American Samoa Actors Shine At U.S. Theater Workshop

ASCC students perform a special Samoan cultural presentation during this summer's Broadway Theatre Project training program in Florida last month. From left to right, Daniel Helsham, Ruth Lynn Tuasivi and Johnny Saelua.  PHOTO: COURTESY BTP

With the new semester now underway at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC), word has gotten back from the latest group of its students who attended the Broadway Theatre Project (BTP) training program in Tampa Bay, Florida this past July.

 

Daniel Helsham (left) and Ruth Lynn Tuasivi take their curtain call during the highly successful ASCC production of "Aida" earlier this year. Daniel and Ruth both returned recently from the three-week training program held by the Broadway Theatre Project in Florida.  PHOTO: J. KNEUBUHL

After submitting audition tapes during the spring, Daniel Helsham, Milton Manase, Johnny Saelua, Fa’afetai Shane Ta’afua and Ruth Lynn Tuasivi all achieved acceptance into the rigorous three-week tutorial on the arts of singing, dancing and acting.

 

The students fundraised for months to pay for their travel and tuition, and in return received training under some of the most influential figures in the theatrical world, alongside approximately 200 other fledgling performers from across the United States. Besides the students and instructors, the BTP also attracts numerous directors, producers, and talent agents from the theatrical world, all on the lookout for emerging talent.

 

So how did the group from American Samoa perform in such esteemed company?

 

“After our first three students from the College made it to the BTP last year, the faculty took a special interest in us,” said dance and drama instructor Carmela Gallace, who traveled with the ASCC students. “After seeing the five who went this summer, the BTP now recognizes ASCC as an institution that produces world-class performing artists.” 

 

Fa'afetai Shane Ta'afua (right) performs a comical scene during the ASCC production of "Fiddler on the Roof" last year. Shane recently returned from the three-week training program held by the Broadway Theatre Project in Florida last month. PHOTO: J. KNEUBUHL

While Gallace’s account may sound over-optimistic, she recalls how the prominent casting agent Jay Binder immediately expressed an interest after witnessing a performance by one of her students.

 

“His agency, Binder Casting, has contributed to the plays ‘The Lion King,’ ‘A Chorus Line,’ ‘Grease,’ and the list goes on. They also cast the films ‘Chicago,’ ‘Dreamgirls,’ ‘Hairspray,’ and many more. After seeing and hearing Shane Ta’afua during a preliminary BTP audition, Binder approached Shane and said he wanted him to audition for a role in ‘The King and I,’ a classic musical that producers plan to revive on Broadway next year.”

 

Aside from the meeting with Binder, Ta’afua enjoyed working with the celebrated professionals who served as BTP instructors.

 

“Observing how they approach performance and apply creativity really gave me a fresh perspective,” he said, “and I feel excited about learning all I can in this field.”

Ta’afua also spoke with representatives at the BTP from the Boston Conservatory about continuing his studies at that institution’s Fine Arts Department. “I’ll take things one step at a time,” he reasoned. “First, I’ll see where this opportunity with Jay Binder leads. Either way, I still have a strong interest in studying with the Boston Conservatory.”

 

ASCC student Milton Manase performing the lead role in last year's ASCC production of "Fiddler on the Roof." This summer, Milton attended the three-week training program held by the Broadway Theatre Project in Florida. PHOTO: J. KNEUBUHL

The other ASCC students had adventures of their own at the BTP, which they excitedly relayed. From among the large number of students, the BTP organizers chose Ruth Lynn Tuasivi to sing one of the only big solo numbers in the program’s final public performances before a paying audience of close to 3000.

 

Tuasivi chose the song “Mama Will Provide” from the play “Once On This Island.” For the same show, the BTP also selected Milton Manase to perform a comedic and vocal solo which “had the entire audience rolling in their seats” according to Gallace, while Johnny Saelua turned in an impressive rendition of the song “Black and Blue” from the musical “Ain’t Misbehaving.” Dave Clemmons, a seasoned Broadway performer currently working as a casting agent, selected Daniel Helsham to perform in a separate program of gospel music.

 

Describing the two-week program as “intense,” Manase also recalled, “I really felt welcomed by the students and faculty. I liked the improvisation, especially in songwriting class. One day we got to free-style lyrics to beats that we created in class, which I especially enjoyed.”

 

Tuasivi called the trip “an eye-opener to hidden talents” and said, “I’ve improved with my singing skills after meeting so many successful directors, actors and singers who helped me.”

 

Gallace related how the natural talents of the ASCC group occasionally gave the BTP staff cause to marvel. “The dance faculty told me they felt taken aback that Johnny Saelua had very limited training in dance,” she recalled. “Everyone thought he had studied for years.”

Ruth Lynn Tuasivi (center) is seen here performing the role of Princess Amneris during the ASCC production of "Aida" earlier this year. Ruth Lynn spent three weeks this summer in Florida, attending the training program held by the renowned Broadway Theatre Project. PHOTO: J. KNEUBUHL

Saelua himself reflected, “They mix pleasure with pain during the program, but to participate as an apprentice at ‘the most prestigious performing arts program in the world’ made me feel really honored.”  

 

The ASCC group shared a part of their homeland with the BTP by presenting a special Samoan cultural performance for the entire faculty, staff and student body, exposing many of them to Pacific artistic expression for the first time. “The director of the program, Debra McWalters, had tears in her eyes because the performance touched her so deeply,” said Gallace.

 

Now back home, Gallace and her students will begin preparations for the next ASCC productions, “The King and I” this fall, and in spring 2009, “The Lion King.”

 

On the selection of “The King and I,” Gallace explained, “Besides his interest in auditioning Shane Ta’afua, Jay Binder said there may be opportunities for other young actors from American Samoa when he casts this same play sometime next year. Our production of ‘The King and I’ will give Binder something he can review on DVD, and if other cast members here stand out as especially promising, then Binder may find roles for them.”