MAGGIE GILROY
Editor in Chief
“Whenever you wind up, whether in New York or any place else, keep studying.” These word of advice came from visiting artist Judy Kuhn during a masterclass on Feb. 28.
Brought to Fredonia by New Buffalo Productions, Kuhn delivered experience garnered from her extensive career on the stage and screen to the students and faculty of Fredonia.
Kuhn was nominated for three Tony Awards for her work on Broadway in “She Loves Me,” “Chess” and “Les Misérables.” In addition, Kuhn sang the title role of “Pocahontas” in the Disney film as well as in its sequel “Pocahontas II: Journey To A New World.” In April, she will return to Broadway in “Fun Home,” based on Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel of the same name.
Kuhn did not let her resume supercede her, appearing determined to help Fredonia students learn and grow within the two hours of the masterclass.
“Think of it as a rehearsal,” Kuhn said at the beginning of the masterclass, assuring students that the masterclass was an opportunity to work and not perform.
Participants in the class were students in the Department of Theatre and Dance and included freshman Michaela Tramuta, sophomore Justin Burr, juniors Kiernan Matts and Anna Chicco and seniors Shannon Cunningham and Alexander Kosmowski. Senior Jordan Fischer and freshman Maggie Austin served as alternate performers.
Each performer was given the opportunity to sing for Kuhn while accompanied by School of Music faculty member James Welch on the piano.
Following each performance, Kuhn instructed the students to sit down and explain their thoughts and process on developing the piece. After a brief conversation with the student about their respective performance, Kuhn then gave the performer her advice, often asking the student to participate in an educational task or exercise. Much of Kuhn’s advice was centered around breath and healthy performance methods.
While Kuhn was the teacher for the afternoon, she always ensured that she was on the same level as the students, even removing her own Uggs after asking female students to remove their heels in order to ground themselves.
“Ms. Kuhn’s experience and expertise as an actor and singer gave us such an awesome perspective,” said Montondo in an email interview following the masterclass. “Her focus on truthfulness and breath really tied into our studies as musical theatre majors, but her approach was very unique. Coming from her calm and kind energy, she created a supportive and fun atmosphere.”
Montondo sang the traditionally female-sung “Losing My Mind” from Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies,” to which Kuhn replied, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a man do that song.”
Despite this, Kuhn noted that it was “beautiful.”
The masterclass was brought to Fredonia by Fredonia professor Paul Mockovak and New Buffalo Productions, which was created and sustained by Fredonia alumnus Christopher and Leah Wietig.
“Ms Kuhn’s suggestions, advice and teachings were spot on,” said Mockovak in an email interview following the masterclass. “She reinforced concepts and fundamentals that we teach at Fredonia. It was especially rewarding to see that her initial approach began the same way, then was focused slightly differently with each singer to address something specific to them.”
Kuhn’s motivation to teach stems from her own experience as a young performer at Oberlin College.
“I think a couple things about teaching; one is you always want to teach what you want to do, so it keeps me honest as a performer,” said Kuhn in a brief interview following the masterclass. “It makes me think about what I’m doing.
“The other thing is — I was saying to Chris [Wietig] actually on the way — when I was your age I didn’t ever have any opportunities to take classes like this. My ‘classroom’ was the shows that I did and I was very lucky, early on, that I was able to be in the room with older, more experienced actors and watching them was my classroom in a lot of ways. And I’ve worked with a lot of directors who’ve helped me a lot and I feel like it’s an opportunity to share that with people younger than me.”