Weston Pytel (he/him)
Nazareth College - B.F.A Musical Theatre 23’
In the summer of 2021 I auditioned for GUSCO’s production of RENT and found a great community of fellow young artists who were as serious about their craft as they were about having fun with it. I was fortunate enough to play Mark Cohen and the process as a whole really solidified that I was on the right track as a performer, actor, and person. The people who you work with on these productions are amongst the kindest creatives you will meet who are truly passionate about letting each person shine individually onstage and off. With RENT being the revival of GUSCO’s first production I could feel the energy that the audiences brought to a group which was filled with past students who fondly remember their experiences with the group and could recognize how far the organization had come from its beginning. GUSCO is operating at a level that matches the professional industry including masterclasses with industry professionals, an emphasis on the work of swinging and understudying, as well as utilizing intimacy direction. As I have started to work in the industry, I recognize those same practices in my work at school and in a professional setting. This summer I am working at Cortland Repertory Theatre in Cortland, NY where I will be in four shows (HAIR, Kiss Me, Kate!, Murder on the Orient Express, and Mary Poppins). By working with GUSCO I was able to understand what putting up a show in such a quick amount of time entailed as well as the work that is necessary to do so. GUSCO is an encouraging reminder that young people are the next generation of performers and game changers in this industry, and who will be the ones to push the boundaries of what theatre can be.
Nazareth College - B.F.A Musical Theatre 23’
In the summer of 2021 I auditioned for GUSCO’s production of RENT and found a great community of fellow young artists who were as serious about their craft as they were about having fun with it. I was fortunate enough to play Mark Cohen and the process as a whole really solidified that I was on the right track as a performer, actor, and person. The people who you work with on these productions are amongst the kindest creatives you will meet who are truly passionate about letting each person shine individually onstage and off. With RENT being the revival of GUSCO’s first production I could feel the energy that the audiences brought to a group which was filled with past students who fondly remember their experiences with the group and could recognize how far the organization had come from its beginning. GUSCO is operating at a level that matches the professional industry including masterclasses with industry professionals, an emphasis on the work of swinging and understudying, as well as utilizing intimacy direction. As I have started to work in the industry, I recognize those same practices in my work at school and in a professional setting. This summer I am working at Cortland Repertory Theatre in Cortland, NY where I will be in four shows (HAIR, Kiss Me, Kate!, Murder on the Orient Express, and Mary Poppins). By working with GUSCO I was able to understand what putting up a show in such a quick amount of time entailed as well as the work that is necessary to do so. GUSCO is an encouraging reminder that young people are the next generation of performers and game changers in this industry, and who will be the ones to push the boundaries of what theatre can be.
