Kensington Balam, Staff Writer Two hundred shows, countless stars, and thirty-eight years of experience from one company. Hurrah Players Inc. has touched the lives of so many people. It is a wonderful program that teaches kids skills such as dancing, singing, and other abilities related to musical theater. Some of our very own at NCS attend and benefit from this program. Elijah Tubbs said that Hurrah is a very professional environment; it sets expectations for the actors and actresses to follow. He also described some amazing experiences he has gone through in the last five months. He says that one memorable moment was seeing kids' faces after the first Descendants show, in which he played Jay, and how happy they were to see the actors. He described it as “priceless.” By no means is Hurrah a “walk in the park.” He said there were some overwhelming moments, especially when communication was off, but those are what made him better. Hurrah is not easy, but it is definitely rewarding. Tubbs also gave some very helpful tips for anyone interested in Hurrah. Photo from Hugh R. Copeland; Norfolk Christian senior Elijah Tubbs starred as Jay in Disney's Descendants during the summer. It was his time in a Hurrah Players production, and he learned a lot from the experience. He said, “I would tell them three things that I think would make them would allow them to succeed in the Hurrah environment. First… be prepared to learn. The only way to improve is to take advice, direction, and instruction from those who are more experienced than you. This includes directors, crew members, and fellow actors alike. You can even learn things from those less experienced than you if you try. The second thing I would say is never to compare yourself to anyone else. You will meet some impossibly talented people there, and the only thing you can do is try to improve your own talent in your own way, and chart your own path. That way, no matter how technically talented you are, people will see you as a confident and unique person, and before you know it, you are on the same level as those people you once thought were completely out of your league.”
Tubbs continues on to say: “The last thing I would say to this person is that they should always remember to have fun. Theater, if nothing else, is supposed to be fun. It's a way to express yourself, challenge yourself, and even surprise yourself in your own unique way. It's a way to inspire others, brighten peoples' days, and tell a story. It's so easy to get caught up in the personal drama, or how you didn't get the character you wanted, or how you messed up on this one thing in this one part of the show… Sometimes you just need to let go of that stuff and push through… it ends up being worth it in the end.” Elijah also wanted to add that he learned so much while participating in Hurrah Players, including time management, quick thinking, and respect towards authority figures. Hurrah teaches valuable skills that may not be taught in depth at other departments. Elijah ended his interview with the comment: “Doing shows with Hurrah is a good time that will teach you a lot and, as someone who loves acting, I want you to love it too. Hurrah is a great place to go for that.” In addition to Norfolk and Virginia Beach students, renowned actors have also benefited from Hurrah, such as Adrienne Warren, who’s currently playing Tina Turner on Broadway! Overall, Hurrah is a great program for anyone passionate about nurturing their skills in the close-knit theater community.
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