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The Front Row Blog

The Front Row Blog

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Parker’s Performance Playbook – On Directing

By Parker Nelson | April 8, 2025

Happy April, Encore Family! Although it feels like auditions happened just yesterday, the performances of our Student Directed One-Acts are coming up at the end of the month on April 25th and 26th. We have an exciting mini-series of interviews coming to the blog soon, where we will meet the student directors and hear all […]

Gaining Confidence through Theatre with Alum Hannah Knittig

By Encore Stage Team | April 4, 2025

It’s time for another Encore alumni interview! For today’s interview, we are looking back to last summer and an interview that our Arts Management Intern, Matthew Bloss-Baum did with alum Hannah Knittig. Hannah played Scar in The Lion King Jr. when Encore last did it in 2019, so it’s super cool to get to reconnect […]

Never Limit Yourself with Alum Carla Astudillo-Fisher

By Parker Nelson | March 11, 2025

Welcome to another alumni interview! Today we are catching up with Carla Astudillo-Fisher, a wonderful actress who has continued in the industry as a performer, recently closing a production of A Chorus Line in Connecticut as Diana Morales. We are so excited to hear what she’s been up to! Congratulations on your recent performance as […]

Auditioning with Confidence

By Parker Nelson | March 7, 2025

We are getting ready for two busy weeks of auditions and callbacks here at Encore. First up, come audition for our awesome student directors on March 11th! It will be a great opportunity to help your peers learn the process of directing, and you would get to be a part of an awesome new production. […]

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Moving Towards a New Adventure with Alum Abby Huston

By Parker Nelson | February 28, 2025

Here at the end of the week, I bring you another exciting alumni interview! Abby Huston was an actor and stage manager with Encore for many years, and we are so excited to get an update from them. Introduce yourself to the blog! How were you involved with Encore? Hi there! I’m Abby, I started […]

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Things to do at Encore This March!

By Parker Nelson | February 27, 2025

2025 is flying by! March is right around the corner, and I am here to set the scene of what is coming this month.  At the top of the month we’ll be closing our new student devised work, Jamila’s Table. Opening weekend was a hit, don’t miss it!  If you’re looking for your chance to […]

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Why We Love Theatre

By Parker Nelson | February 21, 2025

Here at Encore, we believe theatre is a tool that helps us grow in confidence and care for one another. It’s not always all about the final performance; so much of the value comes from classes and rehearsals and time together as an ensemble. There are so many reasons to love theatre, but here are […]

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Dancing the Day Away – Broadway Workshop Reflection

By Parker Nelson | February 18, 2025

Yesterday, we had a very musical morning at Encore with our President’s Day Broadway Workshop! Through songs from Wicked, Hamilton, and Newsies, our students learned both choreography and music in one whirlwind day. Our teaching artists led one group through choreography to a song that recently graced the silver screen; does “Popular” sound familiar? The […]

Parker’s Performance Playbook – Devised Theatre

By Parker Nelson | February 11, 2025

It’s Tuesday, and I’m back for another Parker’s Performance Playbook! As I look at this month’s calendar, there is something very exciting coming in just a few weeks. This year’s production of Flip the Script opens on February 22nd, entitled Jamila’s Table. We are so excited to premiere this student-devised production which was created to […]

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Not Afraid to Try with Alum Erin Driscoll Gardiner

By Parker Nelson | February 7, 2025

Reintroduce yourself to us! Where are you now and what are you up to? Hello Encore Family!  My name is Erin Driscoll Gardiner and I was involved in several shows at Encore. Now, I am a full time professor of Musical Theater at George Mason University and a professional actress in the DC area. I […]

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