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TheBigBreak

by TheBigBreak

Every season, performing arts companies take on a group of young up-and-comers who will work, and learn, with the pros. The ballet calls them trainees. At Actors Theatre of Louisville, they’re apprentices. Kentucky Opera has studio artists. They’re in residence at a professional company for the first time, understudying for the stars and taking on small roles while learning the ins and outs of the business. In the series "The Big Break," we’ll go inside the Ballet, Actors Theatre and the Opera through the eyes of three developing artists in residence. Claire Horrocks, Samantha Beach and Brad Raymond are keeping audio diaries.

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Episodes

  1. Week 27: The Grand Finale

    The first season of our audio diary series “The Big Break,” comes to a close this week. Since last fall, understudies and apprentices take us behind the curtain at the Kentucky Opera, Actors Theatre of Louisville and the Louisville Ballet. We'll launch the next season of The Big Break with a new...

  2. Week 26: The Next Steps

    On our audio diary series “The Big Break,” understudies and apprentices take us behind the curtain at the Kentucky Opera, Actors Theatre of Louisville and the Louisville Ballet. The season is almost over for the actors and dancers. Her time in Louisville is almost up, so Actors Theater apprentice...

  3. Week 25: High Notes and Early Calls

    This week on The Big Break, Actors Theatre of Louisville apprentice Samantha Beach reflects on tech week for "Sleep Rock Thy Brain," the apprentice play that opened last weekend in the Humana Festival of New American Plays. (The music in this week's episode is from "Sleep Rock Thy Brain,"…

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  4. Week 24: On Your Toes

    This week on The Big Break, the Louisville Ballet rehearses for its upcoming mixed repertory program, Breaking Ground while trainee Claire Horrocks gets called up to the stage for a surprise bonus role. Over at Actors Theatre of Louisville, acting apprentice Samantha Beach finishes up rehearsals...

  5. Week 23: Reaching and Teaching

    This week on The Big Break, our audio diarists talk about being on both sides of the showcase process. Actors Theatre of Louisville apprentice Samantha Beach is rehearsing for her short scene showcase, which will be seen by casting directors and other influential industry members during Humana...

  6. Week 22: Demos and Drafts

    This week on The Big Break, our audio diarists take us inside the rehearsal process for a brand-new play and out into the schools for ballet demonstrations. Actors Theatre of Louisville apprentice Samantha Beach works with playwright Lucas Hnath on "Night, Night," his act of "Sleep Rock Thy…

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  7. Week 21: Sitting In and Saying Goodbye

    On our audio diary series The Big Break, two of our emerging performers take us inside rehearsals for upcoming productions while a third says farewell to Louisville. Over at the Louisville Ballet, trainee Claire Horrocks discusses the gravity of the understudy role in rehearsal, while at Actors...

  8. Week 20: A Face in the Crowd

    On our audio diary series The Big Break, we hear from Louisville Ballet trainee Claire Horrocks on staging the market scene in Act Two of "Romeo and Juliet," and studio artist Brad Raymond discusses his role in the chorus of "Don Giovanni," his final role with the Kentucky Opera.

  9. Week 19: Surprises on Stage

    On our audio diary series The Big Break, our emerging performers encounter some surprises on stage and learn that every show brings its unique challenges and opportunities. Actors Theatre of Louisville apprentice Samantha Beach receives her crew assignments from her Humana Festival "bible,"...

  10. Week 18: History Lessons

    On our audio diary series The Big Break, our emerging performers learn and teach some unique history lessons.Louisville Ballet trainee Claire Horrocks gets fitted for costumes for the upcoming production of "Romeo and Juliet" and takes us on a tour of the costume shop. Actors Theatre of…

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  11. Week 17: Voices and Choices

    On our audio diary series The Big Break, our emerging performers dig deep into their daily work. Actors Theatre of Louisville apprentice Samantha Beach learns how fearless high school playwrights can be while reading for the theater's New Voices Young Playwrights Festival. Louisville Ballet…

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  12. Week 16: Looking Ahead

    On our audio diary series The Big Break, our apprentices gear up for audition season. Louisville Ballet trainee Claire Horrocks explains why January kicks off her least favorite time of year, while Actors Theatre of Louisville apprentice Samantha Beach explains the audition showcase the…

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  13. Week 15: Back to School

    On our audio diary series The Big Break, all three of our apprentices go back to school. Actors Theatre of Louisville apprentice Samantha Beach learns a new vocal technique in a workshop, while Louisville Ballet trainee Claire Horrocks plays both teacher and student while developing her original...

  14. Week 14: Stretching in New Roles

    On our audio diary series The Big Break, two of our artists stretch their artistic muscles in rehearsal this week. Louisville Ballet trainee Claire Horrocks finds the most difficult work in her upcoming Choreographer Showcase is a contemporary dance, because she has focused so intently on ballet...

  15. Week 13: Showcase Prep

    On our audio diary series The Big Break, two of our artists prepare to step out of the wings and into center stage this month. Louisville Ballet trainee Claire Horrocks rests her body before opening the Choreographer's Showcase and Actors Theatre of Louisville apprentice Samantha Beach rehearses…

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  16. Week 12: The Revolving Stage

    This week on our audio diary series, The Big Break, two of our emerging artists see their stages from a different perspective. Louisville Ballet trainee Claire Horrocks takes a leap of faith in herself to create a piece for the ballet's Choreographer's Showcase, and Actors Theatre of Louisville...

  17. Week 11: A First and a Second

    This week on our audio diary series, The Big Break, Actors Theatre of Louisville apprentice Samantha Beach gets some sage advice on second careers from the cast members of each of the theater's productions, while Louisville Ballet trainee Claire Horrocks opens her first full-length production of...

  18. Week 10: A Gear Shift

    Week 10: A Gear Shift by TheBigBreak

  19. Week 9: Time On Your Side

    Week 9: Time On Your Side by TheBigBreak

  20. Week 8: In a New Light

    Louisville Ballet trainee Claire Horrocks sees the cast list for "The Nutcracker" and learns her new choreography for the familiar show. Actors Theatre apprentice Samantha Beach sits in on rehearsal for "True West," where she discovers a hidden talent, and Kentucky Opera studio artist Brad…

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  21. Week 7: In the Spotlight

    Louisville Ballet trainee Claire Horrocks gets a nice surprise during her last public performance. Actors Theatre apprentice Samantha Beach closes "Dracula" without ever going on for the role she understudied, but she already knows she'll take the stage in "A Christmas Story" during student...

  22. Week 6: What's Your Type

    Actors Theatre apprentice Samantha Beach prepares for mock auditions while learning how to embrace being cast as a certain type. Louisville Ballet trainee Claire Horrocks goes through the process of developing her character for her very first public performance with the company, while Kentucky...

  23. Week 5: A Break in Routine

    This week on our new audio diary series, "The Big Break," Actors Theatre apprentice Samantha Beach pulls a shift in the literary department and sees herself in the incoming ten-minute play scripts. Louisville Ballet trainee Claire Horrocks takes us inside the dancer's lounge, while Kentucky Opera...

  24. Week 4: The Second Shift

    This week on our new audio diary series, "The Big Break," Louisville Ballet trainee Claire Horrocks moonlights as a teacher, while Actors Theatre apprentice Samantha Beach works a fundraiser for the theater's annual Humana Festival. Kentucky Opera studio artist Brad Raymond figures out how to…

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  25. Week 3: Epiphanies

    This week on our new audio diary series “The Big Break,” Louisville Ballet trainee Claire Horrocks experiences her first full production, while Actors Theatre apprentice Samantha Beach tries to figure out how to set good artistic habits for her future. Kentucky Opera studio artist Brad Raymond...

  26. Week 2: Rehearsals and Auditions

    Louisville Ballet trainee takes us inside rehearsals for "Lady of the Camellias" with choreographer Val Caniparoli. Actors Theatre apprentice Samantha Beach contemplates holiday audition season and Kentucky Opera studio artist Brad Raymond, fresh off his turn as evil henchman Spoletta "Tosca,"...

  27. Week 1: Inside Tech Week

    This week on our new audio diary series “The Big Break,” Actors Theatre of Louisville apprentice Samantha Beach and Kentucky Opera studio artist Brad Raymond take us inside tech week, the full rehearsals leading up to opening night. Samantha captures the sounds of "Dracula" from underneath the...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Every season, performing arts companies take on a group of young up-and-comers who will work, and learn, with the pros. The ballet calls them trainees. At Actors Theatre of Louisville, they’re apprentices. Kentucky Opera has studio artists. They’re in residence at a professional company for the first time, understudying for the stars and taking on small roles while learning the ins and outs of the business. In the series "The Big Break," we’ll go inside the Ballet, Actors Theatre and the Opera through the eyes of three developing artists in residence. Claire Horrocks, Samantha Beach and Brad Raymond are keeping audio diaries.

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TheBigBreak

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does TheBigBreak have?

TheBigBreak currently has 27 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is TheBigBreak about?

Every season, performing arts companies take on a group of young up-and-comers who will work, and learn, with the pros. The ballet calls them trainees. At Actors Theatre of Louisville, they’re apprentices. Kentucky Opera has studio artists. They’re in residence at a professional company for the...

How often does TheBigBreak release new episodes?

TheBigBreak has 27 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to TheBigBreak?

You can listen to TheBigBreak on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts TheBigBreak?

TheBigBreak is created and hosted by TheBigBreak.
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