For a group of Indiana State University students, New York City became more than a tourist destination. It was a glimpse into their future. With its bright lights and nonstop energy, the city offered a firsthand look at the performing arts industry. During a five-day, faculty-led trip this spring, Sycamores experienced Broadway, participated in professional workshops, and stepped into a world where their careers could take center stage.
Led by Associate Professor of Music Terry Dean, PhD, and Assistant Professor of Theater Management and Administration Alicia Jay, PhD, the trip immersed students in theater, music, and career exploration. From Broadway productions to behind-the-scenes learning, every moment brought their studies to life in a new way.
For recent music liberal arts graduate Timothy McCord, the moment the curtain rose on Death Becomes Her changed everything.
The lights. The scale of the production. The precision of every movement.
Something had definitely shifted.
“It wasn’t just a show,” McCord says. “It was a preview of what could be possible for my future.”
Throughout the week, students attended other Broadway productions, including Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Little Shop of Horrors, SIX, and Chess, while also exploring Central Park and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and visiting other iconic New York landmarks. Along the way, they quickly discovered that New York operates at a very different pace than Terre Haute, Indiana.
“The subway doors don’t wait for you,” Jay says with a laugh. “But watching students experience things for the first time – that’s the most rewarding part. That ‘aha’ moment, when everything clicks – it’s the best.”
For some students, the trip marked a series of firsts – their first Broadway show, first plane ride, or first time navigating a large city. That sense of discovery fueled their personal growth and professional clarity.
Students also participated in hands-on workshops led by working theater professionals. In one choreography session, they learned a routine from a Broadway performer and later that evening watched the same performer execute the dance moves onstage.
For sophomore theater major Tharon Hibbard, the experience was transformative.
“The trip helped me realize what’s possible for my career as a theater dancer,” he says. “I love dance, and the workshop confirmed everything for me. I want to be a Broadway dancer.”
The trip had such a lasting impact that Hibbard changed his major from education to theater upon returning to campus.
Another workshop introduced students to stage combat, offering insight into the precision and safety required behind the scenes.
“I learned about all the opportunities that Broadway brings to people,” says junior music liberal arts major Rebecca Bicknell. During the workshops, students also watched Broadway actors audition for various shows. “Everyone is given a shot, and even though risk can bring failure, the number of opportunities in a city as big as New York helps to provide a cushion for those who can’t always succeed on the first try.”
Beyond the stage, the group explored the history and craft of performance. Visits to the Museum of Broadway and the New York Public Library’s Performing Arts Library allowed students to examine costumes, production notes, scripts, and archival materials from iconic shows.
“You get to see the evolution of this art form from the mid-19th century to today,” Jay explains. “Students saw costumes, scenic pieces, backstage recordings, and production materials that helped them understand just how much craftmanship goes into every performance.”
For Hibbard, the experience completely changed his understanding of the musical theater industry.
“I didn’t realize how much went into making a Broadway show,” he says. “There are so many steps involved – not just performing, but preserving theater history, too.”
The trip became even more meaningful after Hibbard was cast in a summer production of Oklahoma!. Seeing archival materials related to the musical gave him a new perspective on his role.
“I’m able to be a better performer now,” he explains. “I can take what I learned from the trip and apply it to the stage.”
That broader understanding was one of the experience’s most valuable takeaways. Students saw firsthand that Broadway is not just about performers. It’s also a community of marketers, stage managers, designers, archivists, ushers, and administrators working together behind the scenes.
For Bicknell, who plans to pursue a career in arts administration within the music industry, that exposure was invaluable.
“Seeing Broadway shows and visiting major cultural landmarks gave me a deeper appreciation for the performing arts industry,” she says. “Through performances and networking, I’m gaining the confidence and skills I’ll need to succeed.”
Experiential learning opportunities like this are made possible through Indiana State initiatives, including Project Success, which fully funded the trip for participating students.
Students visiting the historic Sardi's restaurant, known as a pre- and post-theater hangout and a destination for aspiring Broadway performers.
“Indiana State knows that learning happens outside the classroom as well as inside it. The opportunities to go out in the world make a difference,” Dean remarks. “These experiences allow students to grow personally and professionally. Then, they bring those experiences back to campus and share them with their peers.”
For McCord, that support made all the difference.
“I was able to completely immerse myself in something related to my major,” he says. “To truly understand theater and music, you have to experience it in person.”
By the time students returned to Indiana State, they carried home more than Broadway playbills and NYC souvenirs. They brought back a clearer vision of what their futures could look like.
Some are already planning a return to New York for auditions, internships, or careers. Others are still reflecting on what they experienced – and the realization that their ambitions could reach further than what they had once imagined.
“Indiana State is dedicated to helping us connect what we learn in class to real-world experiences,” Bicknell comments. “I’m not just studying my craft. I’m living it!”
Because sometimes, all it takes is one moment—one great show and one big adventure—to make the future feel real.