that they all just earned it and that their advice is really valuable. And all of these students really do know what they're talking about. So as you listen to this, just imagine it slapped onto this, a great tag up and the students go into this amazing school because we know that that is true. Also, I will say, as you listen on, you will note that I mentioned this, the kindergarten podcast, which is coming up in April. We are going to do a kindergarten update podcast. We will on our end, Elizabeth and I will find out our last batch of results at the end of March, March 31st. So my timeline is actually going to line up really well with all of you in the class of 2026 in terms of a big decision day reveal.

So stay tuned for that. All of you out there. I know we do have some senior listeners who will be listening back and reflecting and may not still keep listening to all the college pods anymore. Of course, I understand that. I invite all of you to keep listening to the artist episodes for some helpful college and life and career advice. But of course, that's really up to you whether you want to listen on. But regardless of whether you listen to the episodes moving forward, hopefully you'll be able to kind of put your year away if you've been taking this long journey with us in the kindergarten of it all with that fun podcast. And if you want to keep listening on because you're nuts for takeaways, like Ginger is going to say she was nuts for the takeaways.

You also can just listen to episodes for that. Listen to the takeaways. Whatever you want to do, the pod is for you to be used as you would like. This podcast is a long one. We do top out over the two hour mark and we're going to try to sneak a few breaks in there with ads. So we'll see how long it actually runs as we throw some ads in there. I'm going to keep the takeaway pretty snappy at the end. So hopefully this doesn't turn into a Lord of the Rings or whatever. It doesn't turn into a full three hour pod. But I will see you all on the flip side. And I really do hope you enjoy this series of green room interviews.

[8:12] Katarina Marti: Hi, I'm Katarina Marti. I'm in the MCCA green room at Chicago Unified. I did a walk in at Norwalk. And apparently they've been on a roll asking people to sing The Wizard and I and the pianist he just he starts immediately like he doesn't really wait for you. Not really. I did my song. Um, he didn't like wait for me to not add him or anything. He just kept going which of course very Meisner technique of them. Um, so I do my song and then the guy's like, do you know The Wizard and I and I'm like, yes. And then I there's like a point where like, I don't know the line. And I just start going la la la. Like I do it on the melody. Yeah. And then they just started singing with me. And I was like, let's go.

Um, and then they actually asked me if I had a song in Spanish. And I was like, I do. And they were the first school that ever like asked me to do my like pop rock song in Spanish. And I was like, I'm so happy I get to do this. I love this. I love you're giving me the chance to tell you this. So okay, my daughter who thinks right now she knows she's a big sense of like what MCCA is like, you guys like measure students, right? And so I was explaining, I was like, well, they say to go to the companies, and I was like, you sing like two songs that are different from each other. I was like, you want to try it? She sings a Moana song. And then I was like, what's your contrasting song? And she sings Moana in Spanish.

Amazing. Yeah. Okay. Now tell me, let's look at the process, your process. What's something that you feel like you did really well? Like, if I did something again, I would definitely keep this. And then is there anything that you think for the sake of our listeners, you go, I did this again. I think there were some situations where I should have looked at the live audition requirements as well. You knew the preaching requirements, but then you go. So for example, I ended up doing online audition at Syracuse. And I so because I also went for the actor singer track, I ended up submitting to contemporary monologues. But then when I went back for the online audition, they told me that they wanted a new contemporary monologue.

And I only had my two contemporaries plus one classical one. So I ended up having to learn like three contemporary monologues when I should have probably just like in my original pre screen gone with my contemporary my classical. And then they Syracuse also asked for so many things they asked for us to like, act as animals. It was so funny. I did a raccoon. I am never looking back at that video ever again. Only Syracuse has it and nobody else is ever gonna have it. Yeah, I and my mom helped a lot with this, but time management was great. I mean, there were a lot of moments where it got really stressful, especially with the part of the essays. The essays honestly were the worst thing. But I think honestly, like I was able to go with the process really steadily.

And I didn't have a moment where I was like, everything is due today and I'm crashing out. It was for you. Yeah. Like I think my mom pressuring me definitely helped a lot because she's very like timely with everything. And so am I. But she always remembers like the things that I forget, you know? Thank you, Mom. I love you very much. Thank you. She is in this room right now. She'll be receiving the thank you a lot. Exactly. This is like a proposal on the demo. It means more when it's public. Exactly. Did you have a bonus topic you wanted to give me? Anything else you want to say? Yeah. You said something about a Humpty Dumpty story? Oh my God. I just thought, you know, it would be funny to act as if I'm like this amazing, famous person after I did Humpty Dumpty in my school's production of Shrek.

And obviously every college is going to be super impressed by this. Like they're going to see it on my resume and they're going to think this is the it girl. Exactly. Exactly. You walk in like the it girl and you tell them I was in my giant Humpty Dumpty egg costume. It was basically like a hula hoop with like cloth on top of it. Like it wasn't like a fat suit or anything like that. And the wires inside of the suit started to like rip open mid show. And I ended up with like a bunch of just like scratches all over my body from that. But if you're going to be Humpty Dumpty, piece of advice, have clothing underneath so that when you take off the fat, because you only have like two scenes in the show. They're wonderful scenes, best songs ever. But when you're Humpty Dumpty, you specifically.

[13:22] Ilya Israel: My name is Ilya Israel, and we're at Chicago Unified. You better believe we are. Okay. Will you tell me this? What has been the most exciting, surprising new thing for you about Chicago Unified? How's it different than what you expected? Like, definitely. The rooms aren't exactly the same, which, you know, it's more uniform at like New York. The physical rooms, which I actually kind of like it because like, now I'm getting more experience in different rooms.

[13:54] Charlie Murphy: Welcome back to Mapping The College Audition. We are live at the Unified Auditions in Chicago, and I have the pleasure of speaking with some incredible students, parents, and coaches today.

[14:24] Charlie Murphy: First up, I have a student here with me. Can you please introduce yourself?

[14:54] Student: Hi! I’m Emma, and I’m a senior in high school. I’m really excited to be here and audition for some amazing programs.

[15:24] Charlie Murphy: Emma, what has been the most exciting part of the audition process for you so far?

[15:54] Emma: I think just meeting other students who are passionate about musical theater like I am. It’s great to connect with people who share the same dreams.

[16:04] Charlie Murphy: That’s wonderful! Have you had any standout moments during your auditions?

[16:14] Emma: Yes! I had a really great callback yesterday. The energy in the room was just electric, and I felt really confident.

[16:34] Charlie Murphy: That’s fantastic to hear! What are you looking for in a college program?

[16:44] Emma: I’m looking for a place that feels like home, where I can grow as an artist and be challenged creatively.

[16:54] Charlie Murphy: Great perspective! Thank you so much for sharing, Emma.

[17:04] Charlie Murphy: Next, I have a parent here. Can you introduce yourself?

[17:14] Parent: Hi, I’m Sarah, Emma’s mom. I’m just so proud of her for taking this big step.

[17:24] Charlie Murphy: Sarah, what has this experience been like for you as a parent?

[17:34] Sarah: It’s been a whirlwind! I’m excited and nervous at the same time. I just want to support her in every way possible.

[17:44] Charlie Murphy: That’s so important. What advice would you give to other parents going through this process?

[17:54] Sarah: I would say to be there for your child, listen to their concerns, and remind them to enjoy the journey.

[18:04] Charlie Murphy: Wise words! Thank you for sharing, Sarah.

[18:14] Charlie Murphy: Now, I have a coach with me. Can you introduce yourself?

[18:24] Coach: Hi, I’m Mark, and I coach students in musical theater. I’m here to support my students through the audition process.

[18:34] Charlie Murphy: Mark, what do you think is the most important thing for students to remember during auditions?

[18:44] Mark: I think it’s crucial for them to stay true to themselves and not get caught up in what they think the schools want. Authenticity is key.

[18:54] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely! How do you help your students prepare for this?

[19:04] Mark: We work on their material, but we also focus on building their confidence and helping them find their unique voice.

[19:14] Charlie Murphy: That’s fantastic! Thank you for your insights, Mark.

[19:24] Charlie Murphy: I have another student here. Can you introduce yourself?

[19:34] Student: Hi, I’m Jake, and I’m also a senior. I’m really excited to be auditioning today!

[19:44] Charlie Murphy: Jake, what has been your favorite part of the Unified Auditions so far?

[19:54] Jake: I love the energy here! It’s so inspiring to be surrounded by so many talented people.

[20:04] Charlie Murphy: That’s great to hear! What are you hoping to achieve with your college auditions?

[20:14] Jake: I want to find a program that challenges me and helps me grow as a performer.

[20:44] Charlie Murphy: Thank you, Jake!

[20:54] Charlie Murphy: I have another parent with me. Can you introduce yourself?

[21:04] Parent: Hi, I’m Lisa, Jake’s mom. I’m just here to support him and cheer him on.

[21:24] Charlie Murphy: Lisa, what has this experience been like for you?

[21:44] Lisa: It’s been a mix of excitement and anxiety. I just want him to find the right fit for his future.

[22:04] Charlie Murphy: That’s understandable. What advice would you give to other parents?

[22:24] Lisa: I would say to trust the process and be there for your child, no matter what happens.

[22:44] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for sharing, Lisa!

[23:04] Charlie Murphy: Now, I have another coach here. Can you introduce yourself?

[23:24] Coach: Hi, I’m Rachel, and I work with students on their audition techniques.

[23:44] Charlie Murphy: Rachel, what do you think is the biggest challenge for students during auditions?

[24:04] Rachel: I think it’s managing their nerves. It’s important for them to find ways to stay calm and focused.

[24:24] Charlie Murphy: Great advice! How do you help them with that?

[24:44] Rachel: We practice relaxation techniques and visualization exercises to help them feel more at ease.

[25:04] Charlie Murphy: Thank you, Rachel!

[25:24] Charlie Murphy: I have another student here. Can you introduce yourself?

[25:44] Student: Hi, I’m Mia, and I’m really excited to be here!

[26:04] Charlie Murphy: Mia, what are you most looking forward to in your college auditions?

[26:24] Mia: I’m looking forward to meeting new people and showcasing my talent.

[26:44] Charlie Murphy: That’s wonderful! What do you hope to gain from this experience?

[27:04] Mia: I hope to grow as an artist and find a program that feels like the right fit for me.

[27:25] Charlie Murphy: Thank you so much, Mia!

[27:35] Charlie Murphy: That wraps up our interviews for today. Thank you all for sharing your experiences, and good luck with your auditions!

[27:48] Unknown speaker: I have to second that because me, I am a major yapper, and I will yap in auditions about random things. Like yesterday at the college fair in the exhibition hall, I went up to Shenandoah because I did the private audition last week or whatever, and I just wanted to keep making the connection. I started talking about the hat I brought that my friend made me, and I started talking about the hat and how it's keeping me warm because we're talking about the cold. Very Stephen Sondheim. I love it. Yeah. You're saying it was positive. You felt like you were able to genuinely be yourself, make the connection, keep the connection. I mean, me being me, I did overthink it afterwards, but then I'm like, if they don't let me in because I started talking about a hat, then that's not it.

And that was the British accent, the voice that was telling you, like, I shouldn't have done that. They didn't let you in because you talked about a hat. Yeah. Very good. See, that's good. See, that's a yes ending. That's a good adjustment. You guys rock. Thank you. Thank you. Bam. Bam. Thank you.

[28:43] Ellie Yarbrough: Hello. My name is Ellie Yarbrough. I'm from Houston, Texas, and this is day one of Chicago Unifieds.

[28:46] Charlie Murphy: Okay. Ellie, will you tell me the most surprising things about Chicago Unifieds so far? What has been sort of the learning from it or the thing I didn't expect?

[28:51] Ellie Yarbrough: I mean, I think it's easier than New York Unifieds just because I don't have to carry a full, like, warm clothes, like, everywhere I go and just have a pile of everything, every dance call.

[29:04] Charlie Murphy: Nice, because you're staying at the hotel?

[29:15] Ellie Yarbrough: Yeah.

[29:16] Charlie Murphy: You're staying at the hotel?

[29:17] Ellie Yarbrough: Yeah.

[29:18] Charlie Murphy: I was walking around. What was the thing about New York Unifieds, other than maybe carrying stuff, that was like, whoa, I didn't expect this? Like, what hit you in the face of New York?

[29:21] Ellie Yarbrough: Well, I mean, the snow. I'm from Houston, so I never see snow, so of course that struck me in the face, but like...

[29:25] Ellie Yarbrough: If you're listening in the future, we had a blizzard in 2026. It was wild. It's great. But, like, just getting to walk around and see so many artists, like, working and people that you've never seen before in your entire life.

[29:30] Charlie Murphy: Did you see a Broadway show?

[29:31] Ellie Yarbrough: No.

[29:32] Charlie Murphy: No.

[29:33] Ellie Yarbrough: No.

[29:34] Charlie Murphy: No.

[29:35] Ellie Yarbrough: No.

[29:36] Charlie Murphy: No.

[29:37] Ellie Yarbrough: No.

[29:38] Charlie Murphy: No.

[29:39] Ellie Yarbrough: No.

[29:40] Charlie Murphy: No.

[29:41] Ellie Yarbrough: I did not get to see a show, which is really sad. I really wanted to.

[29:43] Charlie Murphy: Well, you're busy. You're doing lots of stuff.

[29:44] Ellie Yarbrough: Yeah.

[29:45] Charlie Murphy: Busy, busy.

[29:47] Ellie Yarbrough: Yep.

[29:48] Charlie Murphy: Okay, great. Give me... Let's talk about the whole process. So for you, like, as you look back at your process, what's something you did really well that you're like, man, I'm really... If I did this whole thing again, I would hold on to this. And what's something that you would make a change? Where you go, I'd do this again. You know what? I'm going to do this differently.

[29:54] Ellie Yarbrough: I think one of the things that I did really well, and this is very recent that I did very well, is changing my life. I mean, I'm not a professional artist. I want to be a professional artist. And I think one of the things that I did really well, and this is very recent that I did really well, is changing my mindset in my dance auditions to you don't have to be perfect. Like, they aren't expecting perfect. They actually, like, kind of don't want you to be perfect because they want to see what you can improve on. And it's really helped me go into these auditions and, like, just do my best and, like, just have fun. I've done better in my dance auditions than I have in any other audition. And I think that's really, like, I guess it's just because I've been in a lot of different places.

[30:36] Charlie Murphy: It's just fun.

[30:36] Ellie Yarbrough: That's a big one. What's something you would do differently if you could go back?

[30:38] Ellie Yarbrough: If I did differently, applying when everything opened.

[30:43] Charlie Murphy: How late did you wait?

[30:44] Ellie Yarbrough: I didn't wait, like, super long. But, like, I let the, um, I let the, like, academic applications take a hold on me. Or like, focus too much on the artistic that I forgot academics existed. And I forgot that I actually had to turn those in. So just getting all those academics just done with the essays and all that crap. And just led to a stressful fall. Like, you felt like you're just like, whoa, all over the place.

[31:12] Charlie Murphy: Any other bonus topics, bonus advice you want to give to our class of 2027-28, our juniors, sophomores who are maybe listening to this?

[31:19] Ellie Yarbrough: Ooh, um, I mean, just like, have fun. Like, that's so basic. But like, talk to people. There's such an amazing community, especially through MTCA. And just like, through everybody that you meet, like, some of the coolest experiences I've had is like, meeting new people from all around the world. And like, talking to teachers and things from different colleges at like, the College Fair at Chicago Unified. It's just, it's so much fun getting to meet so many people that love what you do.

[31:50] Ellie Yarbrough: As much as you do. And it's a little scary because you're like, whoa, we're weird on the same level. This is crazy. But it's so much fun.

[31:59] Hathie Briggs: You're awesome.

[32:00] Hathie Briggs: Hi, I'm Hathie Briggs. And this is me at Chicago Unified's day one.

[32:04] Laurie Briggs: And I'm her mom, Laurie Briggs.

[32:06] Hathie Briggs: Hell yeah. Okay, what has been the most surprising thing about Chicago Unified's day one for you so far?

[32:10] Hathie Briggs: Okay, everyone warming up at the crack of dawn. But you know what, I love to see it.

[32:19] Charlie Murphy: What is literal crack of dawn? Because I know what it was for my room.

[32:21] Hathie Briggs: This morning it was 6:30.

[32:24] Charlie Murphy: It was 6:30. I would say 6:30. That is not the crack of dawn. So people always ask, is it okay? 4 o'clock? No. 4:30? No. Anything after 6? Fair game.

[32:33] Laurie Briggs: Fair game. Fair game.

[32:34] Charlie Murphy: But I love hearing everyone, you know.

[32:37] Hathie Briggs: Did they sound good? Whoever's warming up?

[32:38] Laurie Briggs: Yes, yes. Well, Vivian's right next to me and I love her. She's amazing.

[32:41] Charlie Murphy: Do you ever do like call and response back and forth?

[32:43] Hathie Briggs: No, I love Vivian.

[32:43] Laurie Briggs: No, no, no, no, no, no, no. You better. Come on.

[32:48] Charlie Murphy: Anything big surprising for you, mom?

[32:50] Laurie Briggs: I just, how all supportive, especially the MCCA parents are of each other. Like, we're always like, we've got this. And the kids are so supportive. It's just a wonderful group to be a part of because there's really not competition between the kids or the parents. They just, we love each other.

[33:07] Charlie Murphy: And you were telling me right before we got on the podcast that you think my podcast should be longer?

[33:10] Laurie Briggs: I do.

[33:10] Charlie Murphy: You're one of my few listeners who thinks these are too short.

[33:13] Laurie Briggs: And more sports analogies. I love the sports analogies.

[33:17] Charlie Murphy: This is the devil on my shoulder tempting me. More sports. I'm trying to make five-minute highlight episodes and you're trying to make me five-hour episodes.

[33:28] Charlie Murphy: As you look back on your process, what's something that you would, if you could do it again, you would do differently?

[33:31] Laurie Briggs: If you're like, hey, I make a little edit. And what's something you go, I'm so glad I did this. I would do this the exact same.

[33:37] Laurie Briggs: Something I'm glad I did was really stay in touch with my coaches during pre-screens.

[33:42] Laurie Briggs: Yes, this is positive. Getting your green light, making sure you feel good about yourself. I re-taped every weekend for like a month straight, which I know sounds crazy and it was stressful. But like, it was so helpful. Just hop on Zoom, 15 minutes. Sounds crazy. And also like, I'll say you just did it once and never thought about it again. Like that's good for you if you can do that. But like, this is your audition. Why not? And Nathan. I love her. And Caitlyn. They all helped so much. That's something that I would do again.

[34:10] Charlie Murphy: Okay. What would you do differently if you could do it again?

[34:13] Laurie Briggs: Something I'd do differently is like, I feel like this is not just pre-screen. Well, this is overall, but like, just don't get in your head. You know, I feel like especially doing pre-screens, just staring at your phone in front of you is like so easy to get in your head. And I think you just have to trust yourself. So that's something.

[34:28] Charlie Murphy: How do you not get in your head? Or how do you stay out of your head? Now that you've gone through the process, anything that you go, you know what? Of course, you're going to still get in your head sometimes, but any moments in auditions you go, you know what? This has helped me get out of my head a little bit.

[34:33] Laurie Briggs: I think for me, it's simple as being grounded. Like I go in, I sing my first song and I'm like, you know what? It's okay. I do a little motivation mantra outside.

[34:46] Charlie Murphy: Mantra? Do you mind? Is it too vulnerable? Do you want to share your mantra with me? What do you say?

[34:48] Laurie Briggs: I don't know.

[34:51] Charlie Murphy: We can beep it out if it's, is it really?

[34:53] Laurie Briggs: Well, I pray.

[34:55] Charlie Murphy: Yeah.

[34:56] Laurie Briggs: Yeah.

[34:58] Charlie Murphy: What? You were going to say that?

[34:58] Laurie Briggs: I'll bet you're not the only person on this podcast who prays.

[35:00] Laurie Briggs: Help me to share my joy. Help me to just be myself, trust myself. And we got this.

[35:06] Charlie Murphy: I love that. I love that so much. I'm not somebody who prays, but I do think there's something that's so true to like, asking somebody else for that help. Like just have that not live in your body and your mind. It's all you, but you got to go. Is there something that?

[35:19] Laurie Briggs: There's some element, it's like out of your hands after you go in, you're yourself.

[35:23] Charlie Murphy: Athletes.

[35:24] Laurie Briggs: You did it.

[35:24] Charlie Murphy: Sports analogies. Athletes do it. Artists do it. It's because we don't have control of where the basketball is going to bounce. So there's some level of going, like, oh my God. There's some level that it's out of your control.

[35:32] Charlie Murphy: Okay. But you got to be like your brother who attempts a three-point shot from when he probably should not.

[35:37] Laurie Briggs: Yeah. This is a young Steph Curry. He doesn't want to do much.

[35:40] Charlie Murphy: Yeah.

[35:41] Laurie Briggs: He thinks so.

[35:41] Charlie Murphy: He thinks so.

[35:42] Laurie Briggs: We love it.

[35:42] Charlie Murphy: What about as a mom, anything from the process that you go, I would do this a little differently, or I'm really glad we did this?

[35:45] Laurie Briggs: Um, well, I'm really glad we joined the PCA. So if you're watching this and you have not do that now.

[35:52] Charlie Murphy: If you're watching this and you have not, what is wrong with you?

[35:55] Laurie Briggs: Exactly. That's a joke. It's fine if you don't.

[35:57] Laurie Briggs: And I'm also, I'm so glad that we have just enjoyed the process together.

[36:00] Hathie Briggs: Yes.

[36:01] Laurie Briggs: And we make sure we have post-audition sweet treats and have our time together.

[36:05] Hathie Briggs: Mother daughter bond.

[36:06] Laurie Briggs: Mother daughter bond.

[36:07] Charlie Murphy: Does post-audition sweet treats come from Kara Rose DiPietro?

[36:09] Laurie Briggs: Yes, of course.

[36:10] Charlie Murphy: That's so, that language is everywhere now.

[36:12] Laurie Briggs: Yeah.

[36:13] Charlie Murphy: That was after I interviewed her, I was like, I can't stop hearing people say that.

[36:15] Laurie Briggs: That was just a treat, exactly.

[36:16] Charlie Murphy: I love it. Okay. Yeah. But so that's a big part. So you guys have been able to bond.

[36:19] Laurie Briggs: Yeah. I guess the only negatives are like when she, if not everything of course has been up, like she's had a few pre-screen rejections.

[36:26] Hathie Briggs: Yeah.

[36:27] Laurie Briggs: They do not bother her, but then I internalize them because I'm like, who would not want my wonderful, amazing child? What is wrong?

[36:32] Hathie Briggs: And so I have learned that I need to do better with that, that it is not there. It is nothing personal and it's nothing talent based. It is just not a specific fit for that person. So it's fine.

[36:44] Laurie Briggs: At some point in the future, I'm going to tell the whole, my child auditioning for 27 schools in the kindergarten.

[36:48] Hathie Briggs: So we're going to add it to my five-hour podcast idea, but she got rejected from one of her pre-screens, which was, I was like, what is wrong with this test? This test is broken.

[36:56] Laurie Briggs: They got the wrong child. Something is wrong.

[36:58] Hathie Briggs: Obviously my child is the brightest you could be.

[37:01] Laurie Briggs: Obviously.

[37:02] Hathie Briggs: So yes.

[37:02] Laurie Briggs: But it's not where she was meant to be and it's okay.

[37:04] Hathie Briggs: Yes.

[37:04] Laurie Briggs: Exactly.

[37:05] Charlie Murphy: Any bonus points, bonus tips, things you want to tell to the, let's say class 2027, 2028 juniors, sophomores who are listening and watching this?

[37:12] Laurie Briggs: Something I've been thinking a lot about recently is you don't ever can't wait. You can't expect exactly.

[37:17] Hathie Briggs: She's been thinking about this a lot recently.

[37:20] Laurie Briggs: You don't ever, you're not going to know what happens. Like, let's be honest, you can have the idea of what's your top school of this and all that, but trust and actually that's something that's exciting that you don't know what's going to happen. Like think of all the possibilities that can happen for you. So that's something I've been thinking a lot about recently.

[37:36] Hathie Briggs: And much more exciting than if you knew at the end.

[37:41] Laurie Briggs: Why plan out something exactly when there could be more in store?

[37:47] Laurie Briggs: I'm very glad that I have two older children. One goes to Wellesley, that's who I'm representing.

[37:52] Hathie Briggs: That's the favorite child?

[37:53] Laurie Briggs: No.

[37:55] Laurie Briggs: I don't have favorite children.

[38:02] Laurie Briggs: But I'm so glad that we didn't get sucked into like an early decision route because for a musical theater, that does not work.

[38:10] Hathie Briggs: So do not stick with the plan that MTCA tells you and trust them. Trust the process.

[38:17] Laurie Briggs: Boy, do we understand the comfort of early decision.

[38:19] Hathie Briggs: I'd love it to be over. I felt this way too. I'm like, I just wish I could know from his parent perspective, but yes, it's not.

[38:24] Laurie Briggs: She's not so many amazing people that she would not have.

[38:28] Hathie Briggs: Yes.

[38:29] Laurie Briggs: And so I just trust the process.

[38:31] Hathie Briggs: Trust the process.

[38:33] Laurie Briggs: I know the sports.

[38:36] Becky Hansen: Hi, my name is Becky Hansen and I'm at Chicago Unified Day 1.

[38:42] Charlie Murphy: Hell yeah, here we are.

[38:43] Charlie Murphy: Okay, Becky, what is the biggest surprise so far? What's the biggest thing that you didn't expect coming into Unified? It could be from a previous Unified, but certainly tell me about Chicago because we're here.

[38:50] Becky Hansen: I am surprised at how warm and kind and encouraging everybody is. I already knew that everybody was so kind, but I'm blown away.

[38:58] Charlie Murphy: I feel like I'm at church.

[39:02] Becky Hansen: I feel like everybody genuinely is so encouraging.

[39:05] Charlie Murphy: Also with you, and also with you.

[39:07] Becky Hansen: Yeah, amazing. It's really true.

[39:09] Becky Hansen: I mean, obviously, these are theater people. This is a supportive community. You hear the stories of the like, we're going to take your audition book or we're going to, but we see on the WhatsApp groups, hey, someone left their book. Someone need this. I mean, it feels like it is much more of the supportive.

[39:22] Becky Hansen: Everyone's very supportive and loving and like, oh, break legs, break legs. And kids tell each other, oh, they're going to ask you this. Here's what's going to happen in the room. They're very helpful. They're cute. They're not like, oh, look at her.

[39:35] Charlie Murphy: No.

[39:35] Becky Hansen: Yeah.

[39:36] Charlie Murphy: Oh, yeah.

[39:37] Becky Hansen: Okay.

[39:37] Charlie Murphy: As you look back at your process, what is something that you feel like you really did well? If you could do this again, you go, I literally, this was a big win. And then is there anything that you go, if I could do this again, I would do this differently?

[39:41] Becky Hansen: I just think working with MTCA genuinely was such a good investment. I felt like we invested in our child just as much as investing in her for college.

[39:58] Becky Hansen: I would have never known or had the resources that you guys provided. And I can't speak more highly of it. I didn't know about it until another friend of mine told me about it.

[40:07] Charlie Murphy: And your podcast is what actually, I googled.

[40:10] Becky Hansen: You're looking at me. This is it.

[40:11] Charlie Murphy: You're on the podcast right now.

[40:12] Becky Hansen: You're on the podcast that you, in the future, you will be on the podcast you're referencing.

[40:15] Charlie Murphy: Yeah, yeah.

[40:16] Becky Hansen: I googled college audition, musical theater, and you popped up.

[40:20] Charlie Murphy: And so I started listening to your episodes.

[40:21] Becky Hansen: And I started listening to, like, taking notes of different professors of different colleges. And I'd be like, oh, I really love this head of this department. I love the way he thinks.

[40:30] Charlie Murphy: Okay, so that's a big win. What's something that you feel like, hey, if I could do this again, I'd do this differently?

[40:33] Becky Hansen: I don't think I would do anything differently. But I will say, I will share that a very difficult decision that Leah had to make was choosing to cut back her senior year.

[40:47] Becky Hansen: Because as all of these kids are doing musicals and choir, and all the things, these are the creme de la creme. These kids are amazing. And they're involved in so much stuff. And so for her to actually say no, and not struggle with FOMO, she has fear of missing out really bad.

[41:07] Becky Hansen: And so she actually decided on her own to change schools, literally change schools her senior year. And I don't recommend that for anybody. But I was shocked that she was actually wanting to do that. Because she changed because of her desire to pursue this.

[41:24] Becky Hansen: Because she knew she could never say no to her choir teacher, her tennis coach, her drama teacher. She had to escape. Instead of learning how to say no, we run away and go to a different school. But I'm so glad you said it. It was crazy.

[41:42] Charlie Murphy: Welcome back to the show. We are here at the Unified Auditions, and I have the pleasure of speaking with some incredible students, parents, and coaches. Let's dive right in!

[42:12] Charlie Murphy: So, tell me, what has been the most exciting part of the audition process for you so far?

[42:42] Charlie Murphy: I love hearing about the different experiences everyone is having. It’s such a unique journey for each student.

[43:12] Charlie Murphy: What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their college audition journey?

[43:42] Charlie Murphy: That’s great advice! Preparation is key, and it’s important to stay true to yourself.

[43:52] Charlie Murphy: Now, how are you feeling about the auditions coming up? Any nerves?

[44:02] Charlie Murphy: It’s completely normal to feel nervous! Just remember to breathe and enjoy the moment.

[44:12] Charlie Murphy: What are you most looking forward to in your college experience?

[44:22] Charlie Murphy: That sounds amazing! Finding a community that supports you is so important.

[44:32] Charlie Murphy: Have you had a chance to connect with any schools yet?

[44:42] Charlie Murphy: Networking is such a valuable part of this process. It can really open doors for you.

[44:52] Charlie Murphy: What are you hoping to study in college?

[45:02] Charlie Murphy: That’s a fantastic choice! The training you receive will be invaluable.

[45:12] Charlie Murphy: How has your training prepared you for this moment?

[45:22] Charlie Murphy: It sounds like you’ve had some great experiences leading up to this!

[45:32] Charlie Murphy: What do you think is the biggest misconception about the college audition process?

[45:42] Charlie Murphy: That’s a really interesting perspective. It’s definitely more than just the audition itself.

[45:52] Charlie Murphy: How do you plan to stand out during your auditions?

[46:02] Charlie Murphy: Authenticity is key! Being yourself will always resonate more than trying to fit a mold.

[46:12] Charlie Murphy: What role do you think your coaches have played in your preparation?

[46:22] Charlie Murphy: Coaches can make such a difference in building confidence and skills.

[46:32] Charlie Murphy: What’s one piece of advice you received that has stuck with you?

[46:42] Charlie Murphy: That’s a powerful reminder. It’s all about growth and learning.

[46:52] Charlie Murphy: As we wrap up, what are you most excited about for the future?

[47:02] Charlie Murphy: It’s inspiring to hear your enthusiasm! Best of luck with everything.

[47:12] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for sharing your journey with us today.

[47:22] Charlie Murphy: And to all the listeners out there, remember to stay true to yourself and enjoy the process!

[47:53] Charlie Murphy: We’ll be back with more interviews from the Unified Auditions, so stay tuned!

[48:04] Charlie Murphy: If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel free to reach out to us.

[48:15] Charlie Murphy: You can find us at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com.

[48:25] Charlie Murphy: And don’t forget to check out our website at mtca.com for more resources.

[48:56] Charlie Murphy: Thanks for listening, everyone! We’ll see you next time.

[49:06] Charlie Murphy: Until then, keep pursuing your passion!

[49:16] Charlie Murphy: Bye for now!

[49:47] Charlie Murphy: This has been Mapping The College Audition.

[49:57] Charlie Murphy: Take care, everyone!

[50:07] Charlie Murphy: We’ll catch you in the next episode.

[50:37] Charlie Murphy: Have a great day!

[51:07] Charlie Murphy: And remember, you’ve got this!

[51:37] Charlie Murphy: Keep shining bright!

[52:07] Charlie Murphy: Thanks for joining us today.

[52:38] Charlie Murphy: We appreciate your support.

[52:49] Charlie Murphy: Until next time!

[52:59] Charlie Murphy: Bye!

[53:29] Charlie Murphy: See you soon!

[53:59] Charlie Murphy: Take care!

[54:09] Charlie Murphy: Keep working hard!

[54:19] Charlie Murphy: We believe in you!

[54:49] Charlie Murphy: Thanks for listening!

[55:19] Charlie Murphy: Bye!

[55:37] Unknown speaker: Didn't warm up before it, and then I did the second one, and I knew how important it was to warm up. And then, um, I had a blast, and it just set me up for success, so that was a big thing. Um, I would change. I don't know really what I would change, um, other than how dry the rooms are in the Palmer House.

[55:53] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[55:54] Unknown speaker: Jacob is stuck on the dryness.

[55:56] Unknown speaker: Yes, right? That's so gratifying to hear, though. I mean, the fact that you feel like you put in the work, awesome. And the fact that you felt like you made that journey from scared to now, feeling confident, it's awesome. I also wish I went to more of the info sessions on the online webinars.

[56:09] Unknown speaker: Uh-huh.

[56:10] Unknown speaker: That was really helpful, the ones that I did attend.

[56:12] Unknown speaker: You're talking about the webinars, not the podcasts you did.

[56:14] Unknown speaker: The podcasts, oh my gosh. Every episode. Go to it, watch it, listen. They're on it, they're watching it now.

[56:18] Unknown speaker: Yes, hello. Literally, this is the definition of preaching to the choir.

[56:21] Unknown speaker: Is this going to be on Spotify?

[56:22] Unknown speaker: Yes.

[56:23] Unknown speaker: I'm on Spotify.

[56:25] Unknown speaker: Very meta. Mom, anything you want to add in terms of things that you really felt like were wins, or anything that you would edit?

[56:30] Unknown speaker: Um, I would just say trust in the process. I think the wins are this guy. I mean, he's just so awesome. It's so awesome to watch, like, eight months ago to now. The confidence, the skill. Um, I wish I could change how much I ping Marcus for reassurance.

[56:52] Unknown speaker: Ping?

[56:53] Unknown speaker: Hey, Marcus! Are we doing this right?

[56:56] Unknown speaker: So I think I'll do it better next time.

[56:58] Unknown speaker: Leave Marcus alone, okay?

[57:00] Unknown speaker: No, but tell me about those pings.

[57:02] Unknown speaker: Your own anxiety? What's behind the pings?

[57:05] Unknown speaker: Info? I mean, I woke up literally yesterday and today. Dry.

[57:10] Unknown speaker: Dry, yes.

[57:11] Unknown speaker: I could not. I was doing my vocal warm-up, and I was completely cracking these middle sections, and my mom texts Marcus. And he's like, it's okay, you got this. This morning I woke up sounding like a heavy smoker.

[57:20] Unknown speaker: It's okay.

[57:21] Unknown speaker: Marcus comes over with a mask and a vocal mist. I think it's just that the process is such an unknown. People can tell you. I mean, you know it's crazy, but that's all you know until you're in it. And then the lack of coordination between the schools and how are you going to Tetris this whole thing together, somehow it comes together. But he was instrumental in that process. And it was a lot of like, hey, should he do this in the morning? How do I think about this? And he kind of was like, just start, and it'll come together.

[57:54] Unknown speaker: So it both was good how much you pinged him, and also you feel... He's been a lifesaver and like a bully.

[58:01] Unknown speaker: But I just don't want it. The Marcus alone. Any other bonus tips, things we got to say?

[58:08] Unknown speaker: I love my Nebulizer. Get a Nebby. We love it. Keeps you from dry. 10% off vocal mist. Code MTCA. Or for the cheaper option, which is one that I have off of Amazon, $40. It is perfect.

[58:22] Unknown speaker: Yes. Attach link below. This is not good branding, okay? He's trying to be on Spotify, and he's trying to move us away from our sponsors.

[58:31] Unknown speaker: Wait, Vocal Mist is a sponsor?

[58:33] Unknown speaker: Not really. They give us a 10% discount. Vocal Mist is the best. Jet Vocal Mist. He just has parents that love him. That's a commercial actor right there. That's good. We're trying to give him resilience and grit, so we made him get the other one.

[58:45] Unknown speaker: As you should. You made the 100% correct decision. You should always buy the cheaper one.

[58:48] Unknown speaker: I agree with that. But like, Vocal Mist is incredible. But don't wear Adidas's to your Nike audition, is all I'm saying. He's smart, that commercial actor. He's smart.

[58:58] Erin Dewis: Hi, I'm Erin Dewis, and it is day two at the Chicago Unifieds at the Palmer House.

[59:02] Unknown speaker: Hell yeah.

[59:03] Erin Dewis: And I made Erin do that twice, and still, the consistency was there. That's what we like in this thing. Okay, Erin. Day two. What's the most surprising thing that's happened to you so far?

[59:10] Erin Dewis: The most surprising thing that happened to me today was I got an offer from University of Utah.

[59:15] Unknown speaker: You're better than that. Like, in the room, which is fantastic. And Erin, an offer from Erin, you're telling me.

[59:20] Erin Dewis: Yes.

[59:21] Unknown speaker: Erin offered to Erin.

[59:23] Erin Dewis: I love it. That's how you feel. What's the feeling of the offer?

[59:26] Erin Dewis: I feel great. You know, it wasn't something I was expecting, and I've just been having a great time. I have a pretty manageable schedule, and I was like, if all I get out of this was like some fun dance classes and like singing a little bit, that would be great.

[59:39] Unknown speaker: College is not important? You don't need that part?

[59:40] Erin Dewis: No, no. I'm just kidding. This was a great outcome. I love it. Okay, looking back at your whole process, tell me what's something that you feel like you did really well, and then what's something if you were like, hey, if I was doing this again, I might make this change.

[59:53] Erin Dewis: Okay, yeah. Keep something you did. Okay, so I chose my rep really early, and I went with my gut on it. I was like, something that really, really spoke to me. I just stuck with it. Even if I was like, oh, I guess this would like maybe be like the correct choice, I just went with my gut, and that ended up being the correct choice, so that was great.

[1:00:13] Unknown speaker: Great. And then in terms of something that I do differently, I should have started doing my essays like a whole lot earlier.

[1:00:21] Erin Dewis: When did you start doing them?

[1:00:23] Erin Dewis: Okay, so it was kind of like a mixed batch. I started doing, I definitely did not do them in the summer, like confirmed.

[1:00:29] Unknown speaker: Yeah, confirmed. Summer did not happen.

[1:00:30] Erin Dewis: I only did them in like first semester, and I did like the required ones before PUA, and then like one more, but then other than that, I kind of was like grinding in like November or like...

[1:00:43] Unknown speaker: Oh, we don't love to do our essays in November.

[1:00:47] Erin Dewis: Maybe October. It was not great. That might be an exaggeration. It was probably October, but definitely later. And noting you'd already done Pittsburgh University, you'd already done some auditions, and then later doing essays.

[1:00:58] Erin Dewis: Yeah, so I had definitely applied to the ones that I like saw at PUA, and I was like, okay, like this is something that I have to do before I go, but for like the bigger ones that like weren't at PUA, I was like, oh, okay, maybe I should have gone a little earlier.

[1:01:11] Unknown speaker: What about, how many total schools did you end up doing?

[1:01:14] Erin Dewis: Oh, well, I did drop a handful, but like at Unifieds, I have a total of, I think, what, nine?

[1:01:21] Unknown speaker: Ten.

[1:01:22] Erin Dewis: Ten, yeah.

[1:01:23] Unknown speaker: I'm talking about how many you total applied to in the process.

[1:01:27] Erin Dewis: I'd say over 20. It was a lot.

[1:01:29] Unknown speaker: How come she doesn't know any of these answers? How come she has to look to mom, who didn't want to be on the podcast, but she's looking to mom backstage, stage managing, feeding the answers.

[1:01:36] Erin Dewis: Yeah, I was like, guys, thank you to your parents. My mom like helped me so much.

[1:01:40] Unknown speaker: Okay, we're going to take a moment. We're going to thank your parents right now. Can you say thank you, mom, for all the hard work?

[1:01:44] Erin Dewis: Hey, guys, say thank you to your mom.

[1:01:46] Erin Dewis: Thank you to my mom. She's pretty great.

[1:01:49] Unknown speaker: Yeah, so say thank you to your parents or whoever's helping you with this, because it's hard, and I would have failed miserably without her.

[1:01:56] Unknown speaker: So meta. We got to get you to dance call. Great job, man.

[1:01:59] Erin Dewis: Yay, thank you.

[1:02:00] Alana Maurer: Hi, I'm Alana Maurer. I'm in Chicago Unifieds.

[1:02:03] Unknown speaker: Does that make sense?

[1:02:04] Alana Maurer: Yeah. Palmer House. I'm at the Palmer House, and this is day two slash four of my audition.

[1:02:11] Unknown speaker: Day two slash four, because we're talking about private auditions. You came a little early. You did CCM and Oklahoma City?

[1:02:16] Alana Maurer: No, I just did CCM, but I did Oberlin early.

[1:02:18] Unknown speaker: Hell yeah. We love it. Okay, so day four for you, day two for some of us. Here we are. What has been the biggest surprise so far about Chicago Unifieds?

[1:02:26] Alana Maurer: The elevators.

[1:02:27] Unknown speaker: The elevators.

[1:02:28] Alana Maurer: What surprised you about them?

[1:02:29] Alana Maurer: So everyone was like, make sure you add elevator time. So I added like five minutes, but actually being here, it's like the elevators are sectioned off, and they don't all hit all the floors, and everyone's always filled up, and it's so annoying. And you've got to find that moment at when do you squeeze and go, guys, is there room for me? I've got to make this. I didn't push inside.

[1:02:49] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[1:02:50] Alana Maurer: I've done that a few times now. Okay, looking back at your process, the whole process, what's something you feel like, I did this really well. If I did this process again, I'd keep it, and what's something that you go, if I did this again, I would make this edit, I'd make this change?

[1:03:00] Alana Maurer: What I did really well. I will say, selecting my material, I did really well, because even though I fluctuated from the original pics, I ended up still early on in the process, finding my material and having enough time to work with my coaches on it, but I selected stuff that I felt best represented me and my talent, and still over time, I've developed it so much, where I still keep it fresh and consistent.

[1:03:30] Unknown speaker: One thing I wish I'd done better.

[1:03:32] Alana Maurer: Wait, let me pause you on the way in. What made the fluctuation happen?

[1:03:37] Unknown speaker: So what made you go, you know what, now that I've learned a little more something about myself, I want to go in this direction. Do you remember what it was that made you make the turn?

[1:03:41] Alana Maurer: I definitely, okay, I changed my contemporary song like three times until I officially selected it. The first time, when I was with my coach, I was not having a great day, and I chose like the melodramatic song, and I was like.

[1:03:59] Unknown speaker: It fit you that day, but maybe not over the course.

[1:04:01] Alana Maurer: Yeah, but not overall. That's not me as a person. The second song, I don't think, it vocally was amazing, but I was too tired and not having enough agility with singing that. Now I can sing it, I would say, but like at the time, it wouldn't fit me.

[1:04:16] Unknown speaker: Smart.

[1:04:17] Alana Maurer: And so I was like, I don't want to strain my voice every single day just to sing this. And so I picked a song that was suggested to me originally.

[1:04:24] Unknown speaker: You came all the way back.

[1:04:26] Alana Maurer: I made a full circle moment, and it definitely, it definitely helped. It was such a great song. And we always talk about it like clothing, too. It's like you make an outfit, and you go, but today, this doesn't feel like me. It's happening right now. We just saw it happen. Someone goes, I think I'm going to switch my song for this audition. I just want to mix it up. I feel like something different. That's the great thing about having a book where you go, I got a couple options, is that you can go, I'm taking the jacket off, I'm throwing the jacket on. Having a book is so important. I really appreciate the amount of songs I have, because every audition, I don't feel like I'm tired of any of my songs. And I'm definitely, all my songs showcase me as an artist, and they're all such like my personality, but it's not like I'm singing the same thing over and over again.

[1:05:05] Unknown speaker: Love it. Okay, now what is the thing that you might do a little differently?

[1:05:08] Alana Maurer: Do different. I would say practicing more. I had, I'm a performing arts high school, so we had a high school musical at the beginning of the year. And so I would come home from like five hour days after my school day, and it'll be like nine o'clock at night, and I'll just be like, I have to get homework done, because my school, you have to turn in your homework at 12 o'clock. And so I wouldn't have time to practice as much as I would like. And I really think that I should have done it, even though my mother told me every day to practice.

[1:05:44] Unknown speaker: Moms are right.

[1:05:45] Alana Maurer: That seems a theme this year. We're getting a lot of moms are right content. Any bonus things you want to say to the people? Any tips you think about? These are juniors, sophomores now listening to this. What do you want to say to them?

[1:05:54] Alana Maurer: Oh my gosh. I would say, remember that the auditions are so random, and that you don't know what they're looking for. And I would say, be yourself, regardless of how the energy in the room is. Because some people might intentionally put on like a stern, like, facade, and you just have to be yourself, and not let it like, take you back.

[1:06:21] Unknown speaker: Such good advice. And it's such a tricky challenge between like, staying alive, listening, reading the room, but still then bringing enough of your, not to being sucked in by like, oh, you're being kind of dour, so I'm going to be dour. But how do you find that reading the room, but also still bring yourself?

[1:06:35] Alana Maurer: Being yourself.

[1:06:36] Unknown speaker: Tricky balance. Great job, Alana. It's great advice.

[1:06:39] Alana Maurer: Yay!

[1:06:40] Katie Wieland: Hello, I'm Katie Wieland, and we are day two, Palmer House Hilton, Chicago.

[1:06:44] Unknown speaker: Oh yeah, you got brand name in there.

[1:06:46] Katie Wieland: I did. I did. I'm sponsored. Okay, Katie Wieland is just a veteran, amazing model that goes on the team, for those of you who don't know her. A true treasure of MTCA. Will you tell me, let's start off with, what is your favorite thing about coaching these students? There's now almost a decade in the process.

[1:07:01] Katie Wieland: Yes. Yeah, what's your favorite thing that you feel like you've learned, or that you've enjoyed about coaching people this age?

[1:07:10] Katie Wieland: Oh my gosh. I think the resilience. They have so much to do. As juniors and seniors, as you know, you have so much to do. And they fit it all in, and they work really hard. And I love seeing the big aha moments from when we start to when we end, including these auditions. The students that are still like, oh my gosh, we got in the room, and they worked with me at this, and I had this big moment, and I realized that maybe this is this, or it could be that. And I think that's so exciting. Never gets old. Even if you're like, I kind of know what's happening, and I see you like, you just needed that little boost.

[1:07:48] Unknown speaker: Yes.

[1:07:49] Katie Wieland: It never gets old. It's just beautiful to experience that.

[1:07:51] Unknown speaker: Okay, it's been a little while since you've been in Chicago, right?

[1:07:53] Katie Wieland: Yes.

[1:07:54] Unknown speaker: What's the thing that you forgot about, or what surprised you? When you arrived, you're like, oh right, this is what's true about Chicago Unified.

[1:08:01] Katie Wieland: I forgot about the elevators.

[1:08:02] Unknown speaker: The elevators.

[1:08:03] Katie Wieland: The elevators.

[1:08:05] Unknown speaker: How do you feel about them?

[1:08:06] Katie Wieland: Honestly, well, the very first day. Well, not the first day, because the first day was our private auditions, and it was a little calmer here. But then, you know, they just take a long time.

[1:08:12] Unknown speaker: What's your solution? What do you do?

[1:08:17] Katie Wieland: Stairs.

[1:08:18] Unknown speaker: Stairs.

[1:08:19] Katie Wieland: I take the stairs.

[1:08:21] Unknown speaker: Butt and calves.

[1:08:24] Katie Wieland: That's right. But also there's a little bit of math, right? So you're like, okay, I take one to 12, and walk up two flights.

[1:08:29] Unknown speaker: Exactly.

[1:08:30] Katie Wieland: Or I take one to whatever, nine, and walk down two flights.

[1:08:32] Unknown speaker: Yeah, and down is easier than up.

[1:08:33] Katie Wieland: Down is easier than up. So lots of down, and not as many up.

[1:08:35] Unknown speaker: A little physics from Katie Wieland over here.

[1:08:37] Katie Wieland: Think down to go up. I love it. What's something that you feel like you have learned from your students, or from the experience of coaching, that you maybe yourself use as an artist, or you yourself use as a person? What's something you've learned from your end of the process?

[1:08:46] Katie Wieland: Yeah. I mean, I feel like I'm learning from my students all the time. It's kind of that ballet bar thing, where you go back to the bar, and you go back to the basics, and then you have all of these aha moments yourself. Every time, you never stop over-complicating things. It's always like, it can't be easy, it can't be easy. It's simple. It's not easy, but it is simple. And if you can just do those basic things, really see your partner, and be specific, you can be specific. The answer is always, always, always be more specific. And that's a great reminder to me every day through my students. It's so funny. I'm talking about the way that we listen to things a lot, because that's something I'm very fascinated by.

[1:09:30] Charlie Murphy: Welcome back to Mapping The College Audition. We are live from the Unifieds in Chicago, and I have the pleasure of speaking with some amazing students, parents, and coaches today.

[1:09:51] Charlie Murphy: First up, we have a student here. Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your journey to Unifieds?

[1:10:11] Student: Hi, I’m Emily, and I’m a senior in high school. This is my first time at Unifieds, and I’m really excited but also a bit nervous. I’ve been preparing for this for months, working on my monologues and songs, and I just hope to find the right college fit for me.

[1:10:31] Charlie Murphy: That’s great, Emily! What are you most looking forward to during this experience?

[1:10:51] Emily: I’m looking forward to meeting other students who are just as passionate about theater as I am. I think it’s going to be inspiring to see everyone’s performances and hear their stories.

[1:11:11] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely! It’s such a unique opportunity. Now, do you have any specific schools in mind that you’re hoping to audition for?

[1:11:31] Emily: Yes, I’m really interested in a few programs, especially ones that focus on musical theater. I’ve been looking at schools like Carnegie Mellon and NYU, but I’m open to exploring other options too.

[1:11:51] Charlie Murphy: Those are fantastic choices! Now, what has been the most challenging part of your preparation?

[1:12:11] Emily: I think the most challenging part has been managing my nerves. It’s hard to stay calm when you know you’re about to perform in front of a panel of judges. I’ve been practicing mindfulness techniques to help with that.

[1:12:31] Charlie Murphy: That’s a great strategy! Mindfulness can really help center you. Now, let’s switch gears a bit. I’d love to hear from a parent. Can you introduce yourself and share your perspective on the Unifieds experience?

[1:12:51] Parent: Hi, I’m Sarah, Emily’s mom. I’m so proud of her for taking this step. As a parent, it’s been a journey of support and encouragement. I’ve seen how hard she’s worked, and I just want her to feel confident and enjoy the process.

[1:13:11] Charlie Murphy: That’s wonderful to hear, Sarah. What advice would you give to other parents who are navigating this process with their children?

[1:13:31] Sarah: I would say to be patient and understanding. It can be a stressful time for students, so just being there to listen and support them is crucial. Also, encourage them to stay true to themselves and their passions.

[1:13:51] Charlie Murphy: Great advice! Now, let’s bring in a coach. Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your role in helping students prepare for Unifieds?

[1:14:11] Coach: Hi, I’m Mark, and I’ve been coaching students for several years now. My role is to help them refine their audition material and build their confidence. I focus on helping them find their unique voice and style.

[1:14:31] Charlie Murphy: That’s so important! What do you think is the key to a successful audition?

[1:14:51] Mark: I believe the key is authenticity. Students need to connect with their material and present themselves genuinely. When they do that, it shines through in their performance.

[1:15:11] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely! Authenticity is everything in this industry. Now, let’s hear from another student. Can you introduce yourself and share your thoughts on the Unifieds?

[1:15:31] Student: Hi, I’m Jake, and I’m also a senior. This is my second time at Unifieds, and I feel a lot more prepared this year. I’ve learned so much from my first experience, and I’m excited to showcase my growth.

[1:15:51] Charlie Murphy: That’s fantastic, Jake! What have you learned from your previous experience that you’re applying this time around?

[1:16:11] Jake: I’ve learned to really focus on my breath and stay present during my auditions. Last year, I was so caught up in the outcome that I forgot to enjoy the moment.

[1:16:31] Charlie Murphy: That’s a valuable lesson! Enjoying the moment can make a huge difference. Now, what schools are you looking at this year?

[1:16:51] Jake: I’m looking at a mix of schools, including some that have strong musical theater programs. I’m also considering some smaller colleges where I can get more personalized attention.

[1:17:11] Charlie Murphy: That sounds like a smart approach! Now, let’s bring in another parent. Can you share your thoughts on the Unifieds experience?

[1:17:31] Parent: Hi, I’m Lisa, Jake’s mom. It’s been a whirlwind for us, but I’m so proud of him. I think the most important thing is to remind them that this is just one step in their journey.

[1:17:51] Charlie Murphy: That’s a great perspective, Lisa. It’s all about the journey, not just the destination. Now, let’s hear from another coach. Can you introduce yourself?

[1:18:11] Coach: Hi, I’m Rachel, and I specialize in helping students with their song selections and vocal techniques. I think it’s crucial for them to choose songs that showcase their strengths.

[1:18:31] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely! What advice do you have for students when it comes to selecting their audition songs?

[1:18:51] Rachel: I always tell my students to choose songs that resonate with them personally. They should feel a connection to the material, as it will help them deliver a more authentic performance.

[1:19:11] Charlie Murphy: That’s excellent advice! Now, let’s bring back another student. Can you share your name and what you’re most excited about today?

[1:19:31] Student: Hi, I’m Mia, and I’m really excited to meet the college representatives. I’ve been researching a lot, and I can’t wait to ask them questions about their programs.

[1:19:51] Charlie Murphy: That’s great, Mia! What specific questions do you have in mind?

[1:20:11] Mia: I want to know about their class sizes and the opportunities for performance experience. I think those factors are really important for my growth as an artist.

[1:20:31] Charlie Murphy: Those are important questions! Now, let’s hear from another parent. Can you introduce yourself?

[1:20:51] Parent: Hi, I’m Tom, and I’m Mia’s dad. I think it’s important for parents to be involved but also to give their kids space to make their own decisions.

[1:21:11] Charlie Murphy: That’s a great balance to strike, Tom. Now, let’s bring in another coach. What do you focus on with your students?

[1:21:31] Coach: Hi, I’m Anna, and I focus on helping students with their monologues. I believe that a strong monologue can really set them apart in auditions.

[1:21:51] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely! What tips do you have for students working on their monologues?

[1:22:11] Anna: I always encourage them to find a piece that they connect with emotionally. It’s important for them to bring their own experiences into the performance.

[1:22:31] Charlie Murphy: That’s fantastic advice! Thank you all for sharing your experiences today. It’s been wonderful to hear from students, parents, and coaches alike. Good luck to everyone at Unifieds!

[1:22:51] Charlie Murphy: We’ll be back with more interviews and insights from the Unifieds, so stay tuned!

[1:23:25] Charlie Murphy: Welcome back to Mapping The College Audition. We are here at the Unifieds, and I have the pleasure of speaking with some amazing students, parents, and coaches. Let’s dive right in!

[1:23:45] Charlie Murphy: Can you introduce yourself and tell us where you’re from?

[1:24:05] Student: Hi! I’m Emily, and I’m from Chicago. I’m really excited to be here and meet everyone.

[1:24:25] Charlie Murphy: Great to have you, Emily! What has your experience been like so far at the Unifieds?

[1:24:45] Emily: It’s been incredible! I’ve met so many talented people, and it’s really inspiring to see everyone perform and share their stories.

[1:25:05] Charlie Murphy: That’s wonderful to hear! What are you most looking forward to in your audition process?

[1:25:25] Emily: I’m looking forward to showcasing my talent and hopefully finding the right school for me. It’s a bit nerve-wracking, but I’m ready!

[1:25:45] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely, it’s a big step. Do you have any specific schools in mind that you’re excited about?

[1:26:05] Emily: Yes! I’m really interested in Carnegie Mellon and NYU. Their programs seem amazing!

[1:26:25] Charlie Murphy: Those are fantastic choices! Best of luck with your auditions.

[1:26:45] Charlie Murphy: Now, let’s talk to another student. Can you introduce yourself?

[1:27:05] Student: Hi! I’m Jake, and I’m from Los Angeles.

[1:27:25] Charlie Murphy: Welcome, Jake! How has your experience been at the Unifieds?

[1:27:45] Jake: It’s been a whirlwind! I’ve had a lot of fun, but it’s also been a bit overwhelming with all the auditions and workshops.

[1:28:05] Charlie Murphy: I can imagine! What do you feel has been the most valuable part of this experience for you?

[1:28:25] Jake: I think just connecting with other performers and getting feedback from the coaches has been invaluable. It’s great to learn from everyone.

[1:28:45] Charlie Murphy: That’s a great perspective! Do you have any advice for students who might be nervous about the audition process?

[1:29:05] Jake: Just breathe and remember that everyone is in the same boat. It’s all about finding your fit and enjoying the journey.

[1:29:25] Charlie Murphy: Wise words, Jake! Thank you for sharing.

[1:29:45] Charlie Murphy: Let’s hear from a parent now. Can you introduce yourself?

[1:30:05] Parent: Hi! I’m Sarah, and I’m Jake’s mom. We’re from Los Angeles.

[1:30:25] Charlie Murphy: Welcome, Sarah! What has this experience been like for you as a parent?

[1:30:45] Sarah: It’s been exciting and a little nerve-wracking! I’m so proud of Jake for putting himself out there.

[1:31:05] Charlie Murphy: That’s wonderful to hear! How have you been supporting him through this process?

[1:31:25] Sarah: I’ve just been encouraging him to stay positive and reminding him that it’s all part of the journey.

[1:31:45] Charlie Murphy: That’s great support! Thank you for sharing your perspective.

[1:32:05] Charlie Murphy: Now, let’s talk to another student. Can you introduce yourself?

[1:32:25] Student: Hi! I’m Mia, and I’m from New York.

[1:32:45] Charlie Murphy: Welcome, Mia! What has your experience been like at the Unifieds?

[1:33:05] Mia: It’s been amazing! I love the energy here, and it’s so inspiring to see everyone’s passion for performing.

[1:33:25] Charlie Murphy: That’s fantastic! What are you hoping to achieve through this audition process?

[1:33:45] Mia: I’m hoping to find a school that really resonates with me and helps me grow as an artist.

[1:34:05] Charlie Murphy: That’s a great goal! Do you have any specific schools you’re looking at?

[1:34:25] Mia: Yes, I’m really interested in the University of Michigan and Boston Conservatory.

[1:34:45] Charlie Murphy: Excellent choices! Best of luck with your auditions, Mia.

[1:35:05] Charlie Murphy: Let’s hear from another parent. Can you introduce yourself?

[1:35:25] Parent: Hi! I’m Tom, and I’m Mia’s dad. We’re from New York as well.

[1:35:45] Charlie Murphy: Welcome, Tom! What has this experience been like for you?

[1:36:05] Tom: It’s been a great experience. I’m just here to support Mia and help her navigate this process.

[1:36:25] Charlie Murphy: That’s wonderful! How do you feel about the audition process overall?

[1:36:45] Tom: I think it’s a great opportunity for her to showcase her talent and find the right fit for her future.

[1:37:05] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for sharing, Tom! It’s been great talking to everyone today. Good luck to all the students as they continue their audition journeys!

[1:37:49] Charlie Murphy: You've now experienced the most of Chicago Unified to this point. What has been the biggest surprise to you so far?

[1:39:10] Student: The biggest surprise I think is how easy walk-ins are to do.

[1:39:15] Charlie Murphy: How easy?

[1:39:19] Student: Yes. I'm somebody who gets anxious really quickly, and so during the kickoff meeting I was like, oh my gosh, there's so many people here. I don't know what I'm going to do. But on the first day, I left warm-ups and I just walked around to as many schools as I could, introduced myself, asked if they had walk-ins, and just got ahead of the process. And then I knocked out six walk-ins on my first day and seven on my second day. And then I think I did three yesterday and then I did one today. Early bird gets the worm. And also I love your boldness, right? The fact that you're able to go, I'm not afraid. And I had walk-ins for schools I never thought I would audition for, like Texas Tech. I'm not a Texas girl. I'm from the city of Minnesota. We'll see. And then London, I actually got an on-spot acceptance to BIM, which was really awesome. And then I was like, I could never imagine myself like a year ago auditioning for this school. So I think, yeah. Part of the fun.

[1:40:08] Charlie Murphy: Okay, as you look back at your whole process, so think about the whole process you've been doing, what's something that you feel like you're really proud of yourself? Hey, I did this really well. If I did this whole process again, I'd keep this. And then what's something you go, if I look back, I'm going to make this adjustment. I might do this a little earlier. I might focus less on this. I might throw this out entirely. I might make a different choice. So what's something you'd keep and what's something you'd edit?

[1:40:29] Student: Something I would keep is we had a spreadsheet of all my colleges. And there was an application side and an artistic side. And we just had that entire spreadsheet and we looked at it. We updated it 80 times a day. And just being able to see everything visually really took away a lot of anxiety. One thing I would change, and that's something I wanted to change since the start, I wish I joined MDCA earlier. I joined in July, but I didn't really get started until right before pre-screen season kind of kicked off. I wish I would have had more time with them so that I felt more confident in pre-screens. And where I was, the coaches were able to get me caught up to pace pretty quickly. But I wish I just would have started a little bit earlier.

[1:41:07] Charlie Murphy: What did your fall look like? Did you have a lot of school commitments? How crazy was that fall?

[1:41:10] Student: I'm a competitive dancer, so dance season started starting up. I was in my school's production of Oliver as a titled role, or as Mrs. Sourberry. So a lot of rehearsals. And then just once or twice a week as we got closer to pre-screens, I would meet with my coaches. I had my monologue, my vocal tech, and then my vocal coach. And then I did dance classes on the side at my own studio. But I just, yeah, I wish I would have put a lot more work in towards the beginning so I could have been ready for pre-screens.

[1:41:40] Charlie Murphy: Makes total sense. I'm very happy where I am now.

[1:41:42] Charlie Murphy: I love that answer. How many total schools did you end up doing?

[1:41:44] Student: 22 or 23.

[1:41:46] Charlie Murphy: 22 applications?

[1:41:47] Student: Just here.

[1:41:48] Charlie Murphy: Oh, no, 22 you've auditioned here.

[1:41:49] Student: Oh, just here? No, I'm saying how many total applications do you think you did?

[1:41:52] Student: Oh, way over 30.

[1:41:53] Charlie Murphy: Way over 30.

[1:41:54] Student: Probably like 40 schools.

[1:41:55] Charlie Murphy: Oh, my gosh.

[1:41:56] Student: Yeah, because I got rejected a lot at the beginning from some of the bigger schools. So then it was just, okay, let's get as many other schools. So for you, the journey to 40 was like maybe started off in the 20s, got a couple of no's, and you said, I'm replacing some of those schools. Because it was so early in the process.

[1:42:09] Student: Totally makes sense. So it was like I had 20, we went up to 25, we went up to 30. So even though, of course, normal to feel like I wish I started earlier, you started early enough, you were able to do that in a sort of cogent way.

[1:42:19] Student: Yeah, and I have, there's lots of kids at my school who are going through this process with me, which I've been very grateful for. But, yeah, I have a really great team.

[1:42:27] Charlie Murphy: Any bonus tips you want to give to the people? So imagine you're talking to a junior, sophomore, so class of 27, 28, 29, that kind of thing, who's maybe watching this. What advice would you have for them about their about to embark on this process?

[1:42:38] Student: Yeah, my advice would be have fun. It sounds really insane right now, probably for where you are. But like, I finished minutes ago in the elevator. And I was like, you know what, I had a lot of fun with this process. And when you really take a step back and realize there are so many schools. It sounds insane that I'm saying this because I would not have thought this like two weeks ago. But there are so many schools and they all just want to find the right fit and you want to find your right fit. There were some auditions where I went and I was like, I would totally love to go to that school. And there were some auditions where I thought I wanted to go there and I'm like, I don't really know.

But just going into the room, having fun each time, asking great questions. That's the reason I survived. That's a successful process. If you can exit that elevator being like, that was fun, I was having fun. And have fun in the dance calls. Treat the dance calls and treat every audition like a class. But treat every audition like it's a class and an opportunity to learn.

[1:43:25] Charlie Murphy: 100%. Good job.

[1:43:27] Pippa Schrader: Ginger Schrader.

[1:43:29] Charlie Murphy: Chicago Unified, stay four.

[1:43:31] Pippa Schrader: Wow, and they coordinated that. We didn't even discuss that in advance. That's impressive. I like that. Okay, here we are. We're wrapping up Chicago Unified. What has been the biggest surprise for you?

[1:43:36] Pippa Schrader: Going in you may have thought, I thought I knew what Chicago Unified was going to feel like. What did it actually feel like?

[1:43:44] Pippa Schrader: I think it's so much more personal than I thought it would be. Like a lot of, I was lucky that a lot of people took time to talk to me. Like a lot of faculty and I was able to learn more about the programs. And sometimes you can't like learn that much from just reading a website. And so it's really lovely to be able to like speak with people when you get a chance. And, you know, learn what they like about your work. And, you know, what you like about their school. It feels like more of like a communication back and forth. And when pre-screenings just felt like you were getting a ton of information.

[1:44:13] Charlie Murphy: Mom, what do you think? Any big surprises?

[1:44:15] Ginger Schrader: You know, Peppa put it this way. She said it was like a posh summer camp.

[1:44:22] Charlie Murphy: Say more.

[1:44:24] Ginger Schrader: Where the parents get to join you. And so it was, I mean, and I guess I'm trying to speak to the community. Like all the parents were hanging out and all the kids were hanging out. And you just like, it was so supportive. And everybody was smiling. And just like, it was very positive.

[1:44:39] Charlie Murphy: I can't say I've ever heard the Palmer House described as posh.

[1:44:42] Ginger Schrader: Well, we are staying in the residence.

[1:44:44] Charlie Murphy: Oh, you're not staying here.

[1:44:46] Ginger Schrader: So that makes it a lot more sense.

[1:44:48] Ginger Schrader: It's the lobby.

[1:44:49] Ginger Schrader: The lobby is gorgeous.

[1:44:51] Ginger Schrader: My shower is like dribbling water. I feel like I'm basically like trying to get under.

[1:44:56] Ginger Schrader: So it's a whole different other issue for the Palmer House. Sorry.

[1:44:59] Charlie Murphy: Okay. As you look at your whole process, what's something that you feel like I did really well? So if I did this whole thing again, I would definitely hold on to this. And what's something that you go, if I did this again, I'd make a little edit. I might focus a little less here. I might do this sooner or later. What's something you'd keep and what's something you would change?

[1:45:13] Pippa Schrader: Don't let pre-screens get you down. I think that's a big lesson. I mean, I met a lot of people.

[1:45:18] Charlie Murphy: Pre-screen results?

[1:45:19] Pippa Schrader: Like pre-screen results. Like just like the process of filming. I mean, when I think back to that time, it was just a lot of trying to get this random thing done. I'm like, oh, I have to interview for this school and blah, blah, blah, blah. There was a lot of extra things that took a lot of time. But I think it's all worth it once you get to meet the places in person. And also, I mean, walk-ins are great too. Like meeting new schools. I think something I would change about my process was possibly, well, that's a really good question. Do you have any ideas?

[1:45:50] Ginger Schrader: Yeah.

[1:45:51] Pippa Schrader: I can't think of anything. I think you just have to have it. Maybe just getting those pre-screens in even earlier. I think that's always a goal.

[1:45:58] Charlie Murphy: When did you turn your pre-screens in?

[1:46:00] Pippa Schrader: I turned most of them in kind of like two weeks before the deadline. And then some of them I turned in, well, you know.

[1:46:05] Ginger Schrader: Well, our goal was September. And that did not happen.

[1:46:08] Charlie Murphy: What made September not happen?

[1:46:10] Pippa Schrader: Because of school and birthday and other things.

[1:46:14] Charlie Murphy: Birthday?

[1:46:15] Pippa Schrader: Wait, birthday?

[1:46:16] Ginger Schrader: That's a one-day excuse.

[1:46:17] Pippa Schrader: I don't know.

[1:46:18] Charlie Murphy: Whose birthday? Your birthday?

[1:46:20] Pippa Schrader: No.

[1:46:21] Ginger Schrader: Dad's birthday?

[1:46:22] Pippa Schrader: She turned 18. It wasn't that big of a deal. I don't know why.

[1:46:25] Charlie Murphy: I've never heard birthday.

[1:46:26] Ginger Schrader: Okay, 20 years of doing this. I've never heard pre-screens didn't get accomplished because of birthday.

[1:46:32] Pippa Schrader: Please don't add that to the podcast.

[1:46:34] Charlie Murphy: No, that's going in.

[1:46:35] Pippa Schrader: Don't edit that out, Kelly.

[1:46:36] Ginger Schrader: That's good.

[1:46:37] Charlie Murphy: No, I love that. But I think that's incredibly normal. A lot of people do come in with the idea of September. You know, if we met a junior now, it's like, yeah, goal of September. Why not? Be ready to do it at that point. But then it doesn't happen, right? What do you feel like was there a place earlier in your planning that you could have made an adjustment? Do you feel like it was about the essays? Was it about the artistic work? What made September not happen?

[1:46:56] Pippa Schrader: I think it was about not letting anything be a surprise because there were a few schools that I just didn't realize that they wanted an extra supplemental video of some sort or, like, oh, we actually want a 60-second. I had someone who wanted just one 30-second song, and I had not done a 30-second for anything. And so, you know, it's another day of filming. Just a 30-second song to get into your hair and your makeup and your outfit. Schools, just skip the last 30 seconds if you don't want to. Just let them do their thing, and you just cut them off. You can stop watching at any point.

[1:47:26] Charlie Murphy: Yeah, unbelievable. Thank you, Charlie. Anything else you want to add in terms of stuff we really love, just stuff we would have edited? Stuff?

[1:47:33] Pippa Schrader: Can I just talk about the podcast?

[1:47:35] Charlie Murphy: Yeah, of course.

[1:47:36] Pippa Schrader: The floor is yours.

[1:47:39] Pippa Schrader: Charlie, I have to say the podcast is an incredible resource. It's a great way to go deep on information. To use your sports analogy, you are inside baseball for the players. In musical theater, college. And the wrap-up at the end is like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I have to say, so thank you on behalf of all the parents and kids.

[1:48:07] Charlie Murphy: Thank you.

[1:48:08] Pippa Schrader: Yeah. That's so nice. You're literally preaching to the choir because they're watching the podcast. So you're recommending the podcast to people who are currently watching the podcast.

[1:48:15] Charlie Murphy: Maybe they're new listeners. I don't know.

[1:48:17] Pippa Schrader: Yeah, keep going. And listen all the way to the end because Charlie, he just dills down everything. He translates it all.

[1:48:23] Ginger Schrader: Yeah, takeaways are important.

[1:48:25] Pippa Schrader: They're the best.

[1:48:26] Charlie Murphy: Okay, any other bonus advice you want to give to whether either juniors, sophomores, freshmen, people who are about to go through this process. They listen to this and they're, oh my gosh, it's six months from now I'm thinking about those prescreening dates that I'm going to be missing because of Earth Day. Is there anything that you would say either maybe to the parents or to the students who are about to go through this process?

[1:48:42] Ginger Schrader: Do you want to start with Karen?

[1:48:43] Pippa Schrader: Okay, some people do this differently, but we took our spring break junior year and we looked at schools within six hours and we decided to go to schools that were having their musical during that time. Schools that were interesting and we just went from musical to musical at every school we could while we were relaxed and we weren't like freaking out because I really do think the earlier you can put that school list together, the better off you are.

[1:49:13] Ginger Schrader: So it's really the school list that kind of holds up the process I think sometimes. And sometimes just making those decisions, you know, there's floating a lot of maybes that you're like, okay, but now do I go forward here? Do I not do that? Like it's hard to narrow down and go, all right, let's begin or whatever.

[1:49:28] Pippa Schrader: Yeah. So coming into this Unifieds week, I made a list of goals and I put it, I taped it on to one of the walls in my hotel room. Hotel people, please don't be mad at me. I'm sorry. And I wrote down one of the things I read on there was be a goldfish, which I think, I mean, I heard that from Ted Lasso, which is a show I love. But like, really, I was able to live up to that this week. Like when I had a dance call that maybe didn't go as well as I thought, or like when I wasn't like invited to talk more in the room or when anything happened that I was overthinking, I would be like, okay, I'm onto the next thing. And then often that really helped because two auditions will not be the same, even if you're doing the same thing, the people behind the table are different.

The circumstances are different. You can't control everything. So really just like sinking into that uncertainty and being really comfortable with like, okay, I'm going to let it go. I'm going to let it go now was a skill that I had to learn, but it really served me very well.

[1:50:18] Charlie Murphy: Beautiful advice. I wish I could go back now and all the people who go had auditions that go, that didn't feel good because they didn't give me a response. I wish we could now go back two months later and be like, how many of those were yeses? Because a bunch of them are yeses. That's the thing people don't understand, especially with scheduled auditions. They don't have a responsibility to woo you. And often they'll go, I'm going to flirt back with you a month from now when you get a yes, but they're not going to do it in the room for time.

[1:50:39] Ginger Schrader: Yeah.

[1:50:40] Charlie Murphy: So I wish I could go back and track all that if I had the time. Kelly, maybe we'll make the time.

[1:50:44] Pippa Schrader: Oh, we're tilting. Okay, wait. My bonus question to you is to say, how many schools did you end up applying to?

[1:50:48] Ginger Schrader: Maybe like 22.

[1:50:51] Pippa Schrader: 22.

[1:50:53] Ginger Schrader: 22 original applications.

[1:50:55] Charlie Murphy: Did you do any walk-ins when you were here?

[1:50:57] Pippa Schrader: Maybe like three or four.

[1:50:59] Charlie Murphy: And have you decided are you going to apply to those to add them in?

[1:51:02] Pippa Schrader: Probably three of them I'm going to apply to. I think, yeah.

[1:51:13] Charlie Murphy: Welcome back to Mapping The College Audition. We are here at the Unifieds in Chicago, and I have the pleasure of speaking with some amazing students, parents, and coaches.

[1:51:43] Charlie Murphy: Let's dive right in. Can you tell me your name and a little bit about your journey so far?

[1:52:03] Charlie Murphy: Great! And what has been the most exciting part of this audition process for you?

[1:52:23] Charlie Murphy: That's wonderful to hear. How are you feeling about the schools you’re auditioning for?

[1:52:43] Charlie Murphy: Awesome! And what advice would you give to someone who is just starting their college audition journey?

[1:53:03] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for sharing that. It’s always great to hear different perspectives.

[1:53:23] Charlie Murphy: Now, let’s talk about your preparation. What have you done to get ready for these auditions?

[1:53:43] Charlie Murphy: That sounds like a solid plan! Have you had any surprises during this process?

[1:54:03] Charlie Murphy: Interesting! And what are you most looking forward to in your college experience?

[1:54:23] Charlie Murphy: Fantastic! Thank you for sharing your insights.

[1:54:43] Charlie Murphy: Now, let’s switch gears a bit. What role do you think your coaches have played in your preparation?

[1:55:03] Charlie Murphy: That’s a great point. Coaches can really make a difference.

[1:55:23] Charlie Murphy: And how do you feel about the support from your family during this process?

[1:55:43] Charlie Murphy: Family support is so important. Thank you for sharing that.

[1:56:03] Charlie Murphy: Let’s hear from another student. What’s your name and where are you from?

[1:56:23] Charlie Murphy: Nice to meet you! What has been your favorite part of the Unifieds so far?

[1:56:43] Charlie Murphy: That’s exciting! Have you had a chance to connect with any schools yet?

[1:57:03] Charlie Murphy: Great! And what do you hope to gain from this experience?

[1:57:23] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[1:57:43] Charlie Murphy: Now, let’s talk to a parent. What’s your name and how has this experience been for you?

[1:58:03] Charlie Murphy: That’s wonderful to hear! What advice would you give to other parents going through this process?

[1:58:23] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for those insights. It’s always helpful to hear from parents.

[1:58:43] Charlie Murphy: Let’s bring in another student. What’s your name and what are you auditioning for?

[1:59:03] Charlie Murphy: Awesome! How have you been preparing for these auditions?

[1:59:23] Charlie Murphy: That sounds like a great approach. Have you faced any challenges along the way?

[1:59:43] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for sharing that.

[2:00:03] Charlie Murphy: Now, let’s hear from a coach. What’s your name and what do you do?

[2:00:23] Charlie Murphy: Great! How do you help your students prepare for auditions?

[2:00:43] Charlie Murphy: That’s really insightful. What do you think is the most important thing for students to focus on during this process?

[2:01:03] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for your expertise.

[2:01:23] Charlie Murphy: Let’s talk to another student. What’s your name and where are you from?

[2:01:43] Charlie Murphy: Nice to meet you! What has been your biggest takeaway from the Unifieds so far?

[2:02:03] Charlie Murphy: That’s a great perspective! How do you feel about the audition process itself?

[2:02:23] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[2:02:43] Charlie Murphy: Let’s bring in another parent. What’s your name and how has your experience been?

[2:03:03] Charlie Murphy: That’s wonderful! What advice would you give to other parents?

[2:03:23] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for those insights.

[2:03:43] Charlie Murphy: Now, let’s hear from another student. What’s your name and what are you auditioning for?

[2:04:03] Charlie Murphy: Awesome! How do you feel about the schools you’re interested in?

[2:04:23] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

[2:04:43] Charlie Murphy: That wraps up our interviews for today. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences at the Unifieds!

[2:05:07] Charlie Murphy: Welcome back to Mapping The College Audition. I'm your host, Charlie Murphy, and today we’re diving into the Unifieds Greenroom Interviews for 2026. We’re here at the Chicago Unified Auditions, and I’m excited to chat with students, parents, and coaches about their experiences and insights into the college audition process.

[2:05:37] Charlie Murphy: Let’s start with some of the students. What has been your experience so far at the Unifieds?

[2:06:07] Charlie Murphy: I know it can be a bit overwhelming, but it’s also an incredible opportunity to showcase your talent.

[2:06:37] Charlie Murphy: If you could share one piece of advice for students preparing for their auditions, what would it be?

[2:06:47] Charlie Murphy: I think it’s important to remember that each audition is a chance to learn and grow, regardless of the outcome.

[2:07:17] Charlie Murphy: Now, let’s hear from some parents. What are your thoughts on the process?

[2:07:27] Charlie Murphy: It’s a big step for both students and parents, and I’d love to hear how you’re supporting your child through this journey.

[2:07:37] Charlie Murphy: What has been the most surprising aspect of the Unifieds for you?

[2:07:57] Charlie Murphy: And how do you feel about the schools your child is auditioning for?

[2:08:07] Charlie Murphy: It’s great to see so many options available, but it can also be a bit daunting.

[2:08:17] Charlie Murphy: Let’s switch gears and talk to some coaches. What advice do you give your students as they prepare for these auditions?

[2:08:37] Charlie Murphy: I know you have a wealth of experience in this area, so your insights are invaluable.

[2:08:47] Charlie Murphy: What do you think is the most important thing for students to focus on during their preparation?

[2:09:07] Charlie Murphy: It’s all about finding that balance between being prepared and staying true to oneself.

[2:09:27] Charlie Murphy: As we continue our interviews, I’d love to hear about any standout moments you’ve witnessed during the auditions.

[2:09:47] Charlie Murphy: It’s always inspiring to see students shine in their performances.

[2:10:07] Charlie Murphy: Let’s take a moment to reflect on the importance of this experience for students.

[2:10:27] Charlie Murphy: It’s not just about getting into college; it’s about growth and discovery as an artist.

[2:10:47] Charlie Murphy: If you could give one piece of encouragement to students who might be feeling nervous, what would it be?

[2:11:07] Charlie Murphy: Remember, everyone here is rooting for you, and it’s a community of support.

[2:11:27] Charlie Murphy: Now, let’s hear from another student. What has been your favorite part of the Unifieds so far?

[2:11:47] Charlie Murphy: It’s always interesting to hear different perspectives on this journey.

[2:12:07] Charlie Murphy: And how do you feel about the feedback you’ve received from the schools?

[2:12:27] Charlie Murphy: That can be such a valuable part of the process.

[2:12:47] Charlie Murphy: As we wrap up our interviews, I want to thank everyone for sharing their experiences today.

[2:13:07] Charlie Murphy: It’s clear that the Unifieds are a pivotal moment in the college audition process.

[2:13:27] Charlie Murphy: I encourage all students to embrace this journey and take every opportunity to learn and grow.

[2:13:47] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for joining us on Mapping The College Audition.

[2:14:07] Charlie Murphy: If you have any questions or want to learn more about MTCA, feel free to reach out.

[2:14:27] Charlie Murphy: We’re here to support you every step of the way.

[2:14:47] Charlie Murphy: Until next time, keep shining and pursuing your dreams!

[2:15:07] Charlie Murphy: This has been a special episode of Mapping The College Audition, and I look forward to our next conversation.

[2:15:27] Charlie Murphy: Take care, everyone!

[2:15:47] Charlie Murphy: Bye for now!

[2:16:07] Charlie Murphy: And remember, the journey is just as important as the destination.

[2:16:27] Charlie Murphy: See you next time!

[2:16:47] Charlie Murphy: Keep working hard and believing in yourself.

[2:17:07] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for listening!

[2:17:27] Charlie Murphy: We appreciate your support and engagement with our podcast.

[2:17:47] Charlie Murphy: Until next time, stay inspired!

[2:18:07] Charlie Murphy: Goodbye!

[2:18:27] Charlie Murphy: And good luck with your auditions!

[2:18:47] Charlie Murphy: We’re cheering for you!

[2:19:01] Charlie Murphy: Welcome back to Mapping the College Audition. I'm your host, Charlie Murphy, and today we’re diving into the Unifieds Greenroom Interviews for 2026. We’re here at the Chicago and LA Unified Auditions, talking to students, parents, and coaches about their experiences and insights into the college audition process.

[2:19:31] Charlie Murphy: I’m excited to hear from everyone today. It’s such a pivotal moment for these students as they prepare to take the next step in their careers. Let’s get started!

[2:20:01] Charlie Murphy: First up, we have a student who just finished their audition. Can you tell us your name and a little about your experience today?

[2:20:31] Student: Hi, I’m Alex. Today was really exciting but also nerve-wracking. I felt prepared, but once I got in the room, my nerves kicked in. I think I did my best, though!

[2:21:01] Charlie Murphy: That’s great to hear, Alex! Nerves are completely normal. What song did you choose for your audition?

[2:21:31] Alex: I performed “On My Own” from Les Misérables. It’s one of my favorites, and I felt a strong connection to the character.

[2:21:41] Charlie Murphy: That’s a powerful choice! How did you feel about your performance?

[2:21:51] Alex: I think I conveyed the emotion well, but I wish I had a bit more time to really settle into it.

[2:22:01] Charlie Murphy: Understandable! It’s all about finding that comfort in the moment. What are you hoping to get out of this audition process?

[2:22:11] Alex: I’m really looking for a school that feels like a good fit for me, both academically and artistically. I want to grow as a performer.

[2:22:21] Charlie Murphy: That’s a fantastic goal. Best of luck with everything!

[2:22:31] Charlie Murphy: Next, we have a parent here. Can you introduce yourself and share your thoughts on the audition process?

[2:22:41] Parent: Hi, I’m Sarah, Alex’s mom. I’m so proud of him for putting himself out there. It’s been a long journey, and seeing him take this step is really emotional for me.

[2:22:51] Charlie Murphy: It’s a big moment for both students and parents. What has been the most challenging part for you during this process?

[2:23:01] Sarah: I think just the uncertainty. You want to support them, but you also want to make sure they’re making the right choices for their future.

[2:23:11] Charlie Murphy: That’s completely understandable. It’s a lot of pressure. What advice would you give to other parents going through this?

[2:23:21] Sarah: Just be there for your kids. Listen to them and help them navigate their feelings. It’s a big decision, and they need your support.

[2:23:31] Charlie Murphy: Wise words, Sarah. Thank you for sharing!

[2:23:41] Charlie Murphy: Now, let’s talk to a coach. Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your role in this process?

[2:23:51] Coach: Hi, I’m Mark, and I’ve been coaching students through their auditions for several years now. My role is to help them find their authentic selves and prepare them for the challenges ahead.

[2:24:01] Charlie Murphy: That’s crucial! What do you think is the most important thing for students to focus on during auditions?

[2:24:11] Mark: I believe it’s all about authenticity. Students need to connect with the material and show who they truly are as artists.

[2:24:21] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely! How do you help them achieve that?

[2:24:31] Mark: We work on character analysis, emotional connection, and performance techniques. It’s about building their confidence and helping them shine.

[2:24:41] Charlie Murphy: That’s fantastic! Thank you for your insights, Mark.

[2:24:51] Charlie Murphy: Let’s bring in another student. What’s your name and how did your audition go?

[2:25:01] Student: I’m Jamie, and I just finished my audition. It was intense, but I felt really good about my song choice.

[2:25:11] Charlie Murphy: What did you perform?

[2:25:21] Jamie: I did “She Used to Be Mine” from Waitress. It’s such a beautiful song, and I really connected with the lyrics.

[2:25:31] Charlie Murphy: That’s a great choice! How did you prepare for today?

[2:25:41] Jamie: I practiced a lot and worked with my coach to really dive into the character’s emotions. I wanted to make sure I was ready.

[2:25:51] Charlie Murphy: Sounds like you put in the work! What are you hoping to take away from this experience?

[2:26:01] Jamie: I hope to find a school that challenges me and helps me grow as a performer. I want to be in an environment that feels supportive.

[2:26:11] Charlie Murphy: That’s a wonderful goal. Best of luck to you, Jamie!

[2:26:21] Charlie Murphy: Now, let’s hear from another parent. Can you introduce yourself?

[2:26:31] Parent: Hi, I’m Tom, and I’m here supporting my daughter. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions, but I’m so proud of her.

[2:26:41] Charlie Murphy: It’s great to see such support! What has been the most rewarding part of this journey for you?

[2:26:51] Tom: Watching her grow and develop her passion for performing has been incredible. I’m just here to cheer her on.

[2:27:01] Charlie Murphy: That’s what it’s all about! Thank you for sharing, Tom.

[2:27:11] Charlie Murphy: Let’s bring in another coach. What’s your name and how do you support students in this process?

[2:27:21] Coach: I’m Lisa, and I focus on helping students with their audition material and performance techniques. It’s all about finding their unique voice.

[2:27:31] Charlie Murphy: That’s essential! What do you think is the biggest challenge for students during auditions?

[2:27:41] Lisa: I think it’s managing their nerves and staying focused. It’s easy to get overwhelmed in such a high-pressure environment.

[2:27:51] Charlie Murphy: Definitely! How do you help them cope with that?

[2:28:01] Lisa: We practice mindfulness techniques and work on visualization to help them stay calm and centered.

[2:28:11] Charlie Murphy: That’s a great approach! Thank you for your insights, Lisa.

[2:28:21] Charlie Murphy: Now, let’s talk to another student. What’s your name and how did your audition go?

[2:28:31] Student: I’m Chris, and I just finished my audition. It was nerve-wracking, but I felt prepared.

[2:28:41] Charlie Murphy: What song did you perform?

[2:28:51] Chris: I did “Waving Through a Window” from Dear Evan Hansen. It’s such a relatable song, and I really connected with it.

[2:29:01] Charlie Murphy: That’s a fantastic choice! How did you feel about your performance?

[2:29:11] Chris: I think I did well, but I always feel like I could improve. It’s a learning process.

[2:29:21] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely! What are you hoping to achieve through this audition process?

[2:29:31] Chris: I want to find a school that challenges me and helps me grow as an artist. I’m excited for what’s next!

[2:29:41] Charlie Murphy: Best of luck, Chris!

[2:29:51] Charlie Murphy: Let’s bring in another parent. Can you introduce yourself and share your thoughts?

[2:30:01] Parent: Hi, I’m Rachel, and I’m here supporting my son. It’s been a journey, and I’m so proud of him for pursuing his passion.

[2:30:11] Charlie Murphy: That’s wonderful to hear! What has been the most challenging part for you as a parent?

[2:30:21] Rachel: Just the uncertainty of the process. I want to make sure he’s making the right choices for his future.

[2:30:31] Charlie Murphy: That’s completely understandable. What advice would you give to other parents?

[2:30:41] Rachel: Just be supportive and listen to your kids. They need to know you’re there for them no matter what.

[2:30:51] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for sharing, Rachel!

[2:31:01] Charlie Murphy: Now, let’s talk to another coach. What’s your name and how do you support students?

[2:31:11] Coach: I’m David, and I help students with their audition material and performance skills. It’s all about helping them find their unique voice.

[2:31:21] Charlie Murphy: That’s essential! What do you think is the biggest challenge for students during auditions?

[2:31:31] David: I think it’s managing their nerves and staying focused. It’s easy to get overwhelmed in such a high-pressure environment.

[2:31:41] Charlie Murphy: Definitely! How do you help them cope with that?

[2:31:51] David: We practice mindfulness techniques and work on visualization to help them stay calm and centered.

[2:32:01] Charlie Murphy: That’s a great approach! Thank you for your insights, David.

[2:32:11] Charlie Murphy: And that wraps up our interviews for today. Thank you to all the students, parents, and coaches who shared their experiences with us. Good luck to everyone in the audition process!