Students, staff, and faculty learn song “One Short Day” from the national touring production actress in latest collaboration between the UMB Council for the Arts & Culture and Hippodrome Foundation.
Photo: UMB staff, faculty, and students at the "Broadway 101" event with Melissa Victor (front center in "Wicked" shirt).
University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) students, staff, and faculty enjoyed an intermission from a typical day of work or class to learn the song “One Short Day” from the musical, “Wicked,” on Jan. 6. A quick walk across campus led them to the Hippodrome Foundation where Melissa Victor, a Baltimore native who plays ShenShen – Glinda’s popular pal – in the national touring production of “Wicked,” taught them the upbeat number.
The rehearsal studio was filled with joyful noise as Victor helped the group through harmonies and shared some of the vocal techniques that she puts to use when performing eight shows per week. She also took the group behind the scenes of life as a national Broadway touring artist during a lively Q&A session. View a video of the group in action in a profile of Victor prepared by Baltimore City schools.
The singalong was the latest installment of “Broadway 101,” a longstanding tradition resulting from the partnership between the UMB Council for the Arts & Culture and the Hippodrome Foundation. The annual lunchtime outing gives UMB community members unique access to touring Broadway stars and a chance to flex their artistic muscles with folks they normally associate with scrubs or suits.
Hippodrome Foundation President Olive Waxter serves on the UMB Council for the Arts & Culture, and the two West Baltimore institutions collaborate frequently through the year. Earlier in the four-week run of “Wicked” at the Hippodrome Theatre, the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law’s National Trial Team presented a pre-show mock trial based on the “Wizard of Oz” story for nearly 100 elementary and middle school students. This opportunity for kids who are part of the UMB CURE Scholars Program, the URecFit and Wellness community, and other local youth programs opened their eyes to the inner workings of a trial, potential careers in law and musical theater, and the joys of experiencing the performing arts.
To learn about future collaborations with UMB and other Hippodrome Foundation happenings, sign up for the monthly newsletter, or follow the Hippodrome Foundation on Facebook and Instagram @hippodromefoundation. Follow Melissa Victor on Instagram @themelissavictor.