As arts students, one of the most meaningful experiences of learning and growth occurs when given the chance to hear from and work with experienced artists and learn from their wisdom. On Tuesday, February 11, and Thursday, February 13, students from the Newcomb Department of Music and the Department of Theatre & Dance got this opportunity in the form of a master class with Tony Award winner John Cameron Mitchell. Laura London Wagner, assistant professor in the Newcomb Department of Music, hosted the event.
John Cameron Mitchell is most famous for his work as the writer, director, and star of the rock musical-turned-movie Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which radically tackles queerness and identity. Throughout the sessions, Mitchell answered students’ questions about his work, beliefs, and passions, and were then given the chance to workshop performances with him personally. Throughout this process, students were inspired by his intense passion for the arts, identity, and New Orleans.
During the first day’s Q+A session, Mitchell answered questions that students prepared, all while sharing stories of his experiences as a performer, director, and artist. He encouraged students to explore all the realms of creativity they could, advising them to never turn down an opportunity due to “fear of the unknown,” which he described as the things that often end up leading to the most growth in one’s life. It was inspiring to see Mitchell’s way of pushing boundaries and not letting negative reactions stop him from creating. He is extremely passionate about the importance of encouraging creative growth rather than criticizing or limiting ideas, a philosophy he takes into every project he does.
I thought that he really found physical ways to make actors open up to what they were singing about.
– Eliza Mullins (SLA ’26), student participant
The second day of the master class was more intimate, and five students performed for Mitchell and received feedback. This process was educational for both those watching and those performing. “I thought that he really found physical ways to make actors open up to what they were singing about,” described one student, as she recounted watching the performances, “as well as just opening up their voice more.” In many of the scenes, Mitchell would give actors physical props to use, allowing students to get out of their heads and create more vivid story imagery for themselves and their audience.
As both a performer and a writer, so many of Mitchell’s stories and workshop moments resonated with me. His encouragement to write down story ideas as they come to you — advice he shared as he explained his own creative process — has already started to shape my own process as a storyteller. His emphasis on visualizing the story one is telling in their head as they are performing has helped me as I perform my own songs and scenes. Overall, this experience was extremely beneficial for me and the other students and faculty who were able to attend, and, if anything, it has solidified the need for artists to learn from other artists as they continue to grow in their craft.
John Cameron Mitchell poses for a group photo with students from his master class, hosted by Musical Theatre Professor Laura London Wagner (far right).