IC News

In July 2021, musical theatre major Sally Shaw ’23 was visiting her home in Dallas, Texas, when a series of life-changing events started to unfold.

Shaw heard that the theatre magazine Playbill was accepting video entries for its “Search for A Star” contest, which is designed to help bring new talent to Broadway. Although the deadline was approaching fast, she decided to take part.

Shaw submitted a one-minute performance of the song “Stay” from Daniel Messé and Nathan Tysen’s musical Amélie, on the final day before the deadline.

“I thought, I should just record something and turn it in,” she said. “I hadn’t really been performing for a while, I needed to get back in the swing of things. I really didn’t think much of it. I figured, no matter what someone would watch this.”

They did more than watch it. Shaw’s performance, judged by industry professionals and then voted on by the public, won the contest. It also earned her coaching and audition opportunities from some of the biggest names in the theatre industry, which could help launch her career in theatre.

It’s quite the change in direction from where Shaw was a year and a half ago.

She had planned to take part in IC’s London program during the Spring 2021 semester, but when that was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, she moved to New York City and created her own opportunities for career advancement — a decision that would pay off down the line.

She became the first intern at House of Velour, a performance art company run by drag queen and artist Sasha Velour. There, she worked on visual design projects with drag queens from around the country, including the premiere of “Nightgowns: The Musical,” which was one of New York’s first live drag shows since the pandemic began.

Shaw also sewed costumes and made props for the band Sammy Rae & the Friends, and later joined them on their first post-pandemic tour, managing the group’s wardrobe and merchandise. During that time, she decided to take a gap year in order to keep growing as a professional.  There were so many major shifts in her life, she’d nearly forgotten about the Playbill competition.

That was until she received a message in early August that, following the judging by industry professionals, her performance had been selected as one of 10 videos —out of thousands — to make it to the next round, where it would be voted on by the public over the course of a week. The news was stunning, in a good way.

“I was in the van on tour with Sammy Rae & the Friends, sandwiched between two of the best saxophone players in Brooklyn, driving through the Lincoln Tunnel back to New York City,” Shaw said. “I saw the email and it all just hit me. I couldn’t tell anyone until the next day, so I just had to sit with this feeling and realize, ‘wow, this could really be something.’”

Following the announcement that she was a finalist, a flurry of social media support followed. Her former voice instructor, Broadway performer Barrett Wilbert Weed, reposted Shaw’s video on her Instagram story, as did her new connections in New York City, Sasha Velour and the members of Sammy Rae & the Friends.

Bomber Nation also turned out in support of Shaw, as dozens of her classmates and friends reposted the video and encouraged people to vote.

“I did not know it was going to resonate with people in the way that it did,” said Shaw. “It was completely humbling and overwhelming seeing people support me and share my work. It was so surreal. To have it all happen at a time in my life when everything felt very uncertain, it was this extreme affirmation that this is what I’m supposed to be doing with my life.”

Then, on August 11, Shaw received the email that would change her life.

“It was early in the morning,” she said. “I wasn’t super anxious, I felt kind of at peace about the whole thing. And I rolled over in bed, saw the email telling me I’d won. It was all very quiet. I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone at first, so I really got to sit with it and be present for it and let all the waves of joy and gratitude wash over me.”

Shaw has been commuting from Ithaca to New York City regularly since winning the contest, meeting with casting directors and coaches, and exploring more opportunities for a career in theatre.

Although she hasn’t returned to South Hill yet, she has maintained close connections with her mentors and peers at Ithaca College. Gavin Mayer, assistant professor of musical theatre, has taught Shaw since her sophomore year, and maintained contact with her throughout the competition.

“I was thrilled for Sally,” said Mayer. “I had the opportunity to check in with her while she was in the thick of it all and again the day she was announced as the winner.  She was excited but also incredibly grounded, grateful, and taking it all in stride.”