Southern Arkansas University theatre alum Cordara Newson is bound to make it to Broadway, and he is that much closer to his lifelong dream after earning a coveted spot to perform with the Collaborative Arts Project (CAP 21) in New York. But he needs a little help with funding for the highly competitive and expensive schooling.
Newson performed at the Magnolia Arts Center in Magnolia on June 1, 2013, to raise funds to pay for the pricey deposit for CAP 21. He is now welcoming any additional donations. They can be mailed to him at 8015 Fairfield Ave., Shreveport, LA 71106.
CAP 21 is described on www.cap21.org as “America’s musical theatre conservatory and theatre company.” It is a two-year intensive program that provides an in-depth actor training program specializing in musical theatre performance.
“It is a prestigious program and I am thrilled to be a part of it,” said Newson. “They have alumni like Lady Gaga, Matthew Morrison from Glee, actors Anne Hathaway and Kristen Bell, as well as a good number of Tony winners and some of Broadway’s biggest stars.”
Newson came to SAU from Shreveport on a choral scholarship, but he said his heart was quickly drawn to the theatre program. He was in several plays doing ensembles and had some lead roles, including one the spring semester of his freshman year. He graduated in August of 2010, and now is about halfway through SAU’s Student Affairs and College Counseling graduate program.
Newson said he found out on CAP 21’s Facebook group that he was among only 30 students from the more than 700 who auditioned to get an invitation to the program that begins on August 19. He is putting his graduate studies on hold for this once-in-a-lifetime chance to study acting in the Big Apple.
“This has been a lifelong dream of mine. I wanted try to go into the CAP 21 before, but was intimidated by the price,” said Newson. “But this opportunity has opened up for me and I am ready to take advantage of it.”
