A look through the eyes of musical theatre students at the toxicity they face in their education. 

Musical Theatre is an intense art form that takes a toll on the physical body with long 8+  hour rehearsal days and mentally with 50 pages of lines to memorize. Post-secondary programs help prepare young adults for these extreme conditions but the education system can create a toxic environment that just adds to the stress. People go through hardcore audition processes with multiple physical auditions and interviews and when they get in it’s a time for celebration until they’re faced with the reality of a continuous cycle of verbal and emotional abuse from the system. Beneath the Spotlight is centred around the toxicity of musical theatre education and to understand what musical theatre students go through and display their collective strength and hard work when trying to break down the toxic system.  

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Behind the Scenes- Day 1

Behind The Scenes- Day 2

MEET THE CREW

Brianne​​ Harvie
(Writer/Producer/Co-Director)  
Hi, my name is Brianne Harvie and I am the co-producer and director of Beneath the Spotlight. I am here to tell you what this project is about and hopefully get you excited about it. This is a documentary about the toxicity in the musical theatre education system. I wanted to create this documentary to give people an outlet and place to express their experiences. This is not a documentary about negative experiences alone but about how things can be improved for current and future students in musical theatre education. My favourite musical would be Falsettos. 

​Sarah Jewell ​

(Director of Photography/Colourist) 
Hey, I'm Sarah and I'm the Director of Photography and colourist for Beneath the Spotlight! This doc has been such an eye-opening experience and there's a lot I've learned from it that I can't wait to share with you all. My favourite musical is simply High School Musical. 
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Crystal Tsang

(Co-Producer/ Director)
Hi, my name is Crystal and it has been an honour to work with these amazing people and on such an important project I am so grateful to be apart of this production and to help spread awareness to our topic on theatre education. My favourite musical would be the Phantom of the Opera. 

Greyson Barit

(Location Sound Mixer) 
Hi my name is Greyson, I wanted to join spotlight because it talks 
about inclusivity of people of colour and the lgbtq+ community.
How it so binary catered to one but not all. And I really think this is a conversation we need to talk about especially in musical theatre. ​My favourite musical would be Hairspray you can't go wrong with that. 

Ailis McGuire-Astolfo

(Picture Editor)
Hi, my name is Ailis and Beneath the Spotlight is a film I wanted to work on because the message is so important. I believe that only the largest most beautiful emotions can be expressed through dance and movement. Beneath the Spotlight combines the message with the movement and I'm so proud to be apart of the team. My favourite musical is Chicago 

Alicia Mok 

( 1st AC)
​Hi I'm Alicia and as someone who loves dance, this film is so important in giving our stage performers a voice, and to dig deeper into what's right or wrong with the industry. I'm excited to see this film in it's finality! My favourite musical would be La La Land. 
​

Minerva Navasca

(BTS Photographer)
Hi, I'm Minerva and I wanted to join spotlight because, coming from a theatre background while also being exposed to the toxic workaholic culture of filmmaking, I wanted to support a film that opposes unhealthily mindsets and methods of the past. This film shines a light on students advocating for a safe, supportive environment so they can freely express themselves, and this is all I can hope for in the future of the arts. My favourite musical is the Hunchback of Notre Dame. 

Katie Gaskin

(Assistant Editor)
Hi, I'm Katie and I wanted to join spotlight, not only due to my love of theatre but because it's important that the people telling the stories we love to hear, feel happy and comfortable in doing so. My favourite musical would be Spring Awakening. 

Dominic 

(Sound Editor)
​Hi, my name is Dominic and this documentary is important to me because I'd like to think I respect the efforts and work put forth by those in musical theatre, but even more importantly I am an advocate for a healthy and respectful learning environment for any student. My favourite musical would be either Wicked or The Other Josh Cohen

Kellsie McCullough 

(Transmedia Producer)
Hi, my name is Kellsie and I wanted to be apart of this documentary because I have had a heavy musical theatre background and have experienced the feelings of mental stress and not feeling good enough. I wanted to help bring more awareness for the musical theatre students that have to go through the mentally challenging environment everyday and hopefully they can see a brighter future in their program after this documentary. My favourite musical would be Waitress. 

Meet the Musical Theatre Students 

Chantalyne Beausoleil 

"I do feel a little bit differently now. There are moves towards making arts education safer, and more comfortable, but I don't really think we're completely there yet."

Julia Pulo 

 "I've experienced racism just because of the way people look at me and assume what I am, you know, so I've felt really weird in this place where I'm just like, where do I fit in?" 
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Benjamin Faulknor

"I feel like if everybody was truly accepting, and truly willing to get out of their own way, and truly willing to set egos aside, then it would be a much more accepting and beautiful place to work in a much more wonderful environment and a better world."