TFA media, theater students tour NYC

Nearly 30 students from The First Academy traveled to New York City last month for a multiple-day field trip full of educational and cultural experiences. The 28 juniors and seniors in TFA’s media and theater programs participated in the school’s third annual NYC trip Jan. 17 through 20.

Media instructor Casey Vaughn organizes the media trip each year, but this year she altered the program to split it evenly between the media and theater students.

She called the trip a cultural enrichment.

“It’s a little bit of a privilege,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to get outside of the classroom and experience hands-on what they can do in these areas of high school as far as future careers.”

With their four chaperones, the students visited several landmarks, including Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, the Lincoln Center, Times Square, Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They also enjoyed multiple musicals, including “The Great Gatsby,” “The Outsiders,” “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Our Town.”

On Friday morning, both groups went to the Today Show for the “live on the plaza” segment and returned Saturday morning for a tour of the NBC Studios and to meet with co-anchor Peter Alexander. The students learned about making a career in media.

“A lot of the students have been to New York before,” Vaughn said. “But just to think about what it would look like if they went to school there and worked in media in New York City, we took the subway everywhere we went.”

To cap off the trip, snow fell on the last night, and this was the first time some of the students had experienced snow.

Jason Porrata, theater director at TFA’s Upper School, served as one of the trip chaperones.

“I enjoyed seeing the thespians either experience the city for the first time or in brand-new ways,” he said. “Watching my students’ faces watching Broadway shows, their excitement stage-dooring and the myriad of conversations after the show are memories I will always cherish.”

Porrata highly recommends TFA theater students take the trip.

“There's only so much that can be taught in the classroom and within theater opportunities in Central Florida,” he said. “New York City is the center of theater in the United States and, arguably, the most important city for theater in the world. It is the tip of the spear for theatrical talent, innovation and storytelling.”

Hope DeBoom, a TFA senior, was one of the theater students who traveled with the group. She enjoyed going to theater shows with other people who have similar passions for the art and also getting to see professionals pursuing their dreams. It was a great bonding experience for her and her peers who share her passion for theater.

“Being able to see stage managers working and people truly enjoying live theater inspired me to continue pursuing what I love,” DeBoom said. “The entire trip was such a fun experience and definitely one of the highlights of my senior year.”

TFA junior Lucy Lampkin is studying media production. She loved seeing the Broadway shows and touring the NBC Studios.

“We had the privilege to speak with some of the producers, namely Peter Alexander, and had our own short segment on TV,” she said. “I would recommend the trip to future students because it offers them a chance to build friendships with people they may not have known well before. The shows are amazing to experience, and it definitely provides perspective for students interested in the arts. The same goes for students interested in media and/or journalism.”

Lampkin said she is grateful for the opportunity to visit NYC, “the mothership of Broadway and many major news networks.”

“What better way to get a feel for possible career opportunities than a fun trip to NYC with your friends?” she said.

“Experiencing the best of the best is both inspiring and necessary for growth as an artist,” Porrata said. “It gives our students hands-on experiences with the craft of media and theater and supports the work Ms. Vaughn and I do in our classrooms. It is a trip that makes all of those who attend better consumers and makers of art and media in general.”

“As the teacher behind the trip, it’s a great opportunity to share not only my love of the city but also to see the students’ eyes widen to opportunities they haven’t had before,” Vaughn said.