3/14/2025

Last month, the Kathwari Honors Program supported 11 Honors Students in attending a Masterclass with Hamilton cast member, Jennifer Gellar. The class was presented by the Newtown Stage Company at the Academy of Dance Arts in Brookfield, CT.

For a few hours, these students practiced theatrical techniques with a cast member from one of the most iconic musicals around. Mirrors in front of them, students could not hide mistakes—they could only practice their way better. Students not only learned combinations from the official Broadway production but also the combinations used for auditions, preparing students for the real deal in the future.

Participating Kathwari Honors Students brought this buzzing energy back to the Honors House upon their return.

Sarah Seo, a sophomore Music Education major, appreciated the opportunity to learn the dances from one of her favorite musicals. She also felt more connected to her Kathwari Honors community after the class: “I bonded with people I hadn’t talked to much before, but now we are close friends and go line dancing together!” 

Bryan Reimertz, a first-year Theatre Arts major, felt deeply moved by his participation in the masterclass. Because he wants a career in theatre, his favorite part of the class was the preparation for future auditions. “The hardest part of the masterclass,” he said, “was memorizing. They really pack a lot in, even just for a 1-minute dance.  Combine that with the fact that the combinations were taught in just about a half-hour each, and then you’re performing with not a lot of practice time.” Even though the class was hard, he enjoyed every second of it.

Being in the Kathwari Honors Program, Bryan isn’t a stranger to facing challenges, and he really valued the opportunity to attend because of the Kathwari Honors Program. Bryan explained, “Returning to my classes afterwards, it gave me an idea of what I should be working for.  It set a new goal for myself to reach in my studies at school.”

As far as his greater participation in the Kathwari Honors Program, Bryan believes his study of subjects outside of Theatre Arts, like psychology and health, prepare him to be a healthy performer so he can lead a successful career as a professional actor: “Thank you again for the opportunity in this masterclass. I really enjoyed it a lot, and it gave me plenty of ideas for my future as a performer.  I am so grateful for opportunities like this within the Honors Program!”