By Katelan Cunningham

On Feb. 1, Tony Award winner Jeff Whitty will be giving SCAD students advice about auditioning and writing for stage productions. As an actor in New York for 6 years with a Tony for Best Book of a Musical for “Avenue Q,” he’s the man to do it.

“I think I’ve got a lot to offer the students as far as where to put your focus and not to psych yourself out,” Whitty said.

Whitty said he looks for someone who is good to work with and someone with a sense of humor about themselves, even if the audition is for a dramatic role.

The role of writer in the production phase varies depending on the show, but all the creators of the show attend auditions to find the perfect actor for the part.

“There is no more collaborative process than working on a musical,” Whitty said. “The audience is looking for a complete experience.”

In the case of “Avenue Q,” Whitty said, “It started as a TV plot Jeff [Marx] and Bobby [Lopez] wrote that was going to be like ‘Sesame Street’ but tackling real-life issues. The producers wanted to make it a stage musical.”

Whitty discovered his knack for writing when he started the libretto for “Avenue Q.” In that case, the music came first, and he wrote the story to complement it.

Whitty said, “You can pull a musical from anything.”

Some of his more recent favorites have been “Spring Awakening,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and “Light in the Piazza.” His favorite of all time: “Sweeney Todd.” He is endlessly inspired by composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s smart and funny work.

Sondheim’s more famous shows are “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Company, Follies,” “Sweeney Todd” and “Sunday in the Park with George.”

Whitty is now working on two shows, one of which is “Bring it On: The Musical” inspired by the 2000 movie about the world of high school competitive cheerleading. Whitty wanted to do the show several years ago, but it has only recently come into production.

“I thought it would make a great musical because of the built in performance component,” so when he got a call to write the show, he said, “Sign me up now!”

As evidence from “Legally Blonde,” “Billy Elliot,” “Shrek,” “Lion King,” “Xanadu,” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” it is a recent trend in musical theatre to adapt a movie to a musical. But even if you know the plot to “Bring It On,” Whitty plans to throw in surprises.

“If you do an adaptation of the movie, two thirds of the audience has seen it and know how it ends,” he said.

Whitty is positive, upbeat and has a lot to offer students from his years of experience in theatre. Where does a pro like this keep his Tony? On a shelf disguised amongst a collection of vintage trophies including one for cheerleading, bowling and raccoon hunting.

All students are welcome to attend the Q&A session Monday at 5 p.m. in the Mondanaro Theater at Crites Hall.

Contact Katelan Cunningham

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